Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Oregon lawmaker tries to walk back comment that atheists are unfit for public office. (0:42) — A proposed Satanic school helped derail a vote to repeal Idaho's Blaine Amendment. (21:29) — Christian radio host punished after advising grandma to attend transgender wedding. (33:45) — An Oklahoma GOP lawmaker wants to ban single people from sexting each other. (53:20) — Did a public school in Texas figure out how to legally hoist a Christian flag? (1:10:40) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Christian pastor and wife sued over alleged cryptocurrency fraud scheme. (1:30) — An Ohio pastor was punished for opening his church to the homeless. He deserves it. (23:50) — Conservatives are falsely claiming NBC censored Jesus in an interview with C.J. Stroud. (48:30) — A Mississippi school rightly reprimanded a kid who said "Jesus Christ" out of frustration. (58:00) — Have the “Nones” finally peaked? (1:07:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — An AI-generated "George Carlin" tackles God in a new comedy special. Does it hold up? (1:10) — A natural disaster destroyed hate-preacher Greg Locke's tent church (again). (36:10) — WV Republicans refile bill to get "Intelligent Design" in classrooms. (46:24) — A detailed compilation of Mike Johnson's ties to Christian Nationalism. (1:00:55) — Christian Nationalist Sen. Josh Hawley: We need more Christian Nationalism! (Somewhere near the end) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Lil Nas X has perfected the art of trolling Christians to market his music. (1:17) — In Iowa, white evangelicals are embracing Donald Trump, not Jesus. (18:20) — "God gave us Trump," says lie-filled propaganda video spread by Trump. (39:36) — Michigan GOP lawmaker: My bill will revoke tax exemptions from "non-theistic churches." (47:30) — Despite abuse problems, The Meeting House church isn't doing enough to help victims. (55:27) — GOP congresswoman Mary Miller: God-believers "are the best people" to serve in elected office. (1:09:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Kim Davis, the infamous Christian clerk from Kentucky, has to pay another $260,000 in her case against a same-sex couple. (1:46) — Mormons are no longer in the majority in Utah, researchers say. (12:50)  — Christians are mad that a Christian magazine (correctly) said Jesus was Asian. (33:10) — Lying Republican says New York bill would force Chick-fil-A to stay open on Sundays. (49:20) — Oklahoma GOP lawmaker files bill forcing Ten Commandments in every classroom. (57:27) — After the Covenant shooting, why do Christians think GOP lawmakers will listen to them? (1:09:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! On this (extra-long) podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Catholic Church, which is still anti-LGBTQ, will let priests bless same-sex couples. (0:50) — Here's why Speaker Mike Johnson's attendance at a "Purity Ball" is so damn disturbing. (21:25) — Conservatives can't handle the existence of an After School Satan Club in Tennessee. (34:58) — A Kansas teen launched the first high school Satan Club in the country. (46:33) — A Nativity scene returned outside the Toledo, Iowa fire department... with two new additions. (53:00) — An Iowa school district rejected a ministry's offer to buy a vacant building and launch a Christian school. (1:02:25) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Conservatives can't handle The Satanic Temple's harmless display in Iowa's Capitol. (0.37) — Officials in Toledo, Iowa think their public Nativity display is legal. They're wrong. (24:55) — The ACLU made a critical error in defending Christian pseudo-historian David Barton. (32:20) — The Mormon Church is buying up acre after acre of Nebraska. (49:36) — Preacher defends criminally charged colleague, saying critics will be "sniped and taken out." (58:15) — Denmark reinstates blasphemy law, criminalizing the burning of holy books. (1:11:15) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Speaker Mike Johnson says God told him, in late-night hallucinations, that he was Moses. (0:59) — The Mormon Church refused to help a sex abuse survivor, then paid her to destroy evidence. (13:18) — The theme of this public school marching band's halftime show? A Christian Tent Revival. (32:26) — Kirk Cameron wants schools to ditch Scholastic book fairs for a right-wing alternative. (42:20) — Oklahoma Senate candidate: Parents who use IVF are “waging an assault against God.” (1:01:10) — An all-female Catholic college will admit trans women. Haters can't handle it. (1:12:48) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — This anonymous Christian dad proudly refuses to love his transgender daughter. (0:22) — After ending daily prayers over the intercom, an Oklahoma public school may restart them. (21:46) — Christian college president: Sorry I let a man with long hair present at a Creationism seminar. (37:55) — Anger over Sabrina Carpenter's music video reveals the Catholic Church's broken priorities. (48:35) — Oregon is paying millions to an unlicensed Christian ministry to care for foster kids. (1:00:05) — An unregulated Louisiana group for Christian homeschoolers sells diplomas for $465. (1:08:40) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — "Let Us Prey" exposes abuse in Independent Fundamental Baptist churches. (1:08) — More congregations are ditching the United Methodist Church over an LGBTQ schism. (14:20) — A Christian school has sued Vermont officials after facing consequences for anti-trans bigotry. (27:50) — A teenager created a Prayer Mirror in her high school's bathroom. It needs to come down. (44:00) — A Pennsylvania school district must pay Satanists $200,000 after a lawsuit over After School Satan Club. (49:32) — Facing lawsuits, Archdiocese of Washington challenges law empowering abuse survivors. (1:00:15) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Christian now. Good luck figuring out why. (1:50) — A Christian singer, Bobbi Storm, disobeyed a flight attendant, sang on a plane, then acted like a victim. (26:32) — A Florida church refused to rent space to a mom who conceived her kids through IVF. (36:08) — A Christian dad claims his gay daughter's counselor interfered with their anti-gay bigotry. (45:45) — A West Virginia prison finally released an atheist inmate denied parole for refusing to profess Christianity. (1:07:52) — Federal judge: Atheist parolee jailed for rejecting Bible study can seek financial damages. (1:15:09) — Let’s discuss a bizarre hypothetical question involving a skydiving Christian baby. (1:19:50) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free steak for a year and get $20 off.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

***NOTE***: The first story involves a discussion about a man taking his life. Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Did a drag-loving, trans-pretending Baptist pastor, Bubba Copeland, deserve to be outed? (1:55) — Speaker Mike Johnson's use of "Covenant Eyes" shameware is even worse than it looks. (26:25) — The story of a homeless man who stole Sean Feucht's guitar, then found God, is a lie. (43:30) — AZ judge tosses out child abuse lawsuit against Mormon Church, citing "clergy-penitent" rule. (58:13) — Wisconsin GOP passes amendment to ban church shutdowns during future pandemic. (1:12:51) — After lawsuit, South Carolina will no longer give $1,500,000 to Christian school. (1:20:40) — To protest a Texas university's anti-drag president, Andrew Seidel spoke there in drag. (1:28:20) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free steak for a year and get $20 off.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant launched a Kickstarter to go through the Book of Revelation on YouTube. Please consider supporting him here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/friendlyatheist/everything-wrong-with-revelation-in-the-bible — Speaker Mike Johnson's "covenant marriage" doesn't make it more meaningful. (0:50) — Grand Canyon University, the nation's largest Christian school, just got fined $38 million for lying about tuition costs. (25:22) — The Southern Baptist Convention is still fighting against survivors of sexual abuse. (41:09) — After forcing kids to attend religious revival, a West Virginia school district has settled the case for $175,000. (1:03:38) — Texas Supreme Court to decide if a judge can be punished for refusing to marry gay couples. (1:12:10) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free steak for a year and get $20 off.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant launched a Kickstarter to go through the Book of Revelation on YouTube. Please consider supporting him here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/friendlyatheist/everything-wrong-with-revelation-in-the-bible — New House Speaker Mike Johnson is a fervent Christian Nationalist. (1:31)  — A Republican helped sink Rep. Tom Emmer's Speaker bid, saying he needed to "get right with Jesus." (29:10) — Rep. Maxwell Frost called out "racist, violent, and dangerous" Christian Nationalism. (38:30) — Donald Trump said he’ll block immigrants who "don’t like our religion" from entering the U.S. (43:52) — Preacher Mark Burns, who lied about his military service, plans to open the "Burns Christian Military Academy." (51:28) — Oklahoma’s Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a lawsuit to block a taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school. (58:30) — GOP congressman Burgess Owens falsely claimed the Bible was "banned from all of us" in 1963. (1:05:37) — SPONSOR: PaintYourLife.com: Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant launched a Kickstarter to go through the Book of Revelation on YouTube. Please consider supporting him here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/friendlyatheist/everything-wrong-with-revelation-in-the-bible — Oklahoma education leader claims church/state separation is "state-sponsored atheism." (0:40) — Judge rules (again) that teaching Islam in school doesn't violate the Constitution. (19:57) — Pennsylvania lawmaker cites Genesis 8 as proof that climate change is fake. (33:25) — A Pennsylvania police chief told a tarot card reader they could be jailed under the law. (40:55) — Atheist reminds Democratic leaders: We "are the party of religious freedom." (49:49) — Girl Defined had the worst possible guest to discuss women’s bodies. (58:09) — SPONSOR: PaintYourLife.com: Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant launched a Kickstarter to go through the Book of Revelation on YouTube. Please consider supporting him here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/friendlyatheist/everything-wrong-with-revelation-in-the-bible — Citing the Bible, a Louisiana principal punished a student for dancing inappropriately… then came the backlash. (5:42)  — A new Arkansas voucher program gives millions of public dollars to private Christian schools. (29:40) — When it comes to climate change, white evangelical Christians are least likely to accept reality. (39:22) — A candidate for public office is suing New Jersey over the phrase "So help me God" in its oath. (55:10) — Poland's census just revealed a massive drop in Catholicism. (1:03:10) — Asian Americans are drifting away from organized religion. (1:11:20) — SPONSOR: PaintYourLife.com: Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — We’re having a 500th episode party in Aurora, Illinois on Saturday, October 7. Details are here!  — “Project 2025” is a Christian Nationalist fever dream that would destroy American democracy. (1:39) — "Savior Complex" explores the dark side of an infamous Christian missionary in Uganda. (19:37) — A new federal report says Liberty University isn’t keeping its students safe. (37:50) — North Dakota GOP lawmaker Brandon Prichard went on a theocratic, homophobic tirade. (49:15) — With more abuse lawsuits on the horizon, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has declared bankruptcy. (1:01:59) — SPONSOR: ButcherBox is offering our listeners turkey FREE in your first box plus $20 off your first order. Sign up at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code FRIENDLY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode, Hemant spoke with Kate Cohen, author of the new book "We of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (And Maybe You Should Too)." https://amzn.to/46wxEmO (Affiliate link) Cohen is a Washington Post contributing columnist who has written many beautiful essays about atheism for an audience that isn't necessarily seeking it out. We spoke about why she's not an "angry atheist," the importance of secular holidays, whether there's a nice way to tell religious people they're lying to themselves, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant is speaking in Denver on Saturday, Sep. 30. Details are here! — We’re having a 500th episode party in Aurora, Illinois on Saturday, October 7. Details are here! t — A former Southern Baptist leader says his sexual misconduct is "nobody else's business." (1:30) — Republicans think Donald Trump is more of a “person of faith” than Mike Pence and Mitt Romney. (24:42)  — Kevin Sorbo doesn't want anyone to say his anti-trans children's book is anti-trans. (37:34) — NASA's new policy chief took her oath on a copy of Carl Sagan's "Contact." (51:25) — The Transformed Wife doesn’t know how public schools work. (54:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode, Hemant spoke with Andrew Pledger, a former student at Bob Jones University, a fundamentalist Christian school with a long and not-so-great history. Andrew is the host of a new podcast called "Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult." The stories in that podcast are depressing as all hell but they're so important to hear if you want to get a real sense of what schools like these do to people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant is speaking in Denver on Saturday, Sep. 30. Details are here! — We’re having a 500th episode party in Aurora, Illinois on Saturday, October 7. Details are here! t — Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke has a massive bill coming his way. (1:30) — Even the Mormon Church wants nothing to do with Tim Ballard. (10:30) — A new lawsuit says Louisiana students were tricked into going to church instead of a college fair. (25:05) — Letter suggests Pope Pius XII knew about Nazi atrocities but remained on the sidelines. (40:40) — After a teen's petition, a Minnesota school district will stop holding graduation in a megachurch. (52:40) — A professional singer was fired for criticizing the Cleveland Diocese's anti-LGBTQ policies. (1:04:03) — A Christian hate-preacher rationalized slavery in the worst way. (1:20:20) — For State House, Louisiana GOP endorses Christian pastor charged with child cruelty. (1:28:16) — A former American Family Association VP sued AFA for same-sex sexual harassment. (1:35:13) — SPONSOR: Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off! — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code FRIENDLY to receive ground beef for life plus $20 off your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis owes $100,000 to a gay couple she discriminated against. (1:28)  — A Baptist pastor falsely claimed autism is demonic: "My God doesn't make junk." (12:45) — A misleading survey suggests Christians are more tolerant of free speech than atheists. (30:00) — Florida continues to promote a Christian-approved alternative to the SAT. (41:54) — Christian pastors are struggling to find their successors. (1:00:05) — Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke has a warning about demonic owls. (1:13:48) — An Idaho library board chair demanded Sunday closures to "keep the Sabbath day holy." (1:19:58) — SPONSOR: Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off! — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/FRIENDLY and use code FRIENDLY to get $20 off your first order.​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Bremerton's praying football coach got what he wanted, so he quit. (1:25) — A California megachurch took over Chino Valley public schools, creating chaos once again. (32:33) — A dinosaur denier interviewed a dinosaur liar. Now my head hurts. (47:13) — A Christian group is blocking access to a Jersey Shore beach on Sunday mornings. (1:00:18) — Christian liar David Barton says Democrats aren't "God-fearing," so they cheat in elections. (1:10:15) — The Transformed Wife has no clue what happens in public schools or workplaces. (1:17:58) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/FRIENDLY and use code FRIENDLY to get $20 off your first order.​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Religious chaplains are begging Texas schools not to hire religious chaplains. (1:48) — A California public school board leader was condemned over calls for "Christ centered" parents on committees. (21:15) — A Christian boarding school that abused dozens of kids settled its lawsuits for $100 million. (34:12) — Christian hate-preacher Jonathan Shelley has thoughts about me. (49:02) — Denmark may criminalize burning holy books in public spaces. (56:10) — The Transformed Wife has thoughts about divorce. (1:06:00) — What words could you not say when you were Christian? (1:11:30) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/FRIENDLY and use code FRIENDLY to get two 100% grass-fed filet mignons and two wild-caught lobster tails for FREE in your first box plus $20 off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian mob invaded an Appalachian artists' retreat because of an "Om" symbol in the chapel. (2:55) — Spokane, Washington’s mayor appeared at a prayer event alongside Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht and domestic terrorist Matt Shea. (32:32) — Massachusetts rejected would-be foster parents because of their bigotry, not their Catholic faith. (44:11) — Denver Archdiocese sued Colorado over free pre-K because it hurts their bottom line. (56:44) — This Catholic website quizzed readers on whether they could "recognize superstition." Let’s take the quiz. (1:05:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The guy who said evangelicals today see Jesus as "weak" is part of the problem. (1:10) — Why is Baylor University getting a federal exemption from protecting LGBTQ students from faith-based harassment? (22:40) — A pastor surrounded by jumbotrons is mad that people treat church like a "big production." (50:52) — GOP lawmakers cited Noah's Ark to justify harming refugees with circular saw blades. (1:03:36) — Tennessee’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives will get $1.2 million. To do what? Who knows. (1:10:45) — SPONSOR: Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit. Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole Hemmer is a political historian specializing in media, conservatism, and the presidency. Her scholarship and teaching focus on the interplay of social movements, electoral politics, and political culture in order to probe the complexities of political identity and practice in the 20th century United States. In this bonus episode, Jess and Dr. Hemmer discussed the rise of the Evangelical right, why Newt Gingrich was so effective at whipping the GOP into shape, and some fun J. Edgar Hoover counterfactuals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Evangelist Franklin Graham is glad the U.S. women's soccer team lost the World Cup. (1:08) — Desperate to show Democrats are "promoting atheism," Republicans divulged sensitive data. (16:36) — Texas judge: Airline must get religious freedom training from Christian hate group. (39:40) — An Arkansas lawmaker's wife is swapping pro-LGBTQ books with bibles in Little Free Libraries. (49:42) — California county adopts error-laden "American Christian History Month" proclamation. (58:06) — A Texas district called for 22 days of prayer to launch the new school year. (1:03:25) — These Christians took preacher Robin D. Bullock seriously. Now they're screwed. (1:06:01) — SPONSOR: Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit. Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Longtime atheist activist and mentor Woody Kaplan has died. (0:15) — The #1 Christian album in the country belongs to drag queen Flamy Grant. (4:00) — Richard Dawkins used his new podcast to promote more transphobic lies. (13:20) — A Catholic school expelled a boy to retaliate against his outspoken mother. (59:31) — A lawsuit could block Oklahoma's taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school. (1:11:06) — SPONSOR: Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit. Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — For absurd reasons, MAGA cultists think FOX News supports The Satanic Temple. (2:15) — Survey: Belief in God, Heaven, Hell, angels, and the devil is lower than ever before. (14:45) — Does Vivek Ramaswamy's Hinduism really matter to GOP voters? (25:55) — Texas atheists sue Fort Worth for rejecting ads for event opposing Christian Nationalism. (39:33) — Christian hate-preacher: Even if your husband's an axe murderer, "you cannot divorce him." (44:50) — Judge: WV prison officials can't force an atheist inmate to profess Christianity. (51:15) — Don't believe the lie that growing megachurches tend to avoid politics. (58:41) — Two more House Democrats have (quietly) joined the Congressional Freethought Caucus. (1:08:33) — An Alabama church's $4.5 million "pastoral recovery center" raises so many red flags. (1:12:10) — SPONSOR: Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit. Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For a lot of listeners, I suspect conspiratorial thinking is something you connect with religion or right-wing politics. But of course it's also rampant in the world of New Age spirituality. Think Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Kennedy, Jr. They're not explicitly religious, but their fans are not exactly known for their critical thinking skills. My guests today have been dissecting that kind of BS for years. Julian Walker has written extensively on cults and gurus and New Age nonsense. Derek Beres is an author & media expert who's worked with a number of media and tech companies. Julian and Derek are also active yoga enthusiasts, a practice that's become rife with spiritual silliness that they oppose.  Both of them, along with Matthew Remski, are co-hosts of the podcast Conspirituality, which tackles how spiritual beliefs that can nurture creativity and meaning have transformed into memes of a quickly-globalizing paranoia. They just published a book about this topic called "Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Health Threat." (Affiliate link) Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast 0:00 Intro 1:45 Introductions 4:30 Your podcast began shortly after the pandemic shut everything down. What was it about that time that made you think this was the right time to talk about these issues? 7:20 What is it about being a contrarian that makes people—right-wing atheists or New Age believers—susceptible to propaganda? 12:00 You recently had an excerpt of your book, a part about RFK, run in Time magazine. What's the danger of RFK for people who haven't followed his career? 14:30 Why is anti-vax propaganda so powerful given that we just went through a global pandemic? 18:10 Who is responsible for spreading spiritual misinformation? It's not like the New Age crowd has a FOX News or Newsmax. 21:21 Why do conspiracy theories always seem to align with right-wing politics? 24:20 Do the purveyors of this nonsense know it's BS or are they True Believers? 28:00 Is it helpful when people like Dr. Oz and RFK run for office and lose? Or are those still opportunities to spread misinformation regardless of the outcome? 32:48 What has frustrated you both about media coverage of spiritual grifters? 36:45 Who's more dangerous: Gwyneth Paltrow or Alex Jones? 41:00 What is the "eugenics to yoga pipeline"? 45:20 What one question do you wish people would ask when grifters pitch a product? 49:25 Should we be debating vaccine efficacy? 55:15 What's effective in combatting these lies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caroline Mala Corbin is a professor at the University of Miami School of Law. She teaches classes involving the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment, the Religion Clauses, the Free Speech Clause, Feminism and the First Amendment, and Reproductive Rights. Her scholarship focuses on the First Amendment’s speech and religion clauses, particularly their intersection with equality issues. We spoke about the Supreme Court's recent decisions, the fear of the legal challenges that lie ahead, what could happen when non-Christians use "religious freedom" arguments in court, and more. Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast 0:00 Intro 1:36 How bad are things right now? 2:42 What was the "303 Creative" case? 7:05 Does it matter that no gay couple asked Lorie Smith to design a wedding website for them? 10:30 How worried should we be about the ruling in 303 Creative? 15:26 Can Colorado do anything to circumvent this ruling? 17:25 Should atheists or Satanists use this ruling to discriminate against Christians? 20:30 Why did Neil Gorsuch compare this case to the 1940s' Barnette case involving the Pledge of Allegiance? 28:55 How do you teach Constitutional Law when this Supreme Court continues to ignore precedent and distort existing law? 30:38: What was the Groff v. DeJoy case all about? 33:44: What does it mean that SCOTUS changed the previous minimum standard to one that requires substantial costs to a company? 42:30 What religious liberty issues are coming down the pipeline? What should we be paying attention to? 45:05 Do teachers have a First Amendment right to refuse to call students by their pronouns? Is the government controlling their speech by forcing them to acknowledge trans identities? 49:33 Why do students in Texas and Florida need their parents' permission to get out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance? 53:22 Will the expansion of "religious liberty" rights be a useful tool for non-Christians pushing for progressive interpretations of the law? 58:06 What's your prediction for the next big change to SCOTUS, barring an unexpected death? 58:53 When you meet with constitutional lawyers, what do you all talk about? Professor Corbin's website: https://people.miami.edu/profile/f8a9f100455e712842ae5c0a6ab128ff Her paper on the Pledge of Allegiance: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3941233 Her paper on whether teachers should have to use students' pronouns: https://www.journaloffreespeechlaw.org/corbin.pdf Her other papers: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=797431 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pat Robertson is still dead. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders defends Cross drawing at Governor’s Mansion. (0:52) — Sen. Josh Hawley shared a fake Patrick Henry quotation to promote theocracy on Independence Day. (16:58) — Mormon parents sued a school district after their son had sex in the parking lot. (38:00) — What should Sweden be doing after a man burned the Qur’an outside a mosque? (47:55) — Are Secular Americans the new abortion voters? (1:07:20) — Insurers are avoiding Australia's Anglican schools due to child sex abuse risks. (1:18:38) — Faith "switching": Religions are leaking members and can't plug the holes fast enough. (1:23:05) — SPONSOR: Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit. Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pat Robertson is still dead.  — What happened to that submersible? (0:20) — Josh Duggar's father-in-law delivered a racist sermon praising Christian slaveowners. (5:15) — Is the Supreme Court case involving a bigoted Christian web designer built on a lie? (32:40) — A GOP congressman is targeting a church/state separation group with his defense bill amendment. (46:10) — In Colorado, nearly 1 in 4 state lawmakers are non-religious. (1:01:20) — At 14, she was "betrothed" to her pastor. She's finally sharing her side of the story. (1:11:51) — A Catholic priest forgot how to count. Now the Church is celebrating a "Eucharistic miracle." (1:28:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. ***CORRECTION***: The "He-Man Woman-Haters Club" is from the Little Rascals, not The Simpsons! Oops! — What we can learn from the disgraceful life of Pat Robertson. (0:22) — Stop overreacting about Jeopardy! players missing a clue about the Lord's Prayer. (10:47) — Most Christian pastors use armed church members to thwart a possible mass shooting. (18:25) — Utah Republicans are furious schools banned the Bible to comply with their book-banning law. (27:05) — The Catholic Church in Kansas City used the wrong wine... and broke the religion. (34:35) — A California restaurant chain had employees confess their work-related sins to a fake priest. (43:26) — U.S. bishops are about to block trans-affirming care at Catholic hospitals. (53:17) — After complaints from Christians, Poland's 666 bus to Hel will cease to exist. (1:05:45) — Survey: In the U.K., belief in God has finally dipped below 50%. (1:09:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have already encountered Gloria Beth Amodeo's writing in places like Publishers Weekly, The Literary Review, and American Atheist magazine. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School, and currently works at an advertising agency in New York City.  She recently wrote a book called God's Ex-Girlfriend: A Memoir about Loving and Leaving the Evangelical Jesus (affiliate link), so you know I had to talk to her. We spoke about how Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) hurts people, the advice she'd give potential Cru members, and how the group's bigotry made her rethink her faith. 1:13 - Background 5:45 - Why belonging to a larger group was so important to her in college. 8:00 - How Cru entered her life. 10:00 - How Christians avoid saying Christian. 11:55 - How Cru connected with her. 13:59 - The power of "relational evangelism." 16:22 - What Cru did that convinced her they were worth joining. 18:40 - When Gloria Beth realized this brand of Christianity espoused anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion thinking. 24:50 - How Cru is more about belonging than Jesus 25:55 - The three steps to successfully convert someone. 29:09 - Evangelical Christianity as a kind of diet. 30:01 - The sexual history they wanted to know before she went on a summer mission trip. 36:57 - The most cringe-worthy stuff Gloria Beth did as a Cru member. 40:27 - When she realized she might be wrong. 47:30 - What life after Christianity felt like at first. 49:16 - How Cru failed her after she graduated. 50:48 - The most harmful things that Cru teaches. 54:07 - The politics of Cru. 54:50 - What she would say to someone thinking about joining Cru or InterVarsity. 57:20 - What religious label she uses now. 58:10 - What happened with the people she met in Cru. 59:20 - What she's heard from current Cru members and leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — What we learned from watching “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets.” (1:57) — Christians are furious over a tiny Pride flag on the set of “The Chosen,” a show about Jesus. (29:12) — Oklahoma just approved a taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school. (41:03) — The L.A. Dodgers never should've caved after honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. (51:38) — Richard Dawkins has a new analogy to describe people who are transgender. (1:03:17)  — If Louisiana forces every classroom to display “In God We Trust” signs, atheist Chaz Stevens is preparing to send them Arabic ones. (1:10:00) — What does it mean that “non-churchgoers now rule the GOP”? (1:16:35) — To comply with Utah's book banning law, a school district removed the KJV Bible. (1:28:00) — Two Christian schools sue Minnesota for cutting them out of a taxpayer-funded program. (1:33:00) This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Learn more at BetterHelp.com/ATHEIST for 10% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. —SPONSOR: Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. — The 3 lies that convinced two conservative Christians to stop home-schooling their kids. (2:20) — Catholics are flocking to Missouri to catch a glimpse of a dead nun’s corpse. (32:42) — A pastor charged with four counts of child cruelty has announced his bid for the Louisiana House. (46:05) — A Church diocese dismissed sex abuse allegations against a priest. Now there are six more victims. (1:00:06) — A GOP bill would force Michigan schools to teach the "Christian foundations" of the U.S. (1:08:25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

***An audio glitch in an earlier upload of this episode has been corrected. Apologies for the error!*** Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A new damning report examined sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Illinois. (0:55) — Even the most dedicated Catholics are walking away from Church services. (21:23) — A new Florida law allows four minutes of loudspeaker prayers at high school playoff games. (32:13) — The Jehovah’s Witnesses are trying to pretend they didn’t create two videos promoting disfellowshipping/shunning. (41:32) — A Christian school fired two staffers for including their pronouns in emails. (1:00:08) — A Satanist is suing Chicago for ignoring his “Hail Satan” invocation request. (1:14:50) — Why did a Florida county honor conspiracy theorist and preacher Rodney Howard-Browne? (1:22:00) — Why did the Texas Ten Commandments bill fail? Not because Republicans opposed it... (1:29:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A 60 Minutes segment on the Mormon Church allegedly hoarding cash only made the religion look worse. (0:45)   — Southern Baptists had the biggest drop in membership in over 100 years... AGAIN! (26:26) — A Christian "prophet" says climate change is God's way of pointing us to Bible verses. (38:56) — A church in Norwich, Ontario pressured businesses to close on Sundays... or else. (44:19) — An atheist heard his kids’ bus driver was proselytizing on the way to school… so he had them capture it on video. (50:10)  — Christian Nationalists are now adopting and embracing the label. (57:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Texas State Rep. Bryan Slaton confirmed the hypocrisy of Christian Nationalists. (0:59)   — Three Texas churches gave $800 to a city council candidate. (35:05) — Mississippi’s new license plates get rid of “In God We Trust.” (43:33) — Why are Utah public schools taking part in a pseudo-patriotic and overtly Christian event? (53:53) — Conservative Christians took over a school board in Colorado. Now they’re destroying it. (1:03:50) — A Portland (Oregon) school board candidate vowed to drop out of the race after his Christian Nationalist ties were exposed. (1:18:46) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Kansas lawmaker told non-Christian constituents that he’d “try and convert” them rather than taking their concerns seriously. (0:52) — A Texas Democrat dismantled the case for putting the Ten Commandments in every classroom… but Republicans don’t care. (20:08) — A Baptist missionary was convicted of sexually abusing a four-year-old girl. The proof? He gave her gonorrhea. (41:04) — What horrible ideas does a former atheist leader have now? Let’s check in. (52:00) — If you’re attempting to test the Equal Access Act and counter a Christian program in a public school, don’t do it the way this atheist did. (59:15) — A judge ordered a Pennsylvania school district to allow meetings of the After School Satan Club. (1:19:43) — A Christian congressman said gun violence was the result of a lack of “revival,” but more Jesus would only make things worse. (1:25:35) — A Christian minister told Ohio legislators that trans rights supporters were “possessed by demons.” (1:31:55) — SPONSOR: Go to ExpressVPN.com/friendlyatheist to get three extra months free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Kenyan cult is allegedly responsible for the starvation deaths of dozens of people. (2:25) — An Arizona lawmaker moved bibles out of a “members-only” lounge in the Capitol. She was right to do it. (17:31) — A Christian student was banned from prom for wearing a suit instead of a dress. (28:19) — A federal judge says Mississippi must allow religious exemptions for vaccines. (38:05) — Minneapolis will let Muslims amplify calls to prayer 24/7… which is a mistake. (46:19) — Most Americans agree: You don’t need God to be good. (59:00) — Christian missionaries will no longer be able to preach to kids in Oklahoma public schools. (1:07:28)   — The beliefs of an exorcism-obsessed church caused a deadly accident in Australia. (1:12:25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — These Christians used their baby to learn about sex. (1:11) — A Christian mailman wants special rights at work, and the Supreme Court may help him out. (26:37)  — Ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was charged with another sexual abuse crime. (54:06) — This is a horrible honeymoon tip, courtesy of Purity Culture. (1:04:05)  — A judge ordered a California church to pay over $1.2 million in fines for ignoring COVID rules. (1:11:47) — The Arizona Supreme Court said Mormon leaders don’t have to report confessions of abuse. (1:16:00) — SPONSOR: Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — An anti-trans lawmaker from Missouri says it’s okay for 12-year-olds to get married. (0:38) — The Dalai Lama asked a child to suck his tongue. (15:08) — U.S. Latinos are ditching Catholicism and becoming “Nones.” (24:20) — A Christian public school teacher is demanding the right to include “John 3:16” in her emails. (37:06)  — A NASA official swore her oath on Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot." (45:36) — An anti-LGBTQ Christian mom sued Oregon for rejecting her request to adopt kids. (53:28) — Oklahoma officials rejected a taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school… for now. (1:03:29)  — SPONSOR: Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. — SPONSOR: Use my link EXPRESSVPN.COM/FRIENDLYATHEIST today and get an extra three months free on a one-year package. — SPONSOR: If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/ATHEIST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Nearly half of Gen Z, born after 1996, has no religious affiliation whatsoever. (1:17) — Maryland’s attorney general released a report on Catholic clergy abuse in Baltimore Archdiocese. (16:09) — A priest was punished for saying clergy members should report sex abuse confessions to local authorities. (27:11) — The Covenant School tragedy shows how more prayer will never stop gun violence. (36:31) — Religious jurors punish defendants who don’t swear to God to tell the truth. (42:07) — Texas lawmakers also want to replace trained school counselors with untrained chaplains. (46:30) — Atheists are suing West Virginia prison officials for forcing some inmates to profess Christianity. (55:15) — A Maine church is very upset it can’t get taxpayer money for promoting bigotry. (59:51) — A megachurch allegedly forced employees to tithe 10% of each paycheck. (1:07:08) — A Nebraska school is revamping its security protocols after an uninvited preacher evangelized in the cafeteria. (1:21:29) — SPONSOR: If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/ATHEIST. — SPONSOR: Go to HelloFresh.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 for 50% off, plus your first box ships free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Suzanna Krivulskaya is an Assistant Professor of History at California State University San Marcos where she teaches courses in United States history. Her first book, Disgraced: How Sex Scandal Transformed American Protestantism, will be published in early 2024 by Oxford University Press. A specialist in the fields of U.S. religion and sexuality, Suzanna has published in both scholarly and popular outlets, like The Revealer and Religion and Politics. Her scholarly work was recognized by the 2019-2020 Virginia Ramey Mollenkott Award from the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network. In 2022, she was named a Public Research in Religion Institute Fellow in the area of Religion and LGBTQ Rights. Always interested in translating academic expertise to broader publics, she currently serves as a trainer in the Sacred Writes program, which connects students of religion with public-facing scholarship.  We spoke about the Falwells, the Bakkers, the Haggards, why the wives often stand by their scandal-plagued pastor-husbands, and what these scandals reveal about evangelical Christianity. — Why do scandal-plagued pastors' wives stay by their husbands' side? (5:00) — Is the supposed shame of divorce too strong? (8:00) — Should we feel bad for these wives? (9:42) — What the heck is going on with the Falwells? (11:59) — Suzanna describes her journey from missionary to doubter (14:24) — Are younger evangelicals changing how we talk about this issue? (16:05) — How long have these scandals been going on? (18:06) — What do these scandals say about evangelical Christianity? (20:12) — How can these pastors still preach "purity"? (26:54) — Did anything in Suzanna's research surprise her? (31:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Florida principal was fired after students saw an image of Michelangelo’s “David.” (0:33) — A Christian woman claimed her three amputated toes were regrown during a prayer service. (19:09) — A Colorado bill would make Catholic hospitals say what services they don't provide. (34:05) — A Christian ministry trademarked the phrase "Worship Leader," creating mass chaos. (45:23) — Citing his faith, a Texas university leader canceled a drag show fundraiser. (54:36)  — The Satanic Temple is not promoting adult content to kids, no matter what this Christian ministry says. (1:04:30) — A Texas bill would cut property taxes for couples with 10 kids. (1:19:36) —SPONSOR: If you’re looking for a simpler and cost-effective supplement routine, Athletic Greens is giving you a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase. Go to athleticgreens.com/ATHEIST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian lawmaker used the Bible to justify the physical abuse of kids with disabilities in public schools. (0:37) — Americans still view atheists unfavorably… but it’s not all bad news. (25:42) — In a lawsuit, a teenager says a teacher assaulted her for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance. (43:37) — An editorial defending college football coach Deion Sanders’ proselytizing fumbled the facts. (54:35)  — The Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese in California has filed for bankruptcy. (1:13:29) — A Christian school in Vermont is banned from competing in state-sanctioned events after refusing to play a team with a trans athlete. (1:21:03) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian pastor wrote the most WTF essay about Jesus penetrating the church. (0:57) — A Catholic non-profit spent millions of dollars to track the whereabouts of gay priests. (32:35) — An Arizona school board rightly ended its contract with an anti-LGBTQ Christian college. (48:25) — An employee of Catholic Charities has sued the group for its hyper-realistic active shooter drill. (58:37)  — This is going to be the worst conference ever. (1:07:00) — Why is a taxpayer-funded tourism group in Kentucky promoting Creationism? (1:15:05) — The Supreme Court won't weigh in on a police-led Christian prayer vigil... yet. (1:20:35) — A Tennessee bill would let county clerks refuse to sign same-sex and interracial marriage licenses. (1:36:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Why was New York City Mayor Eric Adams repeating Christian Nationalist rhetoric? (0:40) — Christians who went to the Asbury "revival" may have been exposed to measles. (15:14) — Defrocked priest Frank Pavone has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct. (23:15)  — Banning "After School Satan" clubs after anonymous threats makes things worse. (37:30) — A writer who once called out conservative Christianity has now adopted conservative Christianity. (44:20)   — Attendance in religious education classes fell 99% in Victoria, Australia after the classes stopped being mandatory. (54:15) — A Montana Republican has filed a bill to stick Christian prayer in public schools. (1:00:29) — West Virginia lawmakers are still trying to push “Intelligent Design” into classrooms. (1:07:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — I’ve shifted to Substack. (0:48) — Saddleback Church was kicked out of the Southern Baptist Convention for having a woman pastor. (1:56) — Arizona House Republicans passed a bill forcing kids to say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. (14:13) — Nikki Haley, who wants to present herself as a sane Republican, got an extremist pastor to kick off her presidential campaign. (23:50) — A former member of Westboro Baptist Church is now whitewashing a different kind of hate. (30:53) — Nebraska State Sen. Megan Hunt called out her Christian colleagues for ignoring Jesus in how they vote. (40:03) — A Christian school canceled a concert after learning one of the singers is gay. (46:35)  — The Feds fined the Mormon Church and its investment division for trying to hide its assets. (59:15) — A victim of the Satanic Panic, Melvin Quinney, has finally been exonerated. (1:10:59) — Don’t automatically trust stories about pastors who die for bizarre religion-related reasons in Africa. (1:17:19) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jessica did a solo interview with Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at Wellesley College where she studies the lived experiences of Black people with a focus on slavery and abolitionism. She also co-hosts the podcasts This Day in Esoteric Political History and Oprahdemics. Jess and Dr. Carter Jackson discussed how Christianity informed opinions on slavery and abolition, why the church was (and still is) entwined with Black American culture, and the first lady of talk, Oprah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Sam Smith’s and Kim Petras’ Satan-themed performance of “Unholy” at the Grammys angered conservative Christians. (0:22) — A Christian school decided to affirm LGBTQ people… and now it will shut down because the donors left. (10:26) — White evangelical parents want their kids to have the same faith. What does that say about their parenting? (16:30) — Get ready for some Jesus-y Super Bowl ads. (28:28) — An atheist Republican (!) is back (!) in the New Hampshire legislature. (30:55) — Kent Hovind’s Dinosaur Adventure Land is a cesspool of chaos and that’s putting it lightly. (43:56) — The Democratic National Committee passed a resolution condemning “white religious nationalism.” (51:50) — Victoria (Australia) officials want guidance from higher-up officials so they can eliminate Christian invocation prayers at meetings. (56:10)  — Oklahoma Republicans want to inject Christian Nationalism into history classes. (59:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt responded to an anti-drag bill with an amendment to protect children from religious indoctrination. (0:49) — The Satanic Temple is about to launch “The Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic," named in honor of someone whose lack of options in 1950 forced the rest of us to pay the price. (10:35) — The Pope wants you to remember that the middle finger represents honesty. (17:00) — Let’s talk about unhealthy relationships between minor celebrities and their wonderful fans. (19:10) — Montana Sen. Daniel Emrich wants to ban everything but “scientific fact” from public school classrooms. (40:45) — Christian hate-group leader Mat Staver wants Christian schools to expel children of gay parents before they convince other kids same-sex families are perfectly fine. (49:32) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Church of England will finally bless same-sex marriages. But don’t cheer just yet. (0:50) — The Pope called for the decriminalization of homosexuality. Does it matter? (5:44) — Stop praising Pastor Andy Stanley for pretending to care about gay people. (12:50) — Former NFL coach and current commentator Tony Dungy hid behind his faith during an acknowledgment that he lied to people about kitty litter boxes in classrooms. (37:48) — After a Mormon man murdered his family, why was his obituary so positive? (44:30)  — During a right-wing rally, former SNL cast member Jim Breuer mocked flu shots, vaccines, and NFL player Damar Hamlin. (51:27) — Anti-abortion activist Nathaniel Darnell celebrated the death of the former Speaker of the Georgia House. (56:52) — 13 clergy members have filed a lawsuit "challenging Missouri’s abortion ban and several related abortion restrictions." (1:00:45) — Who allowed controversial “influencer” Woah Vicky to preach to kids at a Georgia high school? (1:04:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Mississippi Democrat filed a “trigger” bill to bring Christian prayers back to public schools. (1:00)  — Idaho’s “faith-healing” exemption has led to more children’s deaths, and one Republican told me he wants to fix that. (15:53) — If Iowa passes a controversial voucher bill to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to private religious schools, one atheist plans to open up a Satanic school. (28:58) — Judge Alfred T. Goodwin, a church/state separation hero, died at 99. (39:00)  — Atheist activist Chaz Stevens wants Fort Lauderdale, Florida to respect religious freedom by honoring the Shinto “Festival of the Steel Phallus. (42:02) — The ARISE Church in New Zealand hired an investigator to look into allegations against it… and now they’re punishing the investigator. (57:52) — The Decatur County Sheriff’s Department in Greensburg, Indiana has been pushing Christianity on inmates in the county jail. (1:11:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — An art history professor at Hamline University in Minnesota was fired after showing students an ancient depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in class. (0:40) — The Catholic Church in Kansas was home to 188 predators, according to a four-year investigation. (19:05)  — When it comes to contraception, most Catholics in the U.S. completely ignore the Church’s position. (27:40) — The Christians behind a viral “Eye of the Tiger” cover see all your comments calling them “cringy.” (37:00) — The legislature of New Brunswick rejected an invocation request from a Hindu activist because lawmakers insisted the prayer could only come from a fellow Christian. (50:50) — Church attendance among young people has suffered a major decline since the pandemic. (57:05)  — A pastor was given a short jail sentence after subjecting homeless people to forced labor. (1:04:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Prayers won’t help NFL player Damar Hamlin, especially when they come from on-air NFL analysts like Dan Orlovsky. (1:45) — Mark Rozzi, the new Speaker of the Pennsylvania House, is a self-described “freethinker” who has fought against the Catholic Church’s abuse. (25:00) — Dennis Prager is very sad that conservatives are no longer welcome in their kids’ homes over the holidays. (38:00) — Kirk Cameron is still spreading lies to publicize his new book but got called out by a library. (47:52) — Nearly a year after the launch of “He Gets Us,” the $100,000,000 ad campaign for Jesus is still failing to get a positive reception. (1:03:48) — The Jehovah’s Witnesses just lost its "religious community" status in Norway, a huge blow to the group. (1:21:35) — Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have expanded treatment options for secular people struggling with substance abuse and addiction. (1:33:14) — Congressman Jamie Raskin released a statement revealing his cancer diagnosis. Perhaps unusually, there was no mention of God. (1:37:59) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. On this (extra-long) podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Singer Amy Grant was condemned for hosting her niece’s same-sex wedding at her family farm. (0:43) — A prominent Black atheist leader was accused of ethical violations. (12:00) — Bucksport, Maine chose to take down a Nativity scene before allowing an atheist sign to go up. (21:02) — Christian hate-preacher Jonathan Shelley needs a new home because “nobody really wants to lease to us.“ (26:07) — SPONSOR: God Pod! Check it out and subscribe! (32:18) — Catholic MAGA cultist Frank Pavone was (finally) kicked out of the priesthood. (33:33) — Two Christian schools can no longer shield their identities after requesting censored field trips to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (40:25) — “The Church at Planned Parenthood” will have to pay heavy fines for blocking an abortion clinic. (48:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Emily Olson, the newest city council member in Owosso, Michigan, has received backlash for trying to end the tradition of Christian prayers at meetings and refusing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. (0:55) — The nephew of GOP bigot Rep. Vicky Hartzler spoke out after she cried on the House floor about a bill protecting same-sex marriages. (18:50) — The first meeting of an After School Satan Club had to be delayed in Virginia after the Chesapeake Public Schools board cited safety concerns. (23:05) — SPONSOR: God Pod! Check it out and subscribe! (32:54) — Rep. Louie Gohmert praised a Christian pastor whose church has ignored serious allegations. (33:56)  — New York’s governor should sign a bill that bolsters secular addiction treatment programs. (40:30) — A Christian teacher at Franklin Academy, a public charter school in Florida, was fired after interrupting three Muslim students in the middle of a prayer. (46:25) — A Christian mother in British Columbia has lost her case arguing that an Indigenous “smudging” ritual at her kids’ school violated her religious freedom. (50:50) — A lawyer tasked with helping the Archdiocese of Montreal be more transparent when it comes to child sexual abuse allegations has discovered that Church leaders were sabotaging her efforts. (56:13) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — “Top evangelicals” are not backing away from Donald Trump, no matter what the headlines suggest. (2:11) — A restaurant in Virginia refused to serve members of a Christian hate group. Is that religious discrimination? (13:15) — An atheist delivered an invocation in Lake County, Florida… only to be followed by a Christian giving his own prayer as a sort of correction. (29:29)  — SPONSOR: Check out Elle the Humanist, an introduction to Humanism for young readers! Using this link or the code “friendlyatheist” will get you 10% off anything on the website! (37:04) — Actor and evangelist Kirk Cameron is pretending public libraries are censoring him for not hosting events for his new book. (38:30)  — Matt Chandler, a megachurch leader with a history of downplaying sexual abuse, returned to the pulpit after his own scandal, but he’s not offering any details about what happened. (49:11)  — Uber and Lyft allow drivers to preach at riders, setting up a very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation. (1:04:23) — Will Democrats notice that non-religious voters helped tip the scales in their favor during the midterms? (1:12:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Christian hate-preacher Aaron Thompson celebrated the Club Q shooting, calling it a “good thing.” (3:00) — Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis says the victims of the shooting are probably in Hell. (9:45) — Focus on the Family’s sign was vandalized. Was it justified? (12:30) — Christians are now in the minority in England and Wales. (33:55) — SPONSOR: Check out Elle the Humanist, an introduction to Humanism for young readers! Using this link or the code “friendlyatheist” will get you 10% off anything on the website! https://labelfree.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist (41:53) — Christians in Tuscumbia, Alabama are furious that a Krampus-friendly Festival of Yule is taking place in their community. (43:17) — In Bangladesh, two men sentenced to die for murdering an atheist author and his publisher escaped police custody. (52:48) — At least two instructors at BYU-Idaho, an affiliate of Brigham Young University in Utah, have been fired for not receiving “ecclesiastical clearance.” (58:29) — Adnan Oktar, a Creationist preacher in Turkey, was sentenced to 8,658 years in prison for a variety of crimes including running a criminal organization, sexual abuse, torture, and abduction. (1:15:05) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, I spoke with Rachel Laser, who became president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in February of 2018. She is the organization’s first non-Christian and female leader in its 75 year history. Rachel is a lawyer, advocate and strategist who has dedicated her career to making our country more inclusive.  We spoke about her work with religious organizations, whether the Johnson Amendment will ever be enforced, what people still don't get about church/state separation, and more. 0:00 Intro 2:00 What did you take away from the results of the midterm elections? 5:16 What's the relationship between AU and religious organizations? 10:02 How does your strategy shift given the Supreme Court's right-wing shift?  17:23 How fundamental are lawsuits to AU's mission? 22:18 Are there ways to get Republicans to support church/state separation? 27:04 What misconceptions do Americans have about church/state separation? 32:57 Will new IRS funding lead to enforcement of the Johnson Amendment? 36:03 What are the biggest looming church/state issues we should be concerned about? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Actress Candace Cameron Bure is making pseudo-Hallmark movies that feature “traditional marriage,” not gay couples. (0:54) — Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke just lost both of his YouTube channels. (23:28) — “Highly religious Americans” are the biggest climate deniers. (29:40) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt celebrated his re-election with a public prayer in which he claimed the entire state in the name of Jesus. (37:08) — A Buddhist pilot won’t have to go through Alcoholics Anonymous after a settlement with United Airlines. (39:20) — A Christian Nationalist who won a school board seat in Florida wants to bring back physical abuse in school, (43:48) — After speaking out against her abusive Christian school, a Canadian woman had her home vandalized. (51:52) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Pat Robertson’s prediction failed. (3:00) — How did the godless fare in the 2022 midterm elections? (13:35)  — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis deemed himself a “fighter” sent by the Christian God to defend the downtrodden. (33:06) — Tennessee rightly got rid of a ban on pastors in public office. An (unenforceable) atheist ban, however, remained in place. (53:15) — Amendment 3, a “religious freedom” amendment, failed in Arkansas. (1:03:50)  — Was the Air Force Academy promoting Christianity on the soccer field? (1:12:36) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Greg Locke’s Halloween bonfire to destroy “witchcraft” artifacts, Catholic symbols, and other things he deems evil got a heavy dose of rain. (3:50)  — The IRS isn’t doing a damn thing to enforce the Johnson Amendment and stop churches from endorsing political candidates from the pulpit. (15:00) — If the IRS doesn’t care, should more Democratic preachers use the pulpit to promote their candidates? That’s what Rev. Jamal H. Bryant did. (He’s not a hero, though.) (36:30) — Yolanda Flowers, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Alabama, made a surprise appearance this week at Creationist Kent Hovind's Dinosaur Adventure Land. (47:12) — While New Mexico GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti insists he’s not an anti-abortion extremist, a prominent pastor is telling a very different story. (56:40)  — Four members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, all in Pennsylvania, were charged with sexually abusing a total of 19 kids. (1:07:36) — Brazil defeated Jair Bolsonaro and his evangelical Christian base. (1:09:29) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — 45% of Americans say we should live in a “Christian nation.” Yikes…? (0:50) — Even Christianity Today admits public schools aren’t godless. (16:50) — Christian “prophet” Robin Bullock says that Jesus was a wealthy man who owned five houses. (26:18) -– Sumner County, TN has adopted new rules acknowledging the supposed “Judeo-Christian” founding of the country. (34:23)  — Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke is so loud that his county may institute a noise ordinance. (40:36) — Leaders in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo (NY) have agreed to government oversight because they’re utterly incapable of protecting kids on their own. (48:15)  — A Hasidic school in New York City will have to pay back millions for defrauding the state. (55:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Atheist candidate Mike Itkis made a sex tape to boost his flailing congressional campaign. (1:44) — Preaching history teacher and Christian bigot David Paszkiewicz is running for public office in Kearny, NJ. (14:35)   — Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke plans to hold another book burning on Halloween. This time, Catholic symbols will be up in flames too. (25:22)  — Conservative blogger Matt Walsh says anime is Satanic. (34:10) — Christians lashed out against a “satanic” mural in a middle school painted by a teenager. (38:01)   — Mormon dad Matthew Watkins explained how he would disown his daughter if she were in a same-sex marriage and it did not go over well. (50:30) — “The Unbelieving,” a new play about preachers who no longer believe in God yet remain in the pulpit, is premiering off-Broadway. (1:03:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Bart Barber, the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, was featured on 60 Minutes but revealed the bigotry underlying his faith. (1:13) — Christian hate-preacher Steven Anderson delivered a very explicit and homophobic sermon. (26:29) — Why did a youth pastor hand out “I <3 hot youth pastors” stickers to kids? (33:42) — Catholic hospitals have always been dangerous. After the overturning of Roe, that’s never been more true. (46:00) — A lawyer was fined $400,000 for warning a Catholic school about a predator priest on the payroll. (57:00) — Two evangelists canceled a Florida stop due to Hurricane Ian after insisting God told them the event would go on without a hitch. (1:16:02)  — One Million Moms prematurely declared victory over the cancellation of “Little Demon.” It’s not canceled. (1:18:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Texas mother Jamie Gooch is warning people against Hocus Pocus 2. (0:33)   — Minnesota lawmakers are launching a Secular Government Caucus to combat Christian Nationalism. (11:54) — Will the revelation that Herschel Walker paid for an abortion have any effect on conservative Christian voters in Georgia? (21:50)    — Christian spyware that’s meant to monitor visits to adult websites is also being used to monitor Wikipedia searches for atheism. (46:45) — A Christian father has horrible advice for raising good kids. (57:44) — Andrew Thorburn, the newly appointed CEO of an Australian football team, resigned due to backlash over his conservative Christian bigotry. (1:12:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — An 8-year-old girl was expelled for not wanting to send her teacher a picture of herself reading in the bathtub. (0:55) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is going after Republican Darren Bailey for using a fundamentalist Christian curriculum in a school he opened. (10:36)  — Are Tennessee’s license plates making it easier for cops to spot atheists? (24:19) — Students in Baton Rouge, Louisiana thought they were attending a “College & Career Fair.” Instead, they were taken to church. (30:44) — Fundamentalist Christian mom Lori Alexander wants women to avoid feminism. This chart isn’t helping. (38:55)  — Bible preacher Mike Winger says you should kill someone if God tells you to. (47:30) — The documentary Jihad Rehab is poorly and irresponsibly made, but some prominent atheists are whining about “identity politics.” (52:47) — The Satanic Temple sued Indiana’s top officials to block an extreme abortion ban. (1:08:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Greg Locke is very unhappy about his depiction in the Peacock series Shadowland. (1:47) — Despite the Supreme Court giving him his old job back, Joseph Kennedy, the football coach who held prayer spectacles at midfield after games, is long gone. (14:04) — Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma claimed that God showed approval for his state’s extreme abortion ban by… making it rain after a drought. (26:15) — God’s Not Dead 5 is coming soon. (32:18) — Dr. Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says Christians must vote a certain way or else they’re being “unfaithful” to God. (45:20) — When Liberty U. comes into town, UMass football will hold “Pride Day” (56:22) — Many of New York’s Hasidic schools are taking public funds but not educating kids. (1:00:55) — Rapper Kanye West has opened his own private Christian school where parents have to sign NDAs. Yikes. (1:12:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Seidel is the Vice President of Strategic Communications for Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the author of "The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American." He's written and spoken extensively about these issues in a variety of online and print publications, and on several news shows. His latest book, out this month, is called "American Crusade: How the Supreme Court is Weaponizing Religious Freedom." 0:00 Intro 1:08 How did you write a book about the Supreme Court when the Court kept issuing new, harmful rulings? (An update to the book can be found here: https://andrewlseidel.com/moreac/) 3:24 What church/state barriers are next to fall? 8:09 Is the Federalist Society a Christian organization? 13:37 Why isn't there a liberal equivalent to the Federalist Society? 15:14 SPONSOR: https://www.expressvpn.com/friendlyatheist 16:34 Is the Supreme Court helping or hurting the country? 18:40 Is there one justice whose presence is ultra-crusade-y? 21:04 Should we care about the details of Amy Coney Barrett's faith? 24:16 What impact will Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson have on this Court?  25:45 What would be the best way to fight back against this activist Court? 33:45 What does success mean for you when it comes to readers of "American Crusade"? 42:10 What do you say to future lawyers who care about church/state issues? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus interview, Jessica spoke with Mike Flanagan, the writer/director behind "Haunting of Hill House," "Haunting of Bly Manor," "Doctor Sleep," and (most recently) the critically acclaimed "Midnight Mass."  They discussed his sobriety journey as an atheist, why Bev Keane from "Midnight Mass" could probably get elected to Congress, how to engage with criticism, and why we probably shouldn’t. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Britney Spears said in a now-deleted Instagram reel, “I’m an atheist, y’all!” (3:45) — Even married advocates of Purity Culture can’t handle Bridgerton. (12:57) — A federal judge ruled that an HIV drug mandate violated Christians’ religious freedoms. (20:35) — These preachers have no idea how masturbation works. (35:00) — Pope Francis is lying about having a “zero tolerance” policy for handling abuse. (41:21) — The GOP lawmaker who condemned an extreme anti-abortion bill previously sponsored… an extreme anti-abortion bill. (48:30) — A Christian school baptized 100 kids without telling their parents. (55:11) — The Archdiocese of St. Louis is putting dogma over decency, urging schools to let kids go hungry rather than feed them for free. (1:00:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Christian pastor and church planter Matt Chandler is on a leave of absence because of “unwise” DMs he sent to a woman on Instagram. (4:20)  — Valley Christian Academy in California will forfeit an upcoming football game rather than play an opposing team that has two girls on the roster. (22:00) — Wisconsin Republican Peter Schmidt wants to pass anti-LGBTQ policies but doesn’t want anyone knowing about his own homosexuality. (32:20) — Catholic Charities in Omaha held a fake active shooter drill that traumatized countless employees. (43:03) — Christian hate-preacher Joe Jones listed out the evil people you should avoid and there’s a pleasant surprise on the list. (49:15)  — Despite a Supreme Court win, nearly all of Maine’s Christian schools are rejecting state funding. (51:19) — Texas State Sen. Bryan Hughes is trying to fix up his horribly written “In God We Trust” law. (57:00) — Former Republican congresswoman Michele Bachmann insists the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were based on the Bible. She’s lying. (1:06:50)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A conservative Christian influencer wants women to stop touching themselves. (1:00)  — A Texas law requiring donated “In God We Trust” signs in schools has a loophole, and one atheist is taking advantage of it. (13:27) — The Door McAllen, which staged a Christianized “Hamilton,” has apologized. (23:45) — South Carolina stuck a $1.5 million gift for a Christian school in its budget. (34:29) — The Big Bang Theory is not a hoax, no matter how much Creationists try to lie about it. (38:23) — An article in Science recently connected a non-binary gender identity with a thirst for curiosity. And yet one professional science communicator is FURIOUS about it. (45:38) — A leaked investigation into New Zealand's ARISE Church reveals widespread abuse. (53:21) — Scott Esk once said sexually active gay people should be executed by the government. He was nearly the GOP’s candidate for a State House seat in Oklahoma. (1:03:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — The attack on Salman Rushdie is an attack on free expression. (1:38) (Note: Read this for more background on Rushdie and why The Satanic Verses is controversial.) — An evangelical pastor demonized "wokeism" after making up his own definition of the word. (14:52)  — The Fargo School Board in North Dakota nixed the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings… then reversed course after threats. (22:28) — A Missouri pastor apologized after a sermon clip of him demanding a luxury watch from his congregation went viral. (32:09) — A Texas school district banned the Bible. Oops. (39:25) — The Department of Justice is investigating the Southern Baptist Convention. (48:52) — Evangelist Beth Moore’s crush on Jesus infuriated Southern Baptist men. (54:30) — Atheists won a settlement against Arkansas State Sen. Jason Rapert. (1:02:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Texas church put on an illegal production of "Hamilton" in order to convert the audience. (0:55)  — A Baptist school kicked out a five-year-old orphan after she was adopted by lesbians. (36:19) — Let's talk about Christian sword drills. (44:13) — Catholicism is not cool. Please stop saying that. (47:29) — An anti-"Satanism" dress code policy remains in effect in a Kansas school district. (59:57)  — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene falsely said “most Americans” are Christian nationalists like her. (1:09:07) — A man was charged with arson for setting fire to a Michigan Planned Parenthood. (1:12:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — SPONSOR: Check out God Pod!   — The abortion referendum in Kansas was a rebuke to the Catholic Church. (2:10) — Christian furries are worried about being outed... as Christians. (16:15) — Do we really need a "new kind of atheism"? Not quite. (25:15) — Democrats want the IRS to investigate non-profit groups that call themselves "churches" to avoid transparency. (43:15) — The Mormon Church's "help line" is a weapon to bury allegations of sexual abuse. (50:45)  — Australia's new Senate leader Sue Lines wants to end the tradition of Christian invocations. (1:07:05) — The number of atheists in federal prison is almost non-existent. (1:12:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — SPONSOR: Check out God Pod!   — Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson voted *against* a bill to protect same-sex weddings... then attended his gay son's wedding. (1:52) — Why is Ted Haggard back in the news? (13:07) — The Church of Scientology wants to enforce religious arbitration clauses in its contracts... against people who left the faith. (26:45) — Among Gen Z, women are less likely to be religious than men! (40:05) — With the Supreme Court getting rid of the Lemon Test, a previous church/state separation victory was wiped off the books. (46:15) — A Kentucky judge temporarily protected abortion access, saying that the state's anti-abortion laws were "theocratic" and therefore illegal. (1:00:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Christian hate-preacher condemned me… for quoting him accurately. (1:05) — Creationist Michael Peroutka won the GOP primary for Maryland attorney general. (20:21) — A staffer found illicit pics on a priest’s printer. Then the cover-up began. (28:35) — "The Transformed Wife" has some bizarre ideas for why teachers may soon quit their jobs. (39:58) — The ‘Watchman Decree’ is a scary vision of Christian nationalism in action. (43:43) — A Canadian church was fined $80,000 for obstructing COVID health inspections. (55:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Happy James Webb Telescope Images week for all who celebrate! (0:30) — How seriously should we take the allegations against right-wing radio host Jesse Lee Peterson? (10:28) — A Christian writer thinks she's being persecuted for her faith. Nope. It's just her bigotry. (27:02) — A former Texas football star says he was definitely coerced into praying with his coaches despite what the Supreme Court now says. (45:35) — The Christian hate-group Family Research Council is now technically a "church," a move that allows it to avoid being transparent about its finances. (55:16) — A female pastor's progressive views on LGBTQ people were censored from a book celebrating female pastors. (1:03:52) — A new bill in Congress would crack down on scammy Christian "health share" ministries. (1:14:38) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Why are insane Christians cheering the destruction of the Georgia Guidestones? (1:16)  — A record-low 20% of Americans say the Bible is literally true. (10:50) — A right-wing activist said on a hot mic that she prays with Supreme Court justices. (19:55) — The Biden administration is not trying to "promote atheism worldwide." (38:35) — Florida's civics teachers are being indoctrinated with Christian Nationalism. (52:55) — For many evangelicals, God and guns are linked together. (1:02:26) — 12 Christians were arrested in Australia after the "faith-healing" death of a child. (1:12:18) — Should elders in the Jehovah's Witnesses have control of your files? (1:15:42) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Roe v. Wade was overturned and the conservative Christian dream is a nightmare for everyone else. (0:01)  — The Supreme Court also rewarded a preaching Christian football coach with a decision based entirely on lies. (42:40) — Maine lawmakers found a way to subvert the Supreme Court's recent decision to fund religious schools with tax dollars. (58:20)  — An atheist sued his company for forcing him to come to daily Christian prayer meetings. (1:07:49) — A Christian hate group lost its battle to stop being called a "hate group." (1:15:05) — "No religion" is one of the largest religions in Australia, according to new Census results. (1:29:09)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Evangelist Franklin Graham told a woman to stay with her abusive husband after downplaying her suffering. (1:00)  — The Supreme Court's decision in Carson v. Makin was a devastating blow to church/state separation. (16:49) — Georgia's Herschel Walker, running for U.S. Senate, once said that Multiple Personality Disorder isn’t a problem because Jesus had it too. Christians don't seem to care. (36:13)  — Sex abuse allegations against a popular Christian singer, Chris Rice, were found "credible." (40:41) — A New IFB church member was arrested for threatening violence at a Pride parade. (51:25) — Three men in Maine have sued the Catholic Church after state officials eliminated the statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases. (1:00:11) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — 81% of Americans believe in God, an all-time low. (2:05) — Students at Seattle Pacific University protested their school’s anti-LGBTQ hiring policy by handing rainbow flags to the university president as he gave them their diplomas. (7:22) — The Canadian Armed Forces just got its first Humanist chaplain. (12:45) — A man wearing a “GOD” shirt tried to burn down The Satanic Temple’s headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts. (17:55) — A man who left flowers on his dead fiancée's gravesite, only to be turned in to law enforcement by her preacher father, was found guilty of littering. (22:20) — Christian cops are now saying COVID swab tests violate their faith. (27:37)  — Is the atheist movement too narrow-minded when it comes to pushing back against misinformation? (40:20) — A Catholic school near Boston lost its "Catholic" designation for keeping up Pride and Black Lives Matter flags. (57:57) — A Jewish synagogue is suing Florida over its impending 15-week abortion ban because they say it would violate their religious beliefs. (1:09:27) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Christian hate-preacher delivered an anti-gay sermon that's even worse than you imagine. (2:20) — A conservative school board candidate checked out all the LGBTQ books in a local library's Pride display so kids couldn't get to them first. (16:28) — A popular Ontario preacher was arrested on charges of sex abuse. (24:03) — What should we make of Amy Coney Barrett's bizarre religious cult? (36:35) — An army chaplain earned his Ph.D. saying the military is an ideal place to win over Christian converts. (52:15) — Poland (!) just made God optional in their boy scout oath. (1:05:26) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — An Oklahoma candidate for U.S. Senate claims his church was "shut down." (1:13) — Atheists don't have to defend Richard Dawkins if he says ignorant things. (12:50) — The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard non-story involving atheism. (55:13) — Students are protesting a Christian school's homophobic hiring policies. (58:30) — A superintendent in Georgia used a graduation ceremony to win converts for Christianity. (1:10:43) — Another graduation speaker in Ohio told kids to avoid gay marriage. (1:14:25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — The shooting in Uvalde, Texas. (1:03) — Christian predator Josh Duggar is going to jail. (3:24)  — After a pastor confessed to "adultery," the victim got on stage and said it was sexual assault that began when she was 16. (12:25) — The Southern Baptist Convention's sexual abuse report ignored the most obvious solution. (24:50) — A woman is urging Florida voters not to send her anti-trans, anti-abortion mother to Congress. (44:12) — Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke says he's asked the IRS to rescind his tax exemption... but don't take his word for it. (51:54) — Michigan GOP candidate Jacky Eubanks said she'd vote to ban birth control because the Catholic Church says so. (59:20) — A Catholic archbishop says Nancy Pelosi can't receive communion. It's a hypocritical, partisan move. (1:03:28) — An Idaho atheist just won a GOP primary for State Senate. He may soon become the only elected atheist in the Republican Party. (1:10:31) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Christian school told students to write a letter urging a (fictional) friend to stop being gay. (1:45) — A Kansas town reversed course and will allow "In God We Trust" stickers on police vehicles... but there's a twist. (4:30) — A West Virginia school district finally settled a lawsuit involving Christian indoctrination in the classroom. (16:15) — A school board member in Colorado justified her bigotry with Jesus. One mother wasn't having it. (25:38) — Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke was reported to the IRS for telling his congregation they can't vote for Democrats. (33:33) — The Louisiana Supreme Court dropped charges against a preacher who held massive, maskless, in-person church services at the beginning of the pandemic. (47:35) — A shared delusion led to the exorcism and death of a three-year-old girl. (53:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Kansas town voted to remove "In God We Trust" from police vehicles. (2:03) — Canada's Parliament rejected a motion to end invocation prayers in the House of Commons. (6:41) — Evangelical pastors shouldn't be surprised that their churches are turning into MAGA cults. (15:51)  — Predator megachurch leader Jack Schaap was released from prison earlier than expected. (37:05)  — Idaho's Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin says "Christ will reign" if she becomes governor. (53:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — The Supreme Court's supposed Roe decision could backfire on conservative Christians. (1:15) — A Christian college punished a sexual assault victim for having premarital sex. (39:05) — The Supreme Court also said Boston couldn't say no to putting up a Christian flag outside City Hall. (55:35) — In a cruel ritual, an 8-year-old Jain girl had her hair plucked out by hand. (1:12:18) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Christian show's viral "persecution" marketing campaign backfired. (2:15) — The Supreme Court is about to fumble a simple church/state separation case. (15:05) — An atheist in Florida says if controversial books are banned, then the Bible needs to go too. (35:15)  — An Alabama couple can't adopt a kid because they're non-religious. (40:46) — Christians sang worship music on an airplane. (49:06) — A Christian "health insurance" ministry left families high and dry because it was all a grift. (58:09) — Canadians say evangelicals hurt society more than any other religious group. (1:09:18) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode (Jessica will be back next week), I spoke with Dr. Katie Gaddini, a sociologist at the Social Research Institute, University College London and a research associate at the University of Johannesburg, Department of Sociology. She recently released her debut book, The Struggle to Stay: Why Single Evangelical Women Are Leaving the Church, which is based on over four years of in-depth ethnographic research with single evangelical women in the US and the UK.  We talked about purity culture, the mixed messages sent to Christian women, and whether their churches do more harm than good. 1:00 How did you get interested in this topic?  2:10 Are Christian women leaving church or the religion? 3:35 When they leave their churches, what are they missing out on? 4:55 What role does modern-day feminism play in women leaving church? 7:40 Do Christian women have opportunities to date, or is it always about courtship and marriage?  10:00 How do Christian women deal with sex loopholes?  15:30 What happens to women in the church as they get older but are still single? 17:40 Does the pressure to find a perfect Christian guy make things worse?  19:45 What's been the effect of #MeToo on these Christian women? 21:20 What do you make of the messages sent to Christian girls by modern Christian "influencers"? 24:18 Do churches ever offer sex ed for adults?  26:40 What's the message being delivered to older, single Christian men? 27:50: What happens when Christian women realize they've been lied to about the sexual binary between abstinence and anything-goes? 29:50: Are church leaders adapting to any of this? 32:10 Are evangelical churches a force for good in these women's lives? 33:50 Who are positive role models for Christian women wanting responsible advice about sex?  35:10 What surprised you in your research?  36:40 What has been your family's reaction to your book?  37:20: What is your current research focused on? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Hemant will be giving a talk in Orlando on Sunday, April 24. Details here! — Kandiss Taylor, a wannabe governor of Georgia, has no respect for church/state separation. (3:19) — An Arkansas official brazenly bragged about pushing Christianity at government meetings. (14:30) — A "quieter approach" to atheism isn't necessarily a bad thing. (24:10) — A Tennessee senator used Hitler as an example of someone overcoming homelessness. (38:40) — A Tennessee cop baptized a woman against her will. A judge says the lawsuit can continue. (44:19) (UPDATE: The woman in question was found dead Wednesday night. The cause of death is unknown. We did not know about that when we were discussing this story on Thursday.) — David Barton is spreading a new lie about churches and the Constitution. (53:41) — There's a new member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and it's a non-story. (1:00:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt helped defeat an anti-abortion bill with an incredible speech. (4:45) — A school prayer case from 1999 was cited to derail an honor for a historic Black judge. (14:15) — Mubarak Bala was sentenced to 24 years in jail for blasphemy. (27:48) — The Pledge of Allegiance may have been plagiarized from a child. (35:15) — No deciding your sexual orientation until you're 21, says conspiracist Rep. Lauren Boebert. (49:59) — Most Americans know religious objections to the COVID vaccines are bogus. (53:44) — Christians can't hijack a football stadium's PA system to promote Jesus, said a judge. (57:07)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode (Jessica will be back next week), Hemant interviewed Thomas Smith, host of multiple podcasts that discuss science, atheism, philosophy, and the law. They include "Serious Inquiries Only," a show that goes in-depth on topics concerned science and skepticism, "Opening Arguments," with co-host Andrew Torrez, which takes complex legal issues in the news and breaks them down in an accessible and entertaining way, and "Philosophers in Space," which uncovers and explains the philosophy behind your favorite works of sci-fi. We spoke about the right-ward shift of big-name atheists, why so many skeptics seem to be pushing conservatives arguments, and what the best strategies are to counter that misinformation.  Because we spoke about so many different issues, timestamps were a bit tough to mark, but I hope you find this conversation as worthwhile as I did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Ketanji Brown Jackson was grilled about her religious beliefs by Lindsey Graham. (6:30) — A pastor claimed he could endorse candidates in church because they weren't beholden to the IRS. He's wrong. (18:05) — Brian Houston, the founder of Hillsong Church, finally resigned after additional revelations about his inappropriate behavior. But the whole church is in chaos. (28:55) — NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is vehemently anti-abortion, apparently paid for an abortion. (43:55)  — The Babylon Bee was booted from Twitter for making the only "joke" it knows. (56:05) — The largest gathering of atheists in America occurred ten years ago. Have things improved? (1:05:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Senate candidate Herschel Walker proudly denied evolution. (1:38) — There's a $100 million ad campaign for Jesus. It will fail. (16:48) — Christianity Today reporters documented allegations of sexual harassment at... Christianity Today. (41:55) — Raif Badawi was finally released. (53:33) — A Kansas teacher sued school officials for requiring her to address students by their preferred names, saying the policy violates her religious freedom. (1:02:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Why is a newspaper printing anti-atheist slander? (1:15) — Creationist Ken Ham has a new list of societal ills. (4:08) — A woman who killed three siblings at a school bus stop got out of jail early after taking a Bible study class. (9:12) — A Christian hate group found a way to blame "wokeism" and Black Lives Matter for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (19:15) — Dave Silverman, the former American Atheists leader who's now advising a right-wing atheist group, is going after a new audience... on InfoWars. (24:01) — SPONSOR: Check out Paint Your Life and get 20% off by texting FRIENDLY to 64-000. (59:23) — It was the 100th anniversary of the first anti-evolution bill getting defeated by lawmakers in Kentucky. (1:00:42) — Missouri lawmaker Mary Elizabeth Coleman wants to make it a crime to help women travel to neighboring Illinois to have an abortion. (1:04:21) — Convicted felon and MAGA cultist Michael Flynn says the word “Creator” appears four times in the U.S. Constitution. He's off by four. (1:08:29) — Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church and a Putin ally, says Russia invaded Ukraine because some nations like to hold gay pride parades. (1:11:49) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — After saying God already "appointed" her to a State Senate seat, Bianca Gracia lost her GOP primary. (1:29) — Pat Robertson came back to The 700 Club to claim Putin was “compelled by God” to invade Ukraine because… Israel. (16:39) — Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson doesn't need to thank God for her success. (20:15) — Dr. Ben Carson says supporting church/state separation is a form of “schizophrenia.” (30:59)  — Atheists are virtually non-existent in the federal prison population. (38:24) — What does "The Trojan Horse Affair" tell us about Humanists in the UK? (54:32) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Hold your sympathy for the Alabama high school basketball team whose faith led to them forfeiting their playoff chances. (1:25) — Christian sex predator Ravi Zacharias was effectively aided by the corrupt leaders at his ministry. (30:25) — The share of Americans who are absolutely certain God exists has dropped below 50% for the first time ever. (49:03) — The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving an anti-gay Christian website designer who doesn’t want to make sites promoting same-sex weddings. (1:01:35) — Conservative Christian Nebraska State Senator Mike Groene resigned after allegations that he took "objectifying" photos of a female aide without her consent and shared them with other people. (1:09:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Greg Locke says he's going to expose six "witches" in his church. (1:09) — Why won't anyone give Kevin Sorbo the money he needs to make his movies? (22:26) — Why is the Catholic League's Bill Donohue getting paid a million dollars a year? (27:24) — A Baptist preacher whose daughter died in a car accident last year had his future son-in-law arrested for putting flowers on her grave. (41:44) — Five leaders at a Christian school were arrested for allegedly not reporting a sexual assault to authorities. (55:09) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A Catholic priest resigned for the dumbest (but strangely consequential) reason. (2:17) — LDS leader Brad Wilcox’s racist comments have caused chaos among Mormons. (8:13) — A public school Bible teacher in TN told students “how to torture a Jew.” (18:52) — WV teachers told kids to attend a religious revival during the school day. (31:41) — The evangelical ‘dissenters’ trying to ‘save’ the faith have their own problems. (42:26) — Missouri's governor said he only nominates people with "Christian values" to positions of power. (57:36) — A Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate urged rape victims to be “heroic” and give birth. (1:01:19) — A nun was sentenced to prison after stealing $835,000 from Catholic school to go gambling. (1:05:21) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode (Jessica will be back next week), Hemant interviewed Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of the New York Times bestseller "Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation." The book attempts to explain why white evangelicals overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump, despite all the non-Trumpy values they claimed to hold dear before he came along, by looking at the history of evangelical culture.  2:40 Why did you write this book? 5:00 The subtitle of your book is who white evangelicals corrupted a faith and fractured a nation. And I sometimes wonder did they corrupt the faith or did guys like Donald Trump expose the faith for what it's always been? 7:02 Are you cherry picking bad actors, like Mark Driscoll, who exist in every tradition, or do guys like Driscoll fairly represent this strain of conservative Christianity? 10:20 How much blame should we place on moderate Christians who platform these toxic people? 14:38 Is there a good definition of evangelicalism that outsiders would agree with? 18:28 Are your students more receptive to your ideas than your colleagues? 20:35 Are white evangelicals uniquely bad with toxic masculinity or is this just a problem with Americans at large? Or all of humanity? 23:32 Is Jerry Falwell, Jr. making a comeback?  25:25 Is there going to be a backlash to Trumpism that affects evangelicals? 30:06 SPONSOR: HelloFresh! https://www.hellofresh.com/friendlyatheist16 31:19 Is the impending end of Roe v. Wade good or bad for evangelicals on a strategic level? 34:12 Are white evangelicals really hypocrites about Trump considering he kept his anti-abortion promises?  37:55 Is evangelical Christianity a force for good? 40:55 What is your reaction to Girl Defined and other young Christian women who promote Christian patriarchy on YouTube? 42:00 What would you say to a megachurch pastor who comes to you for advice? 46:35 How come Christian stereotypes include both manly patriarchs as well as hipster skinny jean pastors?  49:45  Are you unfairly painting lower and middle class white men in the worst possible light? 52:30 Are white evangelicals really as powerful as you suggest they are?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — What will the Supreme Court look like after Stephen Breyer's retirement? (2:36) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. opened up about his past in a lengthy Vanity Fair profile. (13:45) — A Mississippi mayor wants to withhold funds from the local library unless they purge all LGBTQ+ books. (30:47) — A Georgia mayor's first act was to ask everyone to join him in communion. (37:06) — An AME Zion bishop was arrested for defrauding churches of millions of dollars. (41:14) — A pro-choice activist took an abortion pill on live TV to show how simple it is. (47:54) (Screenshot via YouTube) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — OnlySky, a new network for atheist bloggers, podcasters, and commentators, is now up and running! (0:49) — Pastor Mike Todd smeared spit on his brother's face to make a point about Jesus. (8:52) — A proposed law in Iowa would require teachers to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance... or else! (18:37) — A taxpayer-funded Christian adoption agency in TN just got sued for refusing to work with Jews. (28:35) — The Supreme Court accepted the case of a high school football coach who wanted to perform prayers on the field after games. (37:03) — Justice Neil Gorsuch referred to "so-called" church/state separation in an oral argument. Yikes. (50:55) — California is suing a Christian "health care" ministry for defrauding customers. (59:35) — Answers in Genesis wants to use the horrific Tuskegee Syphilis Study as a way to prove evolution is false. (1:05:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — It's never good when a state's attorney general says we need a God-based justice system. (3:12) — A pastor who's been repeatedly accused of spiritual harassment insists that he is eradicating spiritually abusive priests from his church-planting group. (11:50) — Why is Dave Silverman selling someone else's creation? (27:22) — A Creationist group screwed up the science in its new logo. (43:26) — Dave Ramsey said raising rent doesn't make a landlord a "bad Christian." (45:10) — An elderly woman may have left her entire $2 million estate to a predator priest. (55:16) — Preacher Sean Feucht claims his book contract was canceled due to his "political views." (1:01:15) — A woman says the Bible-believing former GOP House Speaker in Michigan sexually assaulted her when she was 15. (1:05:09) — SPONSOR: Check out Paint Your Life and get 20% off by texting FRIENDLY to 64-000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! -- Pope Francis says having pets instead of kids is selfish. (2:00) -- A proposed law in Oklahoma would put the KJV and fundamentalist preachers in certain classrooms. (7:00) -- Marriage is not about being happy, says one very misogynistic pastor. (22:15) -- A 14-year-old girl was impregnated by her youth pastor. She's finally telling her side of the story. (30:42) -- The phrase "unreligious cruelty" makes no sense, so why is a Washington Post columnist using it? (41:22) -- What would you do in this moral dilemma? (46:27) -- Should we feel bad about old churches dying out? (55:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this (extra-long) podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — A GOP lawmaker says she’s tired of “godless” people running the government. (1:30) — Jeff Green, the richest man in Utah, just quit the Mormon Church. (7:55) — A bunch of Christians think a statue outside the U.N. represents the End Times “beast.” (23:50) — A “Baby Baphomet” display in the IL State Capitol has a bunch of Catholic detractors. (30:35) — A Christian jewelry store is suing the military over faith-based dog tags. (40:00) — A man just sued the leaders of Rhema Bible Training College in Oklahoma for saying he had “contagious demons.” (48:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — Hemant is moving his blog to OnlySky. (1:04) — Jim Bob Duggar lost his Arkansas State Senate primary. (7:00) — A record number of Americans have no religious affiliation. (28:30) — Christian “financial guru” Dave Ramsey got sued for religious discrimination by a fellow Christian. (42:09) — A Tennessee pastor is giving away AR-15s at an upcoming sermon. (51:30) — Pastor Joel Osteen supposedly got a restaurant server fired after a video with him went viral. (57:16) — The FDA just approved abortion pills via mail. (1:01:44) — This may be the worst argument for anti-abortion advocates to make. (1:10:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! — The future of the Friendly Atheist blog. (1:12) — Christian predator Josh Duggar is going to jail after being found guilty in his child sex abuse image trial. (3:22) — Can you be friends with someone from the other political party? (21:08) — The Supreme Court seems like it will force taxpayers to subsidize religious schools. (24:40) — Evangelist Joshua Feuerstein, who spread vaccine lies, now has COVID. (31:05) — Evangelist Franklin Graham can’t decide whether or not he wants vaccines to work. (34:10) — Should we tell Pastor Joel Osteen, to his face, that he’s horrible? (41:15) — People are mad over Rep. Madison Cawthorn‘s anti-abortion “earthen vessels” speech for the wrong reasons. (57:01) — A Methodist church fired its pastor after he had a drag makeover on TV to show his allyship. (1:00:17) — MAGA world’s “gun girl” says she’s ditching atheism for Catholicism. (1:04:58) — Christian pseudo-historian David Barton says the Second Amendment gives people the right to own nuclear weapons. (1:09:23)  — A Catholic diocese is officially banning unrepentant trans people from receiving the sacraments. (1:13:42) — SPONSOR: Check out Paint Your Life and get 20% off by texting FRIENDLY to 64-000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server!  — The Supreme Court’s abortion case. (1:30) — Marcus Lamb, the head of a major Christian TV network that spread COVID lies, died of COVID. (13:45) — Eric Metaxas, another anti-vax Christian, has COVID too. (20:25) — Baptisms are getting cooler. As if that was the thing that churches needed to fix. (33:55) — You don’t have to defend Josh Duggar even if you’re a conservative Christian. (38:11) — The American Humanist Association’s new leader represents a shift in how atheism appears to the public. (45:26) — Richard Dawkins is once again promoting anti-trans bigotry. (50:58) — A Christian hate group is whining to the Supreme Court about being called a “hate group.” (1:02:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our Discord server! (And vote for your preferred movie in an upcoming double feature!) — A Bronx pastor has resigned after telling men the “best person to rape is your wife.” (3:59) — Christians can apparently “cast out” their vaccines by asking God. (15:16) — Reptile alien. Sex. Jesus. Xerxes. Gargoyles. (20:11) — An anti-gay Christian florist will pay $5,000 to settle a case after discriminating against a gay customer. (27:15) — Church vandalism would end more quickly if religious leaders took criticism seriously. (35:40) — A wannabe GOP governor says straight relationships are “superior” to gay ones. (44:11) — A judge effectively tossed out a lawsuit against a Catholic school accused of being “too woke.” (48:25) — There’s yet another lawsuit against Liberty University. (54:19) — A Florida man was charged with 1,200 counts of sexual abuse and incest after raising the topic with his pastor. (59:16) — A GOP lawmaker said gay people living in fear are just facing the “normal consequences” of their “choices.” (1:04:30) — Most Americans don’t blame God for all the suffering in the world. (1:09:46) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — This Christian “maternity ranch” in Texas meant to help new mothers is horrifying for so many reasons. (0:41) — “We have to have one religion,” says MAGA cultist Michael Flynn. (27:39) — Pastor Mark Burns, who’s running for Congress, is calling for all laws that contradict his interpretation of the Bible to be declared illegal. (29:49) — A Christian news editor is resigning over the rightward shift of his parent company. (34:44) — A conservative writer who thinks FFRF is a “hate group” seems to agree with everything they’re saying. (45:08) — A pastor who created a COVID outbreak says he was just doing “what God wanted.” (52:40) — Catholic bishop. Satanic erotica. Pig semen. (54:57) — The New Orleans Archdiocese is paying over $1 million to settle a case involving lies they told FEMA after Hurricane Katrina. (57:55) — One of the Republicans trying to win the party’s nomination for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat is a guy who literally said of his opponent, “But he’s Jewish!” (1:02:53) — Two Christian groups are suing over the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate because it’s a “sin against God’s holy word.” (1:08:40) — The Supreme Court doesn’t seem to care about “religious freedom” when it involves a death row inmate. (1:10:45) — SPONSOR: Check out Paint Your Life and get 20% off by texting FRIENDLY to 64-000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode. Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server!  — Conservatives are furious over a Twix ad that isn’t by Twix and isn’t an ad. (7:20) — A hate-preacher insisted that boys who grow up in a church like his will “100%” grow up to be straight. (18:47) — There was a $1.8 million essay contest for anyone with evidence of the afterlife. The money will be handed out, but the evidence? Still doesn’t exist. (25:07) — Should Republicans pander to gay voters? (36:24) — A Virginia school board wants to get rid of all “sexually explicit” books… and burn them. (46:49) — A Christian “segregation academy” held an anti-LGBTQ seminar for parents. (53:39) — A North Carolina restaurant turned a one-star “Satanic” review into a keepsake T-shirt. (59:41) — Pastor Greg Locke really wants to get subpoenaed. (1:01:40) — An anti-LGBTQ pastor was nominated to the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission… until public pressure caused him to step away. (1:07:32) — The Biden administration is undoing a rule allowing taxpayer-funded groups to discriminate on the basis of religion. (1:11:12) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — In New Jersey, an openly atheist state representative won his bid for state senate. (2:11) — Aaron Rodgers thought he could get away with a homeopathic COVID vax substitute. (10:30) — If being the father to a known molester is your biggest claim to fame right now, maybe don’t run for office on a platform of promoting family values, Jim Bob Duggar. (24:14) — A pastor arrested for soliciting sex from a minor was preaching just days later. (30:01) — SPONSOR: Check out Paint Your Life and get 20% off by texting FRIENDLY to 64-000. (34:22) — Richard Dawkins says the scientific definition of women excludes trans women, so does that make him anti-trans? (36:10) — A hate-preacher is using Dave Chappelle‘s latest special to trash trans people. (49:00) — A coalition of atheist groups are urging the Supreme Court to uphold a ban on Maine taxpayers funding religious schools. (54:59) — Most white evangelicals wish America was a Christian-only bubble. (1:03:34) — We lost Bobbie Kirkhart, a longtime atheist activist and tireless defender of church/state separation. (1:12:58) — The HPV vaccine is working wonders. (1:08:04) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — A school district will no longer ban “Satanic” clothing after a Satanist complained. (1:32) — Liberty University’s “think tank” was just a cover to elect Republicans. (6:05) — A GOP official said society’s problems are all a result of not following God’s laws. (12:44) — Liberty U. still isn’t taking sexual assault seriously. (15:15) — Being an evangelical basically means worshiping Trump now. (23:12) — A U.S. Senate candidate (guess which party) says church/state separation doesn’t exist. (35:30) — Christian pseudo-historian Tim Barton says dads only need a “couple days” off after mom gives birth. (38:53) — Most Americans want church/state separation… but don’t know what it means. (49:44) — What is going on with the Chicago Blackhawks? (53:11) — These Sikh men took off their turbans to save two hikers, putting decency over dogma. (1:08:36) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode (Jessica will be back next week), Hemant interviewed Dr. Randall Balmer, the author of Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right. Dr. Balmer holds the John Phillips Chair in Religion at Dartmouth College, Dartmouth's oldest endowed professorship. He previously taught as professor of American religious history at Columbia University for twenty-seven years. In his scholarship, Dr. Balmer focuses on Christianity's interrelationships with American politics. We spoke about the real origins of the Religious Right, whether white evangelicals accept their own history, and if Democrats should use churches to their political advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — A mom got ordained online, then signed off on 150+ “religious exemption” forms for students. (1:57) — Pope John Paul I‘s beatification makes no sense to reasonable people. (10:13) —  Christian liar David Barton says slaveowners just didn’t read their Bible much. (22:40) — Despite the French Catholic Church’s sexual abuse problem, its leader doesn’t want priests to break the “seal of confession” even if it helps victims. (26:15) — Joel Osteen‘s church is finally paying back some of the PPP money it got last year. (33:30) — The one mom at One Million Moms is very angry with Credit Karma for acknowledging the existence of gay people. (44:21) — Turns out being “vaccinated in Christ” doesn’t protect you against COVID. (51:30) — A Florida police chief gave a speech encouraging other cops to convert their colleagues. (55:05) — A Spanish archbishop is very sorry he allowed a risqué music video to tape suggestive dancing in a famous cathedral. (58:52) — “Teen Challenge,” a Christian rehab center for kids, is far more troubling than we knew. (1:01:23) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — An Oregon official wants you to trust God, not doctors, with your vaccine decision. (1:55) — Pat Robertson has retired and there’s at least one reason to be sad about it. And here’s Jessica’s excellent cross-stitch with one of Robertson’s infamous quotations. (9:58) — Facebook did not go down because of Mercury Gatorade or whatever astrologers believe. (20:48) —  A new Christian makeup store doesn’t make any sense. (29:25) — Christian creepster Logan Dorn still hasn’t apologized… but he rapped about cancel culture. (35:11) — France’s Catholic Church is a hotbed of abuse, according to a massive new report. (38:09) — Christmas has been canceled already. Or so Republicans say. (46:59) — A survey finds that about 40% of Black atheists hide their religious views from their families, more than any other group. (51:00) — Brazil’s top court has upheld a ban on missionaries trying to invade Indigenous tribes. (55:13) — Several former members of Young Life ministries say they were victims of sexual abuse. (1:00:38) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — This sexist sermon from 2014 didn’t age well, and the pastor is trying to make sure no one can see it. (3:15) — No role-playing in the bedroom, says preacher John Piper. (16:40) — Two pastors traded advice on how to spank their kids. (23:09) — Should New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have delivered a very Christian pro-vaccine message? (32:32) — Steven Pinker wrote the worst sentence ever. (39:07) — A Christian school board candidate defended cheating by citing the Bible. (43:07) — The Supreme Court will soon hear a case involving a Christian flag flying in Boston. (52:07) — North Carolina’s Lt. Governor Mark Robinson is trashing atheists, church/state separation, and trans people. (1:03:39) — A Texas lawmaker wants to make the Bible the official state book. (1:08:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — Creationist Kent Hovind will spend a month in jail for domestic violence. (1:50) — Christian apologist Josh McDowell made racist comments at a conference, and he’s now stepping back from his ministry. (9:40) — Is it really sticking it to Chick-fil-A if you get a sandwich from them on a Sunday? (34:55) — The Transformed Wife, Lori Alexander, wants you to know that love isn’t a prerequisite for marriage. (40:32) — Benet Academy in Illinois hired, fired, then rehired a lesbian lacrosse coach. And here’s a link to Jessica’s interview with comedian and Benet grad Cameron Esposito. (46:24) — Can a middle school principal be fired for what he says in the pulpit as a pastor? (59:30) — MAGA cultist Pastor Robert Jeffress admitted there’s no “credible religious argument” against COVID vaccines. (1:08:12) — An Italian priest was arrested for stealing Church cash for a drug-fueled gay orgy. (1:10:19) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — This anti-gay Wisconsin lawmaker has no idea who Harvey Milk was. (1:06) — Pastor Greg Locke was banned from Twitter. (7:57) — 90% of atheists have been vaccinated, but only 57% of white evangelicals. (17:25) — Pastafarians can now get a religious exemption to avoid unvaccinated co-workers. (22:10) — This is a brilliant way to make sure people asking for “religious exemptions” to the COVID vaccine aren’t hypocrites. (24:00) — This New York Times anti-abortion guest essay is disturbing and irresponsible. (30:15) — The Catholic teacher who allegedly attacked a student, then got beaten up by a mother, won’t face charges. (52:10) — The Christian lawmaker who kicked a student in the balls will avoid jail time. (55:09) — The school board member who opposed a sensible quarantine was charged with leaving her grandkids in the car during a meeting. (1:00:57) — Bob Enyart, a Christian radio host who mocked gay people and spread COVID misinformation, died of you-know-what. (1:06:03) — A Missouri parent claimed a pride flag in a classroom would teach their child to be gay. (1:09:10) — An unregistered sex offender was arrested after preaching at a church event. (1:14:16) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — Christian misogynist Logan Dorn condemned women at the beach for wearing swimsuits he didn’t like. (1:10) — A Spanish bishop quit the Church after falling in love with a writer of Satanic erotica. (22:55) — A Christian lawmaker who sponsored Christian Nationalist legislation just got charged with financial fraud. (31:15) — An Oklahoma teen was kicked out of their adoptive family after seven years for being LGBTQ. (40:09) — A mom was charged with assaulting a Catholic school teacher… but you might take her side. (44:30) — A lawsuit says a Christian youth pastor abused a girl, then claimed she “led him on.” (51:00) — Evangelist Franklin Graham says people aren’t taking low-paying jobs because they’re lazy. (55:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please join our new Discord server! — A Christian media group fired an employee for urging people to get vaccinated. (3:27) — A famous homophobe from over a decade ago is now a vocal anti-masker. (16:52) — Mississippi’s governor said he’s not worried about COVID because he believes in “eternal life.” (26:43) — A South Carolina school board member says COVID shouldn’t matter when it comes to classes because God decides who dies. (30:58) — Donald Trump is shocked that all Catholics didn’t vote for him last year. (43:20) — The Satanic Temple says the FDA should give them access to abortion pills for their religious rituals. (53:04) — Liberty University’s anti-science beliefs are catching up to them with COVID. (58:43) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Come to our in-person meetup in Chicago on August 28! — The new president of the chaplains at Harvard is an atheist. (4:07) — A Mormon apostle chastised Brigham Young University for not being sufficiently anti-gay. (10:49) — A “Catholic” anti-vaxxer said he didn’t care what Pope Francis said about the shots because “You have to be Catholic to be pope.” (20:42) — When it comes to morality you can measure, atheists do better on just about every mark. (28:00) — There’s been a rise in the acceptance of evolution in America. It’s still very low, though. (33:57) — Christian mommy-shamer Lori Alexander says mothers should work from home or else their kids will have sex. Who wants to tell her…? (42:53) — In Sydney, police fined churchgoers and their church for violating COVID lockdown orders. (47:10) — Most atheists believe in intelligent life on other planets. (51:24) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Come to our in-person meetup in Chicago on August 28! — The Department of Education plans to rescind Trump-era regulations promoting faith-based discrimination at college. (3:11) — The Spanish Inquisition still affects Spain today, say researchers. (11:50) — An anti-vaxxer Catholic cardinal is in the hospital due to COVID. (20:52) — A Disney Channel actress cited the Bible in a deranged anti-mask rant in front of her TN school board. (29:36) — How much criticism does former Purity Culture advocate Joshua Harris deserve for offering a course to help people who feel shame about sex? (36:29) — Ayaan Hirsi Ali is very mad that you care about trans pronouns. (1:04:05) — A former Kansas lawmaker is joining the staff of American Atheists. (1:14:59) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Come to our in-person meetup in Chicago on August 28! — Pat Robertson says he’ll live to 120. (4:08) — These parents want their kid to have a religious exemption to mask mandates and his school isn’t having any of it. (10:08) — A pastor accidentally admitted from jail that there’s a second assault victim. (14:44) — An 8-year-old boy was charged with blasphemy in Pakistan. (20:13) — Anti-LGBTQ bigotry may be driving young evangelical Christians away from their churches. (25:07) — A Russian woman sued McDonalds for tempting her so much, she broke her fast during Lent. (33:11) — A Florida pastor is pushing for more vaccinations after 6 people died of COVID in under two weeks. (35:16) — A Giant Christian Cross went up in Mississippi for $240,000. (40:35) — The One Angry Mom is mad at Gonzo for wearing a dress. (45:45) — Christian radio host Jesse Lee Peterson thinks AOC wanted to get assaulted during the insurrection. (49:40) — A “conversion therapy” group owes $3.5 million for ignoring a court order. (57:26) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast I talked about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Come to our in-person meetup in Chicago this August! — An Oregon official who’s gay was threatened by a Christian with a rock. (0:45) — Donors are suing the ministry of the late Christian apologist and predator Ravi Zacharias for deceiving them. (5:50) — This Catholic priest is furious that kids sang “Imagine” at the Olympics opening ceremonies. (14:09) — Louisiana’s attorney general wrote a letter to help Christians, and only Christians, get mask exemptions. (20:19) — Creationist Kent Hovind was arrested for domestic violence. (34:45) — This is a bad reason to not ban child marriage. (47:48) — For women growing up in Purity Culture, even married sex isn’t fun. (56:23)  — Sarah Palin might run for Senate if God wants her to. (1:05:23) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Come to our in-person meetup in Chicago this August! — A GOP senator asked a Biden nominee if he believed in God. (1:19) — An Ohio church invited a transphobic speaker and can’t handle the backlash. (17:13) — What is going on with Hobby Lobby and the Gilgamesh tablet? (29:00) — A preacher claimed to have proof of God’s powers. We know he’s lying. (37:39) — Mark Driscoll‘s former elders say he shouldn’t be preaching. Too little, too late. (46:33) — Facebook is helping churches now. Oh no… (58:39) — A Catholic priest says residential school survivors are lying to make money. (1:04:05) — Pastor Greg Locke says he’ll kick you out of his church if you’re wearing a mask. (1:07:07) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Come to our in-person meetup in Chicago this August! — Everyone should feel bad about the priest who resigned after getting caught using Grindr. (4:20) — 12 women sued Liberty University for enabling sexual abuse and their stories are horrifying. This story contains graphic details and may be disturbing for many listeners. (35:26)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Come to our in-person meetup in Chicago this August! — A naturopath was arrested for selling homeopathic COVID “cures” and fake vaccination cards. (1:54) — The God’s Not Dead 4 trailer is out… and we’re not optimistic. (7:20) — The one mom at One Million Moms is very mad about “Kevin Can F**k Himself” for some reason. (22:30) — Christian spelling bees miss the whole point of spelling bees. (29:00) — The country is 245 years old, and one preacher thinks that’s proof Trump will return to power. (40:21) — Anti-abortion activists say they’re going to launch a “pro-life” bank. (42:42) — A mom lost her lawsuit against a priest who implied during his eulogy that her dead son was in Hell. (55:11) — Creationist Matt Powell thinks the push to save endangered species disproves evolution. (1:00:29) — If you can whitewash Canada’s residential school crisis as good for Christians, you’re part of the problem. (1:15:12) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Creationist Ken Ham is building a Tower of Babel replica. (5:07) — Conservatives are up in arms over a satirical song from a gay men’s chorus. (16:31) — The Hobby Lobby July 4th lie-filled propaganda ad stirred up even more debate. (23:16) — Atheists are still widely disliked. (28:26) — A Canadian archbishop says he’s facing “persecution” over the residential school crisis. (34:03) — The Catholic Church doesn’t have $25 million for victims of residential schools, but they found $300 million for real estate. (38:55) — A Florida couple is suing a Catholic school, demanding a return of their major donation, because they say it’s too “woke.” (41:55) — The founder of “Fight Church” pleaded guilty to sexual abuse. (53:56) — Kayleigh McEnany says all the “main Founding Fathers” opposed slavery… which is not even close to true. (1:00:06) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

***UPDATE: We're aware of the audio quality with this episode and it'll be fixed next week!*** Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — TLC cancelled the Duggar family’s latest show “Counting On” after Josh Duggar‘s latest criminal allegations. (0:33) — Right Wing Watch was banned, then reinstated, from YouTube. (8:57) — A new partnership would fix a broken relationship between the University of California and Catholic hospitals. (24:27) — Pope Francis is not an ally to LGBTQ people. (37:28) — A Christian business owner doesn’t want to rent tuxes to a lesbian couple. (44:39) — The New Jersey Supreme Court will hear a case involving an unmarried pregnant woman fired from a Catholic school. (50:10) — A new analysis finds that an even greater percentage of white evangelicals voted for Trump in 2020 than 2016. (55:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian singer released an awful song called “Modest is Hottest.” (2:12) — Televangelist Jim Bakker has to pay people back over $156,000 for selling them a fake COVID cure. (15:50) — An Anglican school in Australia taught boys to assign point values to girls… while the girls were taught to remain virgins. (24:48) — Atheists are suing Mississippi over their religious license plates. (31:30) — How “Catholic” is Joe Biden? This is apparently a matter of debate. (38:36) — An evangelical has awful advice for dealing with trans colleagues. (52:27) — How can atheists win elections? This newly elected alderman in St. Louis has a lesson for us. (1:00:07) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2014, Pastor Mark Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill Church in Seattle in large part due to his abusive behavior. Former colleagues said Driscoll lacked self-control, was guilty of “verbally assaulting others,” and “created a culture of fear.” The evangelical publication Christianity Today has just launched an investigative podcast series called "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill," which is really about the rise and fall (and maybe rise again) of Driscoll. It's hosted by the magazine's director of podcasts Mike Cosper. In this bonus episode, Hemant spoke to Mike about whether Driscoll 2.0 is any different than the original, why he deserves this deep dive, and what church leaders should learn from his story. You can get the podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/id1569401963 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Christian baker who wouldn’t make a cake for a trans customer lost his case. (3:38) — Was the Supreme Court’s disappointing decision in Fulton actually a win for church/state separation? (14:50) — What is going on in this weird video of Ted Cruz randomly saluting a flag? (30:30)  — Atheists overwhelmingly oppose the death penalty. Christians, not so much. (32:33) — A Trump-loving Republican politician in West Virginia came out as gay. (39:42) — Florida will now force kids to observe one minute of silence in school. (46:13) — Does the new leader of the Southern Baptist Convention know the people he’s leading? (50:50) — Christian liar Kayleigh McEnany says she’s not a liar because she’s a Christian. (1:04:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A number of well-known New Atheists have drifted to the right… but to varying degrees. Here’s a great episode of Serious Inquiries Only with more nuance! (2:45) — Conservatives are very upset that a graduation speaker said the Pledge of Allegiance “Under Allah.” (21:08) — Does it matter that Christian denominations are fading away? (28:02) — Even a majority of Republicans support marriage equality now. (36:45) — The GOP chairwoman wished people a Happy Pride Month. It didn’t end well. (45:04) — How much credit does Burger King deserve for this Chick-fil-A shade? (53:40) — A Christian group wants body cams on teachers to make sure they’re not teaching about race. (1:02:36) — A(nother) Noah’s Ark replica is creating all kinds of chaos. (1:10:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Utah’s governor thinks a weekend of prayer will fix a drought. (1:02) — A Virginia teacher refuses to use trans kids’ pronouns. The district punished him. Now he’s suing. (9:15) — A high school football player had to eat pork, which violates his faith, as punishment. (17:20) — Pastors at Willow Creek still won’t condemn the church’s abusive founder. (24:05) — A Tennessee hat shop owner created Star of David patches bragging about not being vaccinated. They did not go over well. (37:32) — Is Russell Moore a hero for condemning the Southern Baptist Convention? (41:05) — An atheist leader in Kenya resigned after saying he converted to Christianity. (50:02) — After spreading COVID lies, Rick Wiles appears to have COVID. (55:22) — The remains of 215 children were found at a Catholic-run residential school in Canada. (58:45) — This Texas valedictorian used her speech to denounce anti-abortion laws. (1:06:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — This is the dumbest anti-evolution video I’ve ever seen. (0:50) — This apologist’s weird sex tweet doesn’t make any sense. (9:54) — A Christian Nationalist version of the Bible was too toxic for a major publisher. (15:44) — This survey of conservative Christians is wildly misleading. (23:49) — Should Chip and Joanna Gaines have given money to a relative who opposes racial justice? (30:12) — A pastor was arrested for spying on men in the church bathroom. (40:37) — The mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana is going to stop violence with two days of prayer. (42:32) — A Christian hate-preacher is doing damage control before a CNN segment about his lies. (45:10) — A Christian mom says feminism is Satanic. (53:45) — Are atheists obligated to call Catholic nuns “sisters”? (58:39) — A Christian hate-group overreacted after a principal omitted parts of the Pledge at a graduation ceremony. (1:04:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Sinéad O’Connor says ripping up a picture of the former pope on Saturday Night Live back in 1992 was the right move. (3:09) — Another Christian rock star is leaving evangelicalism. (12:43) — A priest wants to know if we’re “good” atheists. What does that even mean? (20:42) — A social justice activist said he was related to Robert E. Lee. That’s not true. Now what? (36:40) — SPONSOR: BlueChew.com! (45:49) — A furniture seller hides tiny crosses in pieces to bless everyone’s homes. Is this harmless or a problem? (46:49) — If Southern Baptists are praising your work, you’ve done something horribly wrong. (51:55) — The White House met with atheist group leaders. Is that significant or merely symbolic? (1:02:35)  — Tennessee has mandated signs about transgender bathroom use. (1:10:03) — In England, COVID death rates are lower for people with no religion. (1:15:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Anti-trans Christians are not sure if they can support Republican Caitlyn Jenner for governor. (2:20) — The Lutheran church just elected its first transgender bishop. (13:38) — Richard Dawkins isn’t a fan of your child with Down syndrome. (19:10) — SPONSOR: These science-themed jigsaw puzzles are wonderful for your whole family! Support the Kickstarter now by going to StardustScience.com! (50:19) — Evangelist Franklin Graham wants people to get vaccinated. (53:52) — Hindu sect in the U.S. sued for paying next-to-nothing for labor brought in from India. (1:02:07) — Ernest Angley, a hypocritical and cruel televangelist, has died. (1:05:50) — Younger Jewish Americans are more secular than ever before, but fundamentalism is still on the rise. (1:13:40) — Some German priests plan to bless same-sex couples in defiance of Catholic Church policy. (1:18:57) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A juror looked to God, not evidence, and now an appeals court has overturned a verdict because of it. (0:45) — Josh Duggar‘s latest awful crimes. (16:04) — Why are Florida officials correcting atheists’ invocations? (31:12) — SPONSOR: These science-themed jigsaw puzzles are wonderful for your whole family! Support the Kickstarter now by going to StardustScience.com! (41:07) — A Christian lawmaker in Kansas released an insane statement after kicking a child. (43:20) — Who wants to tell this Louisiana Republican leader that slavery isn’t okay? (1:01:11) — A Christian college says it didn’t realize abusing children was harmful decades ago. (1:09:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Josh Duggar is in jail! But for what…? (2:10) — This is one wild letter to the editor from a self-described WASP. (9:00) — A Canadian politician defended conversion therapy by talking about a woman who wanted to escape “lesbian activity.” It spawned a hashtag. (26:00) — An Alaska GOP Senate candidate thinks church/state separation is a hoax. (30:10) — Catholic bishops don’t want Joe Biden to receive communion so the rules may change. (38:48) — If this is your criticism of Kamala Harris, maybe keep it to yourself. (46:53) — Newt Gingrich is very bothered by rainbow flags at U.S. embassies. (56:33) — Australia’s prime minister said he’s doing God’s work in office. (59:48) — Christian Prophets want some standards! (1:05:49) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The continuing saga involving Richard Dawkins and his anti-trans tweets. (1:26) — A couple said “God” told them to get married at a mansion that they didn’t own or rent. (54:11) — A Georgia church kicked out a member for being happy in a same-sex relationship. (1:00:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Jerry Falwell, Jr. just got sued by Liberty University. (0:59) — The problems with Richard Dawkins‘ comments about trans people. (7:23) — A West Virginia lawmaker sank a sensible life-saving suicide prevention bill by blaming the teaching of evolution. (24:56) — The Bible makes way more sense as a series of Florida Man stories. (32:39) — The Melania-loving misogynistic pastor is back. (33:59) — I think this pastor just threatened me. (43:33) — A Polish town that declared itself “free of LGBT” now wants to take it back. (45:00) — The Mormon Church is on the verge of excommunicating a sex therapist who puts science over dogma. (48:12) — An atheist is suing L’Oreal for being subject to offensive slurs and proselytizing at work. (54:12) — The MyPillow guy’s new free speech app restricts anti-Christian speech. (57:26) — Iowa’s GOP governor used her position to raise over $30,000 for a private Christian school. (1:02:13) — Secular Democrats outnumber White Evangelical Republicans. (1:04:51) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tyler Measom is an ex-Mormon filmmaker of incredible documentaries like "An Honest Liar" and "I Want My MTV." He recently co-directed the Netflix miniseries "Murder Among the Mormons" and joined Jess for a bonus interview. We discussed how Mark Hoffman's actions affected the Mormon Church, what happens when experts are fooled, and what he learned from the people he's interviewed. We would recommend watching "Murder Among the Mormons" before listening to this episode since we discuss the conclusions at length and spoilers abound. (Also: It's really very good!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Atheists no longer have to swear an oath to God in order to vote in Alabama. (1:30) — An anti-LGBTQ official in Alabama dropped his future Senate bid after his mistress revealed their taped conversations. (8:19) — Tennessee Republicans are removing a ban on priests holding office… but not the part banning atheists from the same thing. (16:54) — Tennessee’s Lt. Gov. found a clever way to block a bill making the Bible the Official State Book. (25:52) — Texas wants lawyers for fetuses. (29:05) — The Arkansas House passed a bill permitting the teaching of Creationism in science class. (32:56) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. told people to get vaccinated to own the libs. (37:05) — A New York GOP official resigned after claiming gay people on an island would die in a few decades. (40:36) — A Kentucky tax preparer is openly refusing to work with gay couples. (46:46) — Creationists are mad that “higher standards” in science education mean not teaching Creationism. (50:33) — This is a weird reason to not like Morgan Freeman. (1:05:20) — The president of the Mormon Church said people with religious doubts are “lazy learners.” (1:13:09) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Conservative Christians can’t handle Lil Nas X and his Satan Shoes. (0:38) — A church told a woman she was ineligible to win a fishing trip in a raffle because of her ladyparts. (14:20) — Church attendance in America is at an all-time low. (23:45) — Will not playing on the Sabbath hurt this baseball player’s career prospects? (30:37) — A Christian school apologized for inviting a guest speaker who wasn’t anti-LGBTQ enough. (40:23) — Evangelist Rick Joyner has five kids, all of whom reject his radical beliefs. (48:29) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed a suicide hotline because it would help LGBTQ people. (56:52) — A survey found that many Republicans don’t think Joe Biden is a real Catholic. (59:45) — A Colorado town sold part of a public cemetery to a boy scout so he could promote Christianity. (1:02:56) — An Oklahoma teacher called trans people “sinful” in class; a student exposed her words. (1:09:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess sat down with her father to discuss why he left the Republican Party in 2016 and the impact that Donald Trump had on his understanding of America. (Please excuse some sound issues in the first 3 min of the recording!) Recorded on 3/20/21 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order anything from Stardust Science and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://stardustscience.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist — Republican senator Cindy Hyde-Smith opposes Sunday voting because that’s the Sabbath Day. (0:42) — Franklin Graham infuriated Christians after urging them to get vaccinated. (8:40) — Half of Republican men say they won’t get vaccinated, but their family members are trying to change their minds. (13:11) — A Christian doesn’t want Robert E. Lee High School to change its name because Jesus didn’t oppose slavery. (16:34) — Ted Cruz says liberals get angry over “thoughts and prayers” because they hate God. (19:35) — Will suing the Mormon Church for fraud work? (22:31) — Australian politicians are having sex in the Parliament prayer room. (31:15) — Should the government remove roadside memorial crosses? (36:01) — A survivor of the Colorado shooting returned to the scene to declare that Jesus won. (46:40) — Panera Bread is being sued for religious discrimination by a Pagan employee. (52:54) — An Arkansas law would allow Christian doctors to refuse service to trans people. (1:01:34) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order anything from Stardust Science and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://stardustscience.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist — A Belgian court fined the Jehovah’s Witnesses for shunning former members. (0:25) — The Catholic Church still says it won’t bless same-sex marriages. Some priests want to rebel. (7:50) — The Liberty University “think tank” co-founded by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk has fired Charlie Kirk. (18:28) — CNN’s Don Lemon said God loves everyone. Now a Christian hate group is furious. (24:18) — The Georgia spa shooter had a long faith-filled history. (27:09) — Bob Jones University, which once banned interracial dating, wants you to know they oppose the Equality Act. (40:40) — A Montana Republican says he wants silent prayer in schools as a way to get God back in the classroom. (44:58) — A Florida bill would let student athletes preach over the loudspeaker before playoff games. (49:55) — A student recorded her middle school health teacher preaching in the classroom. (57:38) — Sen. Lindsey Graham says if the filibuster is changed, he’ll talk until he falls over. Let him. (1:00:20) — Being “Super Straight” is a (silly bigoted) thing now. (1:06:59) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order anything from Stardust Science and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://stardustscience.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist — Atheists are more likely to get vaccinated, according to a new survey. (0:26) — A realtor arrested in a murder-for-hire plot assumed God would just forgive her. (6:40) — Christian apologist Sye Ten Bruggencate apparently took advantage of a “vulnerable woman.” (12:15) — A new study links evangelicals with a desire for bigger penises. (16:50) — A Republican lawmaker says we don’t need gun control because Cain killed Abel in the Bible. (23:31) — A Tennessee church sent a nasty letter to a member for her sinful lifestyle. (30:07) — An Arizona bill could give churches immunity even in abuse cases. (37:10) — Beth Moore quit the Southern Baptist Convention. Good for her. Bad for them. (42:33) — An Arkansas lawmaker wants Creationism back in the classroom. (49:10) — Pastor Robert Jeffress says we’ll be working in Heaven but with no government regulations. Yay…? (56:05) — Ravi Zacharias‘ former ministry will rebrand to get away from the predator’s name. (59:58) — Switzerland approved a burka ban. (1:04:31) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order anything from Stardust Science and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://stardustscience.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist — A Baptist pastor whose misogynistic nonsense went viral has temporary left the ministry. (1:11) — A New York woman saying allowing her husband to get a divorce violated her religious freedom. (17:00) — Sye Ten Bruggencate, a notorious Christian apologist, has resigned from his ministry citing unnamed “moral failure.” (20:35) — Another Idaho lawmaker opposed a child education bill because it might push more moms to work outside the home. (27:45) — An Idaho lawmaker says face masks injure “our souls.” (30:51) — Catholic leaders are stupidly urging people not to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (35:10) — An Academy Award voter told one director he wouldn’t watch her film because it espoused a pro-choice message. (42:37) — Christians are furious that a Christian adoption agency will now work with gay couples in order to not lose taxpayer funding. (49:29) — Going to CPAC and celebrating how they embrace secular conspiracies instead of religious ones is really really dumb. (54:05) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With so many Americans turning away from religion, it's natural to wonder whether a Secular Left can ever challenge the Religious Right. A new book attempts to answer that question. It's called "Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics," and it's written by three people who know this topic better than most people ever could. David E. Campbell is the Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy at the University of Notre Dame who has written extensively about religion's role in American politics. Geoffrey C. Layman is Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. He, too, has written a lot about religion and politics and is currently the co-editor of the journal Political Behavior. David and Geoffrey are joining me today. The third author is John C. Green, the Emeritus Director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron. We talked about whether the "secular surge" has peaked, if the GOP can appeal to non-religious voters, and the single issue that could unite atheists and evangelicals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order anything from Stardust Science and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://stardustscience.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist — This church staffer is super-racist. (1:29) — A Catholic School expelled three kids after learning about their mom’s OnlyFans account. (15:40) — Should a judge have booted a juror who said God told him about the suspect’s guilt before jury deliberations began? (22:29) — Tennessee Republicans want rapists to have veto power over their victims’ abortions. (35:48) — Ken Ham says the Perseverance rover’s budget should’ve been spent on Creationism. (40:50) — Rep. Al Green gave a stirring speech condemning Christians using God to justify their opposition to the Equality Act. (43:38) — A Texas bishop blamed atheism for all of society’s problems. (46:18) — A heavy metal musician from Poland is fighting back against blasphemy charges. (50:40) — Progressive evangelicals are speaking out against Christian Nationalism, but it’s not enough. (54:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order anything from Stardust Science and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://stardustscience.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist — Don’t worry about the White House’s faith-based office… yet. (1:08) — A Newsweek article claimed atheists hate homeschooling because kids have to spend time with their parents. (16:48) — Why is a Kentucky city using FEMA relief money to build a church? (26:03) — This is what happens when a progressive church invites an anti-gay speaker. (35:34) — Georgia GOP lawmakers want three doctors to verify the genitalia of trans kids playing sports. (48:55) — There are very few Black atheists in America, according to a new survey. (56:28) — South Carolina’s abortion ban is bad news but it could be worse. (1:00:00) — Two women are getting promoted after their boss strategically decided not to elevate them when Donald Trump was in office. (1:08:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order anything from Stardust Science and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://stardustscience.com/discount/FriendlyAtheist — The late Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias was a bigger moral monster than we ever knew. (2:12) — Christian money manager Dave Ramsey says poor people don’t need stimulus checks. (21:02) — Jeep’s Super Bowl ad was an unintentional homage to Christian Nationalism. (42:10) — A conservative Christian reporter wants to know why the media won’t condemn Joe Biden’s Catholicism. (50:00) — 27% of white evangelicals believe in QAnon. (54:35) — A gay Christian who’s critical of church culture is the top-selling artist on iTunes’ Christian music charts. (1:01:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order Elle the Humanist and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://ellethehumanist.com/discount/friendlyatheist — The Arkansas legislature has passed a bill that would force women seeking an abortion to call an anti-abortion hotline first. (0:42) — The same Arkansas legislature passed a bill allowing churches to hold super-spreader events during a pandemic. (5:30) — The leader of one of the largest atheist groups in the country is stepping down and hoping a person of color replaces him. (10:12) — Are Southern Baptists still racist? Here’s Exhibit 1. (15:50) — A priest on YouTube called out “pro-life” hypocrisy and viewers lashed out! (32:00) — Democrats rejected saying the Pledge of Allegiance at House Judiciary Committee meetings because it’s pointless. (40:45) — A report on a German archdiocese reveals some truly horrifying details. (44:15) — The Catholic Church hoarded billions of dollars in PPP loans. (49:53) — Are all Republicans evil? A discussion. (53:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alice Greczyn is an actress and writer who may be most familiar to audiences from her role as Mads Rybak in the ABC Family show The Lying Game. What audiences may not know is that Alice experienced what she calls a "painful yet rewarding transition from Christianity to atheism." It led her to create a website called DaretoDoubt.org, a resource for people leaving their faith. She now lives in Los Angeles and has just published a book about her journey out of religion called "Wayward." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order Elle the Humanist and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://ellethehumanist.com/discount/friendlyatheist — A Christian school kicked out a child who told another girl she had a crush on her. (4:00) — Is Joe Biden an anti-Catholic Catholic? (9:28) — If half of Protestant pastors hear conspiracies in church, what does it say about them? (18:00) — The mayor of a California city took part in a Christian COVID super-spreader event. (25:48) — Christian liar Sarah Huckabee Sanders is running for governor of Arkansas. (28:21) — An Australian bigot, who happens to be a tennis star, is receiving an honor, and people are furious. (36:49) — What is Kellyanne Conway doing to her daughter? (44:58) — Poland’s near-total abortion ban is now in effect. (53:08) — Joe Biden has reversed anti-abortion orders signed by Donald Trump. (55:59) — 14 states have already proposed laws targeting LGBTQ people. (1:07:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order Elle the Humanist and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://ellethehumanist.com/discount/friendlyatheist — What just happened with Atheist Alliance International? (0:33) — Should we be troubled by Joe Biden‘s overly religious inauguration speech? (17:18) — White evangelicals still view Donald Trump favorably. (25:58) — James Dobson has a lot of irrational fears about the new administration. (36:30) — Christian terrorists were absolutely a part of the Capitol siege. (43:05) — A Catholic priest apologized to his church for not condemning Trump enough. (45:15) — A former anti-vaxxer is now urging everyone to get the COVID vaccine. (52:17) — Arizona Republicans want to pass a bill to execute women and doctors who have or perform abortions. (1:09:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order Elle the Humanist and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://ellethehumanist.com/discount/friendlyatheist — This Christian conspiracist thinks the College Football Championship was God’s way of saying Trump will stay in power. (1:38) — One of the arrested rioters includes an anti-gay, anti-abortion lawmaker from West Virginia. (6:04) — A man arrested in the Capitol siege said he prayed for guidance, but God never said no. (13:00) — We don’t need a National Hymn. (23:18) — Help me understand this atheist running an anti-abortion group for Democrats. (28:42) — The Irish government admitted its Catholic-run homes for unwed mothers led to 9,000 deaths. (42:38) — Christians who prophesied Trump’s victory are doing damage control. (48:15) — Evangelicals make up about half of Trump’s most vocal supporters. (53:28) — A Turkish Creationist was given a thousand-year jail sentence for… everything. (57:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order Elle the Humanist and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://ellethehumanist.com/discount/friendlyatheist — Former PA Christian Nationalist lawmaker Rick Saccone lost his job after taking part in the Capitol Coup. (10:42) — A Catholic news outlet called out anti-democratic MAGA Catholics by name in an epic smackdown. (25:20) — There are a few surprises when it comes to the religious makeup of the new Congress. (29:30) — The Georgia Senate elections were a bright spot in an otherwise awful week. (35:00) — Meghan McCain finally realized parental leave is a good idea because she had a baby and for no other reason. (40:27) — Republicans flipped out after a House chaplain said “A-woman” when ending a prayer. (46:22) — This short documentary about Ark Encounter is more of a free ad. (48:51) — A Pakistani court banned used of the awful “virginity test” for sexual assault cases. (56:08) — The CEO of Whole Foods doesn’t think you need affordable health care. (58:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Order Elle the Humanist and get a 10% discount with the promo code “friendlyatheist”! https://ellethehumanist.com/discount/friendlyatheist — A conservative writer says Dr. Anthony Fauci can’t be trusted because “he’s a humanist.” (3:20) — A car caravan blocked Christian preacher Sean Feucht‘s COVID-spreading rally in Los Angeles. (11:25) — 400 Liberty U. students want to see the Falkirk Center shut down. (14:58) — A leader of the Catholic Church in Germany says reform on LGBTQ rights and ordaining women is necessary. (20:35) — There was a COVID outbreak in a Bible Study group on Martha’s Vineyard because the leader allegedly told people to trust Jesus over masks. (27:45) — Donald Trump issued a proclamation honoring Saint Thomas Becket. It has problems. (33:10) — A Pennsylvania public transit system owes a lot of cash after rejecting an atheist group’s ad. (46:46) — An Idaho pub faced backlash for helping out with a Satanic group’s fundraiser for personal hygiene products. (56:25) — The Mormon Church is being sued by former boy scouts for allegedly covering up sex abuse. (1:00:47) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — What did famed Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias do to those poor women? (4:15) — God’s Not Dead 4 will soon be coming to a bargain bin near you. (17:53) — A Christian-owned wedding venue in North Carolina is getting exactly what it deserves after refusing to host a same-sex ceremony. (23:36) — Kirk Cameron is not a fan of the “mask Gestapo.” (28:36) — A judge said this to a COVID-denying pastor: “The Constitution is not a suicide pact.” (33:24) — Even Pat Robertson is telling Donald Trump that it’s time to move on. (36:18) — A Florida county that previously blocked atheists from giving invocations finally adopted a new inclusive invocation policy. (38:43) — What’s the benefit to atheists promoting their cause at a Republican event? (42:51) — Jessica talks about her favorite current Christmas movies. (54:51) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — It’s absurd that anyone is complaining about Jill Biden‘s Ph.D. (2:00) — A Denny’s server quit after two Christians claimed religious exemptions to wearing face masks. (10:55) — Why does Pastor Joel Osteen‘s megachurch need millions in PPP loans? (14:48) — And why did this preacher buy a private jet after receiving PPP money? (20:23) — At least 75 people caught the virus after a church held a Christmas concert earlier this month. (22:57) — Christian financial “guru” Dave Ramsey is holding a maskless Christmas party for hundreds of people. (27:27) — Christian singer Lauren Daigle was dropped from a New Year’s Eve show because she appeared at a super-spreader event. (31:49) — A COVID-denying lawmaker caught COVID and is now on a ventilator. (39:37) — A very ignorant conservative writer says public schools are indoctrinating kids into atheism. (44:57) — There are dumb election conspiracy theories… and then there’s this. (48:00) — A GOP congressman-elect says Rev. Raphael Warnock doesn’t represent “real” Americans. So who does? (51:11) — The governors of Mississippi and Oklahoma are praying, instead of doing anything useful, in response to COVID. (57:24) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — Should pastors be blamed if their congregations are skeptical of the vaccine? (0:40) — A Christian hate-preacher doesn’t know what a pandemic is, but he insists there isn’t one right now. (12:35) — A Christian writer is furious that Hollywood embraces Elliot Page and not him. (17:45) — Conservative radio host Jesse Lee Peterson is angry that a lot of Republican women were elected to the House. (24:15) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. dropped his defamation lawsuit against Liberty University. (27:05) — Don’t send Bible balloons to North Korea. (30:35) — Michele Bachmann says her vote was stolen by Satan. (36:05) — The Falkirk Center says the existence of successful Black people means systemic racism is a hoax. (40:02) — Sen. Kelly Loeffler gave her salary to organizations that hurt Americans. (45:10) — A West Virginia teacher hosted a Homecoming dance by calling it a religious “vow renewal.” (53:50) — Ben Shapiro can’t handle Kristen Stewart‘s holiday rom-com movie Happiest Season. (57:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — A mysterious monolith in California was torn down and replaced with a Christian cross by a bunch of racists. (0:25) — Jehovah’s Witnesses may lose their tax-exempt status in Australia. (7:35) — “Sky Daddy” went viral after a confrontation outside an abortion clinic. (19:25) — A pro-Trump lawyer said being called “crazy” isn’t a problem since Jesus was called that too. (22:40) — An anti-LGBTQ lawmaker in Belgium was arrested after fleeing an all-male orgy. (33:21) — Oklahoma’s governor called for a day of fasting and prayer for COVID victims… even though he won’t actually help COVID victims. (39:35) — Insane Christians helped water down a mask mandate in South Dakota, one of the worst-hit COVID states. (43:30) — Atheists will convert after the election results are flipped, says preacher. (49:27) — Scotland is making period products free for everyone who needs them. (51:30) — Eric Metaxas wants to fake-die in a fake war for Trump. (55:00) — Jessica shares some personal news. (56:24) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Supreme Court gave COVID-denying churches a gift, saying COVID restrictions in New York didn’t apply to them. (1:08) — Thousands of Hasidic Jews crammed into one place for a wedding. This is why we can’t have nice things. (14:04) — A Florida appeals court said bans on gay conversion torture for kids are unconstitutional. (18:27) — New York State is suing the Diocese of Buffalo for not protecting kids from abusive priests. (26:50) — Tennessee Republicans want to make sure COVID can still spread once we have the vaccine. (30:43) — A pastor who oversees an anti-mask daycare sent an insane letter to parents after the state shut the place down. (34:18) — A UK Court tossed out a paralyzed man’s lawsuit to permit assisted death. (37:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Creationist says we have nasal bones because God knew we’d have glasses. (0:50) — Is it weird that a GOP congressman bragged to a Jewish publication about his attempts to convert Jews? (4:50) — “FOX News Republicans” says white Christians have it worse than everyone else. (12:42) — A pastor says a COVID vaccine would remove God from your DNA. (22:05) — Should a pastor who avoided talking about Donald Trump get credit for it now? (26:20) — The West Virginia Supreme Court says it’s okay for churches to lie about sexual predators. (34:51) — An anti-abortion activist wants people to defy lockdowns. Because irony is dead. (41:08) — Actress Melissa McCarthy gave a donation to a bigoted Christian group… then rescinded it after she learned better. (46:00) — A Tennessee mayor allegedly says he won’t support a mask mandate unless God tells him it’s okay. (51:30) — Hawaii eliminated Christian propaganda from its education curriculum. (1:01:46) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Republican atheist has been arrested for bribery… which is somehow not even close to surprising. (7:00) — One pastor congratulated Joe Biden… then quickly took it back… then quickly deleted his apology. (15:11) — Televangelist Kenneth Copeland just creepily laughed off a Biden presidency. (18:55) — Pastor Robert Jeffress can’t accept a new president… even though he had no problem with it in 2016. (20:40) — Justice Samuel Alito denounced marriage equality, church/state separation, and more in a speech to the Federalist Society. (28:55) — An Arkansas police chief threatened Democrats on Parler. He has now resigned. (36:00) — This is the only good lawsuit involving Donald Trump. (42:01) — Should Jehovah’s Witnesses be allowed to psychologically torture a little girl? That’s a question currently being decided. (45:57) — A preacher who blamed COVID on premarital sex has died of COVID. (53:40) — “So help me God” will remain in the U.S. citizenship oath. (56:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The election. All of it. (0:30) — What did the exit polls show about white evangelicals? (11:34) — Religion makes the gender wage gap worse, say researchers. (34:49) — Should Latvia have to pay for Jehovah’s Witnesses to travel abroad for a surgery? (39:39) — The Supreme Court just heard a case involving religious bigotry. (47:02) — Liberty University is still acting very Falwellian. (52:17) — Pastor Carl Lentz has been fired for “moral failures.” (56:01) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Husbands, do you know how your wives are voting? WHY NOT?! (0:35) — A conservative Christian candidate for the U.S. House from North Carolina is getting pushback from… conservative Christians. (10:33) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. is suing Liberty University for ruining a reputation he never had. (22:24) — A right-wing Christian group made a pro-Electoral College propaganda video for children. (26:16) — The babysitter in Borat 2, who was duped into participating in the film, says she had been praying for Borat’s “daughter” for a year. (32:00) — Christian Nationalism is coming to a church near you. (37:55) — A Republican Christian candidate for the WV State House has a restraining order against him for stalking and harassing women. (40:40) — Apparently, every aborted fetus is a Donald Trump voter in waiting. (45:19) — Poland has effectively banned legal abortions and women are protesting. (49:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — We lost a legend. Goodbye, James Randi. (0:22) — A COVID-denying church run by Pastor John MacArthur has a COVID outbreak. (14:35) — COVID spreader and Christian preacher Sean Feucht is hosting a massive event on the National Mall this weekend. (18:00) — Pope Francis is now a fan of civil unions. So… yay? (21:49) — A former editor for the Christian Post says he left when they went all in for Donald Trump. (30:29) — A Duggar daughter is breaking away from the family’s conservative ways. (38:25) — If Joe Biden wins, the celebration will apparently involve cows. (42:20) — White evangelicals are completely out of touch with the country. (45:17) — Christian health insurance companies are lying to you. (57:08) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please subscribe to my new Substack newsletter! — A whites-only church wants to set up shop in Minnesota. Locals aren’t having it. (2:00) — Donald Trump fell for an article on a satirical conservative website. (6:25) — Trump needs to work on his pandering. He’s now saying only Jesus is more famous than he is. (9:27) — Trump’s support among white evangelicals is slipping… (15:37) — Anti-gay groups are already celebrating the eventual overturning of marriage equality. (26:46) — Two congressmen say interracial marriages are also on the chopping block. (33:00) — This could be a way to save the Court… but it’s not pretty. (36:20) — Nashville authorities say they’re investigating a super-spreader event hosted by Christian preacher Sean Feucht. (42:25) — Someone called the cops after seeing a sleeping homeless man on a bench. It was actually a statue of Jesus. (51:10) — Anti-abortion groups are defending Trump’s use of a COVID treatment that wouldn’t have been possible without an aborted fetus. (58:18) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please subscribe to my new Substack newsletter! — A priest was caught filming sex with two women in a church. (1:08) — Catholicism is officially broken because of a tiny mistake a few decades ago. (10:30) — Don’t bury fetal remains without the consent of the mother. Just don’t. (19:59) — Where are Donald Trump‘s evangelical supporters now that we know his COVID treatment was derived from the cells of an aborted fetus? (27:55) — Trump said catching COVID was a “blessing from God.” (35:11) — Eric Trump believes daddy “literally saved Christianity” from godless Democrats. (37:10) — Don’t forget that the Republicans who defended the child separation policy justified it with Bible verses. (41:22) — At least two Supreme Court justices want to overturn marriage equality. (50:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please subscribe to my new Substack newsletter! — Alabama won’t allow atheists to vote. (6:11) — Amy Coney Barrett has said abortion is “barbaric.” Will it matter? (10:48) — One conservative opposes Barrett’s confirmation to the Court… but for all the wrong reasons. (18:21) — Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias is being accused of sexual misconduct months after his death. (19:09) — This Illinois Republican says his opponent is attacking his “Christian values”… by quoting his platform. (26:00) — “Humanists for Biden,” a first of its kind group, had its launch! (32:53) — Behind closed doors, Donald Trump mocks religious people. (35:16) — Senate Republicans won’t pass a COVID relief bill, but they did pass a resolution defending the Pledge of Allegiance. (39:00) — Satanists want to put up pro-abortion billboards but they’ll have to win a legal battle first. (40:57) — Conservative Matt Walsh says Real Men don’t use emojis. (48:40) — A COVID-denying pastor forces his staff to sign COVID waivers. (51:38) — A First Amendment case has church/state opponents working together. (54:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Please subscribe to Hemant's new Substack newsletter! — What does the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg mean for church/state separation? (0:54) — Democrats do not have an anti-Catholic bias. (23:41) — A Republican state representative from Illinois was caught on tape saying racist, homophobic things about her opponent. (28:03) — A Baptist preacher yelled “White Power!” after a Trump rally. (36:00) — This bizarre ad from a Wisconsin GOP group falsely claims Joe Biden‘s religious beliefs are unknown. (39:00) — How much praise should we give an evangelical who only ditched the label now? (42:44) — What is a “militant secularist,” Attorney General William Barr? (56:20) — Germany’s largest, richest archdiocese is planning on massive shrinkage. (59:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — If you’re a pastor, maybe don’t use your work email to send hateful racist messages based on a hoax. (0:55) — The Southern Baptist Convention is drifting away from the word “Southern.” (11:45) — “Evangelicals for Social Action” is getting rid of the first word because it’s too toxic. (19:18) — Scientific American issued its first-ever endorsement for Joe Biden. Will it matter? (22:19) — Don’t be this mom complaining about a Bible reading in your daughter’s English class. (38:00) — Democrats can and should reach out to non-religious voters. (51:00) — A Republican state senator who participated in a protest against climate change just lost his home due to the wildfires. (56:11) — A California church will finally stop its indoor services. It just took a fine of $112,750. (1:00:16) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Christian hate-pastor Steven Anderson no longer has his YouTube channels. I may have had something to do with that… (0:48) — Pastor John MacArthur‘s church has been shut down by a judge for violating COVID rules. (13:16) — A Hobby Lobby store urged people to vote for Trump. Now there’s a call for a boycott. (17:33) — Donald Trump released a new Supreme Court shortlist, but will anyone care? (19:32) — A South Carolina school district lost a major church/state legal battle… but doesn’t want to accept the settlement. (28:45) — Socialists hate the Bible, according to a Christian pollster who oversimplifies everything. (32:44) — Queensland, Australia will make priests report child abuse even if they learn about it during confession. (37:54) — Michael Cohen admitted there was a link between the Falwells’ racy photos and his endorsement of Trump. (47:09) — A Ukrainian Orthodox Church leader who blamed COVID on gay marriage… has COVID. (55:01) — A Brazilian gospel singer is involved in a murder case… and it gets even weirder after that. (56:38) — Trump wants “patriotic education” in schools. But his version of that is pure indoctrination. (1:01:39) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know Seth Andrews as the host of The Thinking Atheist podcast and his YouTube videos. And if you've listened to him before, you may also know that he's a former evangelical Christian, the kind who lived in the right-wing bubble, idolizing Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and FOX News. So what caused that shift? That's the focus of Seth's new book, "Confessions of a Former Fox News Christian." We spoke about how Seth left the evangelical bubble, what it takes to question your core beliefs, and why the FOX News crowd is so susceptible to fear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pastor John MacArthur told his congregation “There is no pandemic.” Yes. There. Is. He misinterpreted scientific data. (0:54) — Christian Right activist Eric Metaxas sucker punched a protester after Trump’s RNC speech. (10:45) — Ark Encounter finally settled its infamous rain damage lawsuit. (14:30) — Is Liberty University’s investigation into Jerry Falwell, Jr.‘s tenure going to be legitimate? (18:39) — This Christian radio host says men should avoid smart women because they have emotional needs in bed. (30:20) — Conservative Christians are complaining about California’s SB 145 because they don’t understand what it does. (36:10) — Research shows public schools may be discriminating against Muslim and atheist families. (47:41) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. This week, they all revolved around Jerry Falwell, his wife Becki, and the Pool Boy. Side note: If you're curious about the siege at Waco, listen to the amazing American Scandal podcast series about it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Our thoughts on the Democratic National Convention. (0:22) — Evangelist Franklin Graham said there was an “absence of God” during the DNC. What was he watching?! (6:29) — Florida State Rep. Kim Daniels, one of the worst Democrats in the country, lost her primary. Thank goodness! (16:55) — Broadcaster Thom Brennaman said WHAT during a broadcast? (20:53) — A former LGBTQ-themed talk show host hurled anti-LGBTQ slurs at someone who told him to wear a mask. (27:41) — Should this Catholic mother have disconnected the internet to punish her atheist son? (30:14) — Rep. Rashida Tlaib has joined the Congressional Freethought Caucus! (38:00) — The likely QAnon congressional candidate from Georgia once tried to get two Muslim congresswomen to retake their oaths on the Bible. (42:13) — Can evangelicals convince other Christians to follow the science when it comes to COVID? (47:16) — Ark Encounter is planning a Christian music festival. Like everything they do, it’s underwhelming. (53:27) — Singer James Blunt once got scurvy from eating only meat to prove his manliness. Go vegetarian, everyone. (56:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since everyone is quarantined, Jess and her husband/film nerd Mikey have been watching and discussing movies. There are several bonus episodes available to Patreon donors, but we wanted to give listeners a sample! This time, they watched the truly terrible 2012 film "Hardflip," about a guy who skateboards his way to Jesus... or something. Mikey discusses skating intricacies and cinematic failures of the movie as a whole. It's a mess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Our friend Ed Brayton has died. (0:30) — How many people does Pastor John MacArthur want to hurt before he’ll come to his senses? (5:55) — A Christian mom said masks and social distancing are Pagan rituals. The school board was listening. (11:55) — If you don’t know her, you’re going to love Wisconsin Democrat Kelda Roys who just won her primary for state senate. (16:29) — Here are all the non-religious candidates running for state and federal office in November. (21:30) — Secular Democrats of America are planning an incredible inaugural event. (24:08) — A 90-year-old man has come out as gay! (26:31) — Conservatives can’t handle the new Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion song “WAP.” (29:35) — Democrats are hardly a godless party no matter what MAGA cultist Robert Jeffress says. (40:15) — Liberty University has a new anti-gay Jerry at its helm. (42:40) — A long discussion about Kamala Harris. (45:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian hate-pastor threatened a man over masks at a Dunkin’ coffee shop. Now they’re mandating masks. (1:20) — Trump claims Joe Biden will “hurt God” if he gets elected. How weak is this God…? (7:00) — Donald Trump‘s lawyer Jenna Ellis says Michelle Obama needs more Jesus in her life. (13:50) — What is Jerry Falwell, Jr. doing on his yacht…? (19:32) — A GOP state lawmaker who spoke at a celebration of a KKK leader was charged with felony theft. (30:57) — Judge Roy Moore is suing comedian Sacha Baron Cohen for defamation and it may backfire spectacularly. (37:04) — A Florida pastor says masks get in the way of praying. How…? (41:00) — The Satanic Temple is now saying Satanic abortions are protected under religious liberty laws. (44:03) -- We heard some breaking news about Falwell... (50:30) — Aliens didn’t build the pyramids, Elon Musk. (52:45) — A study found that the most anti-abortion states offer the least support for women and families. (53:56) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — Women vandalized the Ten Commandments monument in Arkansas and I got threatened by a senator. (1:12) — Republican atheist Robert M. Price‘s anti-transgender, anti-feminist remarks in a fantasy anthology’s introduction has angered many of the contributors. (11:30) — Do we seriously have to talk about the demon sex doctor? (21:00) — A Christian author says Jesus was white. Because of course he did. (27:45) — Sen. Tom Cotton said something else idiotic about slavery. (34:10) — Rep. Louie Gohmert is sick, Herman Cain is dead, and Republicans still don’t care enough about the virus. (38:27) — Focus on the Family founder James Dobson is fear-mongering about the election… just like he did in 2008. (46:53) — There’s a large religious revival in the Chicago suburbs, creating pandemic concerns, and no one knows who gave them permission. (57:31) — A Giants pitcher wouldn’t kneel for black lives because he’s Christian. (58:59) — A Nevada sheriff says libraries shouldn’t be able to call 911 if they support Black lives. (1:03:54) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — A Christian non-profit may boot Rep. Ted Yoho from its board for using a vulgarity against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (1:05) — Arkansas State Rep. Jason Rapert, who opposed the state’s mask mandate, is now hospitalized with COVID. (8:45) — Anti-abortion Democrats want the party to be more anti-abortion… which is a horrible idea. (12:59) — Dr. Anthony Fauci can’t throw a pitch, which is perfectly fine. (27:51) — There’s a new dating site for Christian bigots. (33:50) — North Dakota’s GOP platform is wildly anti-LGBTQ and they only now realized it. (39:59) — A Republican policy tells homeless shelters how to spot transgender people by sight. (44:45) — A Texas lawmaker wants you to know even aliens need Jesus. (49:20) — Sen. Tom Cotton filed a bill to block the teaching of the 1619 Project. (54:30) — Satanists launched their own scholarship for students who hate school. (1:08:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! — Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany wrongly thinks science supports reopening schools. (1:16) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is promoting Christian Nationalism in a new document. (8:07) — The White House held secret phone calls with evangelical leaders urging them to apply for forgivable PPP loans they didn’t need. (13:04) — Don’t use slurs when you’re the leader of an atheist organization. (15:05) — These irresponsible parents are leading a “Million Unmasked March.” (35:01) — Rush Limbaugh wants us to follow in the footsteps of cannibals. (40:58) — Anti anti-Trump ad features evangelical Christians admitting Trump used them. (45:57) — Sudan is taking big steps in the direction of human rights by overturning religious rules. (52:31) — Louisiana’s governor wants everyone to fast for three days, during lunch, for… something. (55:23) — Atheists aren’t hypocrites for taking PPP loans. (57:28) — Does Laura Ingraham know where Toronto is? (1:01:23) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The one mom at One Million Moms is very angry at “Hamilton” for including an F-bomb. (0:44) — Conservative Christians are mad at CNN’s Don Lemon for saying Jesus wasn’t perfect. (8:05) — Dr. Nancy Goroff, a secular Jew and Ph.D. scientist, won her Democratic primary for Congress in New York. (14:50) — Will Smith used “godless” as a slur. Should we cancel him? (17:30) — The Supreme Court says religious schools are all-but-immune from anti-discrimination lawsuits and got in the way of women and contraception. (24:45) — Churches received billions of dollars in forgivable loans from the U.S. government. Should this have happened? (33:10) — A church threw an in-person event and a girl soon died. Who should be blamed for it? (40:58) — Donald Trump wants to build a National Garden… with a statue of Billy Graham. (59:48) — The FBI raided the headquarters of the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, a.k.a. The Bleach Church. (1:03:35) — Be sure to check out the Being Reasonable podcast if you enjoy street epistemology! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — An Idaho church held an indoor service. Masks optional. 1,000 people came. (0:55) — Jehovah’s Witnesses are among the few groups not taking part in an Australian program meant to help sexual abuse survivors. (5:06) — A pastor and his wife were arrested for taking part in an embezzling scheme. (11:33) — The Supreme Court just made it possible for private religious schools to receive taxpayer money. (16:58) — Sen. Rand Paul hates experts. (24:23) — A powerful megachurch pastor let a potential predator work with kids. Now we know why. (41:18) — A Catholic priest was suspended after comparing Black Lives Matter organizers to maggots. (50:23) — The numbers are in! The Catholic Church spent more than $280 million on sex abuse cases in 2019. (54:20) — “Cancel Culture” doesn’t need to get rid of Darwin. But it wouldn’t matter if he got canceled. (1:02:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — An Arizona church lied and claimed it had air filters that blocked out 99% of COVID. (2:30) — The daughter of a Republican candidate for State House in Michigan says you should not vote for her dad. (10:44) — Should statues of “white European” Jesus be taken down? (18:40) — A Republican senator cited J.K. Rowling when voting against an LGBTQ rights bill. (33:38) — Mississippi wants to replace its racist flag with a religious one. And here’s a Roman Mars video about flags! (36:30) — A Catholic Church fired a married lesbian because it remembered how Catholicism works. (42:00) — A couple of anti-maskers in Florida don’t want mandates that get in the way of God’s Wonderful Breathing System. (56:25) — Five years after Obergefell, the Religious Right’s predictions never came true. (1:00:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian conversion therapy group is shutting down. (3:50) — Pastor Louie Giglio wants to replace the phrase “white privilege” with “white blessing.” He then apologized for suggesting it. (17:40) — Having more kids is not the way to win the Culture Wars. (35:37) — Does anyone know what Donald Trump‘s “Religious Freedom Task Force” did? (41:38) — Trump’s pathetic photo op in front of a church may have cost him support in swing-state Michigan. (48:11) — The Boy Scouts are offering a merit badge for inclusion. The one for irony can’t be far behind. (51:04) — This is a horrible way to ask kids about Purgatory in a religious education class. (57:36) — This lady wants everyone to burn their face masks. Because she’s not smart. (59:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Trump administration finalized a rule that allows doctors to deny care to transgender people. (1:14) — A Christian group leader says America is not racist… because interracial marriages are going up. (11:46) — The GOP’s 2020 platform is a gift to the Christian Right. (17:55) — Should a pastor receive any sort of backlash for liking a right-wing blowhard’s tweets? (28:32) — Former Black staffers at Liberty University are trying to help others leave due to Jerry Falwell, Jr.‘s racism. (47:08) — Creationist Kent Hovind wants half a billion dollars’ worth of revenge against the U.S. government. (50:11) — Want to vote early in Tennessee? This secular church is eager to help you. (59:46) — A Tennessee bill would allow kids to skip an hour of school each day to go to church. (1:04:15) — An Ohio Republican lawmaker suggested COVID disproportionately affects Black people because they don’t wash their hands. (1:10:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Donald Trump‘s photo ops in front of two churches pleased nobody. (1:07) — Is Trump finally losing some of that white evangelical support? (10:44) — Southern Baptist churches had their largest membership drop in a century. (18:28) — Should a high school graduate be denied college acceptance for a racist comment online? (25:49) — According to the Lt. Governor of Texas, we can’t fix racism without Jesus. (39:53) — Pope Francis condemned the murder of George Floyd. (48:44) — The Department of Education, under Betsy DeVos, says allowing trans athletes to compete in high school sports could lead to government defunding of those schools. (1:00:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne is planning Christian COVIDpalooza this weekend. (0:36) — The CDC website has removed sensible virus guidance for churches. (5:02) — There’s a black Republican Jewish atheist on the Cincinnati City Council. (7:48) — After Jerry Falwell, Jr. tweeted a “joke” about blackface and the KKK, one Liberty University professor resigned in protest. (30:29) — Conservative Christians are very concernstipated about Pixar’s short film “Out,” which is a love story featuring a gay man. (45:59) — A well-known Jehovah’s Witness published a book denouncing the religion’s leaders. Will he be kicked out because of it? (48:04) — A former star of Christian rock said he’s no longer Christian. (53:02) — The dad from Duck Dynasty has a secret love-child… but it’s okay since the affair occurred before he found Jesus. (58:01) — The Museum of the Bible is returning a stolen Gilgamesh tablet. (1:05:05) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Jenkins is a national reporter for Religion News Service and a former Senior Religion Reporter for ThinkProgress. He's also the author of the new book "American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country." It's a deep dive into what many people call the Religious Left. Hemant and Jack talked about whether the Religious Left can effectively counter the Religious Right and what role (if any) atheists have to play in this movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Christian writer Eric Metaxas is super-racist… and a hypocrite. (3:00) — A Mississippi church was burned down. An atheist-associated “A” symbol was included at the scene of the crime. (15:18) — This is a very bad reason not to wear a mask. (22:03) — A Pakistani education board banned a kids’ math textbook for including pictures of pigs. (29:14) — Norma McCorvey, a.k.a. the “Roe” of Roe v. Wade, said she only pushed a pro-life position because she was paid. (34:44) — This list of atheist Republicans is tiny. Very tiny. (47:55) — Donald Trump wants churches to open up this weekend. Is it weird that he wants to kill off his own base? (55:52) — A Texas mayor says only men can deliver invocation prayers. (1:05:48) — Child marriage has been legally banned in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. (1:07:18) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Liberty University just got rid of its entire Philosophy Department. (4:44) — Forget Jim Bakker. Now a respected evangelical couple is under fire for promoting a fake COVID cure. (12:26) — A majority of white evangelicals trust Donald Trump for COVID news, proving yet again that they’ll believe anything. (17:32) — A banner flying over a re-open protest read “Fewer graves if we reopen in waves.” (24:00) — Illinois pastors say not meeting for church is the same as being “sentenced to death.” (31:40) — Pastors are still making the idiotic argument that if grocery stores are open, churches should be too. (33:40) — A Wisconsin hairdresser says she should be allowed to open her salon because it’s a ministry. (39:34) — The game show “The Price is Right” made a donation to Planned Parenthood. (46:22) — This Christian school’s leaders are bragging about how easy their classes are. (48:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Televangelist Jim Bakker had a stroke. And his legal team had a bad reason to keep selling his Silver Solution. (1:35) — Do churches deserve stimulus money during the pandemic? (8:50) — A New Mexico sheriff “deputized” 20 church members… which not-so-coincidentally means they don’t have to follow lockdown orders. (16:44) — An Illinois judge told a pastor the Bible says he doesn’t need to gather in person to have a church service. (25:54) — Just because Jesus didn’t wear a face mask doesn’t mean you should avoid one. (29:27) — Guess how much a lifetime pass to Ark Encounter costs? (31:49) — Cardinal George Pell escaped conviction for child sex abuse but he still knew about child sex abuse. (35:18) — Here’s what a major study of atheists found. (39:06) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Creationists just launched a low-budget version of Netflix and I signed up. (2:05) — A Canadian judge said a Christian father wouldn’t get any say in his kids’ religious upbringing because he’s an extremist. (21:55) — What’s the greatest mistake in the history of humanity? Dennis Prager, as always, has the wrong answer. (31:52) — Nigerian police arrested a Humanist leader for alleged blasphemy. (35:37) — A Christian college knowingly hired a sex predator and the fallout has created all kinds of chaos. (39:15) — Why are marriage rates going down? One Christian leader blames gay people. (50:10) — One researcher is working on a prayer study to combat the virus. Thanks for nothing. (55:57) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Nebraska GOP is trying to hurt a Republican primary challenger by suggesting she’s an atheist. (0:31) — The Christian Moms are mad at the cartoon Duck Tales for showing a gay couple. (8:27) — These are awful questions for a first date, brought to you by a Christian fundamentalist. (14:45) — A pro-bleach church may be advising Trump because we’re a nation of idiots. (24:33) — Ark Encounter ticket sales have plummeted for obvious reasons. (28:39) — “ReOpen Church” Day is a horrible idea. (30:36) — Donations to churches have fallen dramatically. What does this mean for their future? (35:49) — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says dying isn’t the worst thing. So thanks for that. (38:15) — Scotland will soon abolish its blasphemy law! (47:02) — The U.S. Army removed proselytizing videos from Facebook that were posted to a base’s official page. (49:09) — Surprise! The anti-viral drug FOX News and Trump were raving about without scientific support… doesn’t work. (53:25) — Televangelist Pat Robertson knows exactly who to blame for COVID-19: Gays, the abortion people, and anyone who’s anti-Israel. (56:58) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Louisiana church that won’t close now has a hospitalized lawyer and a dead parishioner. (2:22) — A Virginia pastor who told people God could defeat COVID-19 has died of you-know-what. (9:30) — Christians suing the state of Kentucky for closing churches claim their predicament is just like Japanese Americans during World War II. (11:37) — A Kentucky judge allowed drive-in church services with a ruling that read more like a sermon. (15:02) — A megachurch in New Mexico says it can’t operate without an in-person staff of 30. (18:48) — CBS is breaking up with the show “God Friended Me.” (21:20) — Credit card companies don’t want to work with televangelist Jim Bakker. (24:33) — A Liberty University student filed a class action lawsuit against the school and Jerry Falwell for putting students in danger. (25:49) — A Christian book publisher just released a Qur’an… with “Christian commentary.” This can only end well. (32:02) — What is wrong with Dr. Oz? A lot, but maybe not as much as everyone thinks… (35:07) — Anti-vaxxers are joining the COVID protesters because of course they are. (45:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Kansas lawmakers are trying to make sure Christians can kill citizens for Easter. (2:06) — Georgia cops arrested Christians who gathered in defiance of social distancing orders. (6:00) — Here are some very creative ways to stop Christians from gathering in churches. (9:03) — Some Christians really don’t like that adult sites are giving away free high-quality content. (12:41) — Most pastors think Jesus will return in their lifetimes. (15:47) — Mississippi, having nothing else to do, is celebrating Confederate Heritage Month. (18:15) — With Mike Pence nearby, Dr. Anthony Fauci praised gay people who suffered through the AIDS crisis. (25:49) — A Utah man cashed a fraudulent check… and said he thought it was a gift from God. (28:29) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. wants to arrest reporters who report at Liberty University. (30:31) — Pope Francis said COVID-19 is nature’s revenge on us for our ignorance of climate change. (35:20) — Here’s the complicated story of a Christian missionary who “played doctor” in Uganda. (40:36) — The U.S. government is using taxpayer money to pay for pastors’ salaries. (46:23) — Cardinal George Pell is a free man, despite his sex abuse conviction. (53:45) — Florida’s GOP Governor Ron DeSantis explained how to use gloves in the worst possible way. (58:18) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since everyone is quarantined, Jess and her husband/film nerd Mikey decided to start a project: Watch a bunch of movies about people who are trapped somewhere and discuss them. There are currently 8 available to Patreon donors, but we wanted to give listeners a sample! For this episode, Jess and Mikey watched "Rear Window." They discussed who is better looking between Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart, what female characters look like in the 1950s, and Mikey's history with ska music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant was on Jeopardy and he’s eternally sorry to Canada. (0:28) — Some evangelists have very unusual ways to destroy COVID-19. (16:09) — There may be 32,000 churches still open during the pandemic. (20:00) — A Florida pastor was arrested for holding services during the pandemic. Good. (24:58) — Florida’s GOP governor is still allowing churches to gather despite a stay-at-home order. (28:00) — Secular Celebrants are now allowed to solemnize marriages in Michigan. (31:50) — Texas is trying to shut down abortion clinics during the pandemic. (35:33) — Republican are still trying to confirm bad judges to lifetime appointments. (40:30) — Volunteers at a Christian virus clinic in New York City must be anti-LGBTQ. Should the city be partnering with them? (43:42) — Anti-gay hysteria is preventing scientists from testing enough blood for a virus vaccine. (1:00:40) — Malaysia has some bad advice for wives during the lockdown. (1:04:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant will be on Jeopardy on Wednesday! (0:20) — Yes, the government can force churches to close down in the pandemic. (3:48) — Liberty University is open for business… for some reason. (7:45) — A Pennsylvania lawmaker proposed a resolution blaming COVID-19 on our sins. (13:30) — A boy drowned at a low-budget Creation Museum and Kent Hovind doesn’t seem to care. (18:16) — Is abortion an essential health service during a pandemic? (25:13) — A Texas lawmaker praised COVID-19 for saving lives by shutting down abortion clinics. (26:45) — A pastor who said our COVID-19 response was “mass hysteria” died of you know what. (34:49) — A Louisiana pastor brought in 26 busloads of people for Sunday services. He’s not planning to stop. (38:01) — An IL church held services on March 15, Now most of the people who attended are sick. (39:45) — Oklahoma’s governor led a televised Christian prayer rally while Mississippi’s read from the Bible during a livestream. (42:57) — The White House’s Bible study leader is blaming COVID-19 on gay people and atheists. (54:30) — A Romanian priest gave communion to people with the same spoon. (57:00) — A GOP leader in Nebraska said the virus wouldn’t affect them because there aren’t a lot of Chinese people there. (57:38) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess sat down with actor Parvesh Cheena to discuss what it's like to be an Indian working actor, his evolving views on religion, and how much better Burbank airport is than LAX. The picture shows Parvesh with Mikey (Jessica's husband) on the set of Gordon Gregory Middle School's production of Krazy Kamp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Televangelist Kenneth Copeland wants you to keep tithing even if you’ve lost your job. (1:38) — Trump adviser Paula White still wants “seed” money from you. (3:38) — Blaming abortion and gay people for a crisis doesn’t go as far as it used to. (6:50) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. called a parent of three of his Liberty University students a “dummy” for questioning his handling of the virus. (13:04) — What names comes to mind when you think of atheism? The answers make no sense. (16:08) — Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum were going to remain open… until they reversed course. (31:32) — Apparently we’re not allowed to use the “hate group” label during a pandemic. (37:40) — Pope Francis will have an empty Easter celebration. (42:09) — Donald Trump is still very, very, very anti-LGBTQ. (44:40) — The Museum of the Bible’s Dead Sea Scrolls are all fake. (45:11) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Toilet paper is not a tool for proselytizing. (2:45) — Televangelist Jim Bakker finally stopped selling his “Silver Solution,” which his show claimed cured coronavirus in under 12 hours. (6:42) — An Orthodox Israeli rabbi blamed coronavirus on homosexuality. (14:35) — Most white evangelicals think Donald Trump is moral, honest, and intelligent. Really. (16:45) — A message for the Bernie-or-Bust folks. (24:18) — Florida lawmakers want to let students pray over the loudspeaker before athletic events. (41:58) — You’re not outsmarting atheists when you wear a Bible shirt. (47:40) — Pixar’s Onward has been banned in four countries. (55:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — It’s deeply disappointing that Elizabeth Warren is no longer in the presidential race. (0:10) — Virginia became the first southern state to ban conversion therapy for minors. (13:25) — Alleged child molester and Christian Roy Moore lost his GOP primary bid for a U.S. Senate seat. (19:55) — The Christian Moms are mad about how lesbian moms violate God’s design… in a show about a big red dog. (22:22) — A Christian mom defended hitting her kids by saying it wasn’t abuse. So there. (27:21) — An upcoming Christian movie suggests atheists would find God if we faced impending death in 20 minutes. (33:54) — Trump associate Roger Stone says he’s found Jesus. Pardon me? (38:42) — GOP lawmakers in Oklahoma want to spend over $85,000 of taxpayer money on “In God We Trust” signs. (42:20) — There will be an openly Humanist candidate for the U.S. House in Texas this November. (44:07) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Mike Pence is handling the spread of coronavirus and that’s horrifying. (4:27) — Once again, Attorney General William Barr said we have to believe in his Christian God. (10:32) — Catholics are debating whether they can eat plant-based “meat” on Fridays during Lent. (15:10) — Some Christians can’t handle how Pete Buttigieg gave good advice to a gay boy. (19:33) — A third of Poland is now an “LGBT-Free” zone. (26:40) — An effigy of a kissing gay couple was burned in Croatia. (27:42) — BYU changed its honor code, but the Mormon school insists it’s still anti-gay. (28:55) — Flat Earther Mike Hughes died while flying in his homemade rocket. (33:22) — A prominent Canadian Catholic leader, who died years ago, has been exposed as a predator. (38:20) — A Christian mail carrier is suing the US Postal Service because he has to work on Sundays. (42:00) — With the Supreme Court now on their side, an appeals court ruled that a giant Christian cross in a public park in Florida is legal. (47:58) — A Hindu priest says menstruating women who cook food for their husbands will be reincarnated as dogs. Because logic. (53:45) — Most Americans don’t think the Democratic presidential candidates are religious. They’re wrong. (57:33) — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reminds us that this administration uses religion to hurt people. (1:05:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica sat down with writer and comedian Guy Branum to discuss what specific kind of dorks they are, Guy's TV show, and what Pete Buttigieg means for the LGBTQ community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Students near Seattle protested after their Catholic school fired two teachers in same-sex relationships. (0:22) — A Christian political group posted a survey about how much people wanted Christian politicians. It didn’t go well. (9:55) — Sen. Amy Klobuchar needs a much better answer on how big to make the Democrats’ “big tent.” (14:30) — High school girls are suing to prevent trans athletes from competing against them. (21:26) — A professor who refused to call a student by the proper pronoun has lost his legal challenge. (22:22) — Holy Land Experience, a Christian theme park, looks like it’ll be shutting down soon. (24:24) — For some reason, Richard Dawkins wants you to know that eugenics works. (28:30) — A satirical pro-Trump road sign was a bit too realistic for many. (43:22) — Two Christian girls want other young women to know self-affirmations are the WORST. (45:00) — A Tennessee man is accused of beating his wife because of what she wore to church. (47:47) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Televangelist Jim Bakker has a silver potion that allegedly cures everything. And we mean everything. (0:38) — A couple of Christians were caught in a wacky biblical oil scheme. (4:40) — A Catholic priest wants to take back his “pedophilia doesn’t kill anyone” comment. (12:35) — Why do liberals dislike Donald Trump? Because, according to one preacher, he’s too manly. (19:03) — Rush Limbaugh says kids can’t handle a president Pete Buttigieg because of the gay. (21:41) — Tennessee lawmakers want to institute a tampon tax. (29:29) — 60% of Americans say they’d vote for an atheist president. (34:15) — Our government gave a proselytizing ministry more than $500,000. (38:25) — The Air Force will finally allow non-Christians to wear religious items. (43:00) — Questioning Trump’s pro-life stance is apparently a bad move if you’re an evangelical. (44:36) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Donald Trump, without a hint of irony, said he doesn’t like when religion is used to justify anything improper. (2:45) — FOX News is furious that Mitt Romney cited his religion when voting to impeach Trump. (6:20) — Conservatives are still furious over the Super Bowl halftime show. (9:50) — A pastor said God is the only reason he hasn’t murdered one of his critics. (22:28) — No UK venue wants to make money off of Christian bigot Franklin Graham. (25:10) — A Christian activist said he would vote for Trump over Jesus. (27:38) — The ACLU held an LGBTQ Day at the Indiana Statehouse. (31:22) — Indiana rolled back a proposal to help pregnant women in the workplace. (33:49) — A 4-year-old is dead because his anti-vaxxer mom didn’t give him Tamiflu. (37:30) — This new Starbucks ad about a trans teen is fantastic. (43:04) — Planned Parenthood is expanding in Kentucky. (46:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A personal story from Hemant. (0:10) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. wants some Virginia counties to secede and join West Virginia. (18:05) — Devout Mormons don’t want the Church to be transparent about its finances. (23:05) — Anti-abortion zealots can’t believe the Super Bowl will allow a commercial with drag queens. (27:52) — Franklin Graham is getting banned all over the UK due to his bigotry. (35:40) — A Mississippi lawmaker wants to force kids to say Christian prayers in school. (38:06) — A hypocritical preacher is blaming atheists for catching him in the act. (45:05) — Being gay is apparently an obstacle to refugees seeking asylum. (49:03) — The Satanic Temple has a message for MAGA cultist Paula White after she remarked on Satanic pregnancies. (52:17) — A New Mexico billboard urges people to rethink abortion restrictions. (57:40) — The HHS is now the “Department of Life,” according to the government. (58:05) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Donald Trump appeared at the misnamed “March for Life.” (0:25) — Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has an important question about God. (5:29) — Was a church wrong for telling old members to get out? (11:03) — The Church of England reiterates that only straight married people can have sex. (14:52) — A survey shows that atheists know more about the Holocaust\ than Christians. (19:10) — This controversy over invocations in Berea, Kentucky will inevitably lead to a lawsuit. (28:13) — Conservative Dennis Prager says private conversations aren’t an accurate reflection of someone’s character. (35:14) — Utah (!) has finally banned gay conversion torture. (43:20) — An Indiana legislator wants to make his anti-abortion bill immune to lawsuits. (45:25) — The Supreme Court heard a case that could upend church/state separation. (50:05) — Mike Pence spoke at a church where a pastor delivered a rabidly anti-gay sermon. Because of course he did. (55:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cameron Esposito is a comedian, actor, and podcaster, known for her show Take My Wife, as well as her stand-up comedy and her podcast, Queery. Her new book is called "Save Yourself." Jessica and Cameron spoke at Earwolf Studios in Los Angeles, where they discussed Cameron’s Catholic upbringing, how Hollywood is slowly beginning to tell more diverse stories, and (surprisingly) the Royal Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian school expelled a girl for wearing a rainbow sweater. (4:36) — There’s a papal fight over priestly celibacy! (11:33) — Oklahoma could make 2020 the “Year of the Bible.” (15:18) — Christian non-profits are turning into “churches” to avoid transparency. (18:39) — This Christian woman drove her car into oncoming traffic because she thought God was testing her faith. (25:10) — The Christian Moms are very mad over a harmless Burger King commercial. (27:31) — Should a juror have been ejected for saying God told her the suspect was not guilty? (30:13) — A city council in New York got rid of the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings. (37:55) — A Missouri lawmaker has filed a bill to punish librarians who let kids check out “inappropriate” books. (40:47) — The Trump administration issued useless rules to protect “religious liberty.” (49:02) — And a long rant about politics and the Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Mormon Church is being sued for turning in a child abuser. (0:22) — Britain’s “most prolific rapist” was a good guy, according to his church. (7:31) — Conservatives want to torture a suffering baby by keeping her alive when there’s no hope of recovery. (12:44) — A new ad from a GOP group highlights the hypocrisy of Trump-loving evangelical Christians. (18:18) — This conservative doesn’t think fictional women can handle swords. (24:41) — A Brazilian judge told Netflix to temporarily pull a comedy film featuring a gay Jesus because it’s offending Christians. The Supreme Court overruled him. (31:19) — A Christian woman is suing the Postal Service for not allowing her to use self-designed Jesus stamps. (34:05) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Some potentially interesting personal news from Hemant… (1:00) — A whole bunch of Congress members want the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. (15:45) — The United Methodist Church is breaking up over the issue of whether love matters. (30:06) — Pope Francis smacked a woman’s hand and we can’t even complain about it. (38:40) — Massachusetts may drop its requirement for minors to get permission before an abortion. (42:04) — Christian “coach” Dave Daubenmire has a new reason to oppose interracial marriage: He went to a zoo. (45:38) — One reason white evangelicals love Trump? They’re as opposed to immigration as he is. (49:42) — Conservative Dennis Prager doesn’t care about anything Anne Frank wrote because he doesn’t get his wisdom from teenagers. Or anyone else for that matter. (58:19) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Christianity Today‘s piece calling for Donald Trump‘s removal from office doesn’t go far enough. (1:11) — These Christian parents sadly think their dead baby will be resurrected. Do they deserve criticism? (16:29) — This anti-gay pastor was caught trolling for men on Grindr. (21:22) — Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said he pardoned a child rapist because the victim’s hymen was intact. (25:24) — The Mormon Church is allegedly hoarding $100 billion (with a B) meant for charity. (30:58) — These GOP-approved federal judges are the worst. (36:15) — Hallmark screwed up, then backtracked, after the Christian Moms complained about an ad with a same-sex couple. (40:25) — Samoa is going after anti-vaxxers. Hardcore. (44:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Thank you for helping us reach this milestone! Your stories are interspersed throughout this episode! — A man who slapped a reporter’s butt on live TV during a race is a Christian youth leader. (3:54) — The people running the Anti-Theism conference still don’t get it. (11:08) — A racist city council member from Georgia is resigning before voters can vote him out. (26:00) — Donald Trump asked a Christian pastor who said Jews are going to Hell to speak at a Hanukkah Reception. And that’s not all. (31:40) — A Minnesota mom is suing two pharmacy chains after she was unable to get the morning-after pill from them. (36:33) — A Wall Street Journal essayist wants atheists to lie to their kids about death. (42:50) — A Louisiana high school newspaper had to change its front page because it was deemed too Jesus-y. (49:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The organizer of an “anti-theism” conference defended sexual harassment in a bizarre rant. (0:40) — Elizabeth Warren needs a better response when it comes to defending the rights of atheists. (14:22) — One of the most anti-abortion conservatives in the country just got a lifetime appointment to the federal bench due to Republicans. (21:02) — Ohio Republicans want doctors to reimplant ectopic pregnancies. (25:33) — This Christian man says no one has it worse in America than Christian men. (29:24) — New laws in favor of sex abuse victims could cost the Catholic Church over $4 billion. (31:57) — Three girls from Utah defended their classmate after a teacher insulted his gay dads. (36:40) — Liberty University just launched a “think tank.” (39:52) — The U.S. Army is not anti-Christian. (41:59) — Televangelist Paula White says she can’t abandon Donald Trump now because what would that say about her?! (45:59) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew L. Seidel works as a constitutional attorney at the Freedom from Religion Foundation (ffrf.org), litigating cases involving religion and the Constitution. He has appeared on FOX News and MSNBC, speaks and writes extensively about religious freedom, and is the author of a new book called "The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American." We spoke at the recent FFRF convention about what he learned about Christian Nationalism while researching this book, how church/state separation legal strategy changes with a conservative Supreme Court, and the future of Project Blitz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Conservative Christians are angry at Chick-fil-A for helping the poor. (0:38) — People are very upset about a same-sex couple on a dancing show. (12:35) — A Christian Right group’s Christmas “Naughty or Nice” list reveals a lot about their priorities. (16:36) — A Tennessee school district is getting sued over its long long history of preaching to kids. (23:40) — A Wisconsin church won’t get a $10,000 from a city council because they bragged about converting people with it. (27:59) — The Dallas Straight Pride Parade was a flop. (31:03) — A Michigan college nixed the Pledge from student government meetings… then brought it back. (34:00) — Kanye West‘s appearance at Joel Osteen‘s church was underwhelming and ignorant. (37:52) — The Ohio House passed a bill that allegedly prohibits teachers from punishing students who give a wrong answer if they did it because of religion. (53:10) — Kansas City just banned conversion therapy! (58:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Kanye West is visiting Joel Osteen‘s megachurch. They should talk about this one issue. (1:20) — Franklin Graham, a Trump cultist with no sense of irony, says God detests lyings lips. (12:29) — Women are “truly equal” under Trump, says Trump cultist. (15:20) — Some Christian pregnancy centers are finally offering birth control. (21:48) — Should science groups list job openings at anti-LGBTQ schools? (26:13) — A Saudi Arabian ad claimed atheism was a form of extremism. (32:59) — The U.S. has dropped significantly in global Freedom of Thought rankings. (35:06) — Don’t visit a chiropractor. This guy learned that the hard way. (43:22) — An author was canceled from a school appearance because she named Harvey Milk an important activist. (48:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a Christian Nationalist, lost his race… for now. (0:31) — Rapper T.I. is creepily obsessed with his daughter’s hymen. (5:00) — A 20-year-old Duggar Family child (not that one) is running for State Rep. in Arkansas. (14:55) — The Irish government says it will look into changing a bizarre survey question about kids’ religious beliefs. (20:55) — Christian Comedian John Crist is canceling his tour after allegations of sexual misconduct. (29:30) — Why haven’t Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito recused themselves from these Supreme Court cases…? (40:44) — Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle refused a White House invitation after his World Series win. (46:20) — A Maryland county punished a local library because a Christian protested a Drag Queen Story Hour event. (52:10) — Since Christians are doing it, Satanists want to take advantage of a school release program in Knoxville, TN. (57:10) — These men from Spain were acquitted of rape charges for the worst possible reason. (1:04:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A condom company can now claim the moral high ground over evangelical Christians thanks to a wall of chewed-up gum. (0:29) — A Christian legal group condemned a website that bluntly says what churches believe about homosexuality. (5:18) — A Catholic priest denied communion to Joe Biden. Biden should welcome that. (13:42) — Kanye West thinks he got a $68 million tax refund because he loves Jesus. (21:06) — Former Senator Kay Hagan, the subject of an anti-atheist smear campaign, died this week. (26:13) — Why did Paula White formally join the Trump administration? (31:44) — The resignation of Democratic Rep. Katie Hill is a travesty for so many reasons. (38:18) — Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times says people like Jerry Falwell, Jr. have driven young people away from Christianity. He’s missing the bigger picture. (48:02) — The Chicago Bears kicker who said atheists should believe in God after a game-winning field goal… missed a game-winning field goal. (55:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant has a new YouTube channel! Have you subscribed? You should. — Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she’d consider hiring a “Secular Outreach Director” and Julián Castro says he doesn’t think atheism is a dirty word. (0:37) — A Major League Baseball umpire under fire for his violent pro-Trump tweet also happens to run a Christian ministry. (10:03) — The Christian Moms are furious at a commercial for period-proof underwear that featured men. (15:51) — The company Always removed the female symbol from its sanitary pads. (20:05) — An Italian photographer was convicted of blasphemy and ordered to pay a hefty fine. (22:15) — Pastor Greg Locke burned a book by attorney Andrew Seidel because it threatened him with education. (26:58) — A Tennessee GOP official trashed Democrats for having a “queer running fo president.” (37:14) — Guess why abortion rates are falling in Colorado? Hint: It has nothing to do with abortion restrictions. (39:44) — Bible teacher Beth Moore needs to “go home” because she’s a woman, said a male Christian preacher. (44:00) — A Republican didn’t really say women considering abortions should have to wear ankle monitors. (47:47) — God supposedly gave this woman the winning lottery numbers. But she didn’t play them. (52:41) — 31% of white evangelicals think Donald Trump is infallible. (55:19) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant has a new YouTube channel! Have you subscribed? You should. — Why is Attorney General Bill Barr using his platform to promote Christianity? (0:29) — The Freedom From Religion Foundation got a lot of mileage out of its controversial Ron Reagan ad during the Democratic debate. (7:22) — The Pew Research Center says Christianity is in “rapid” decline. (15:30) — There’s another Hobby Lobby-linked scandal at the Museum of the Bible. (21:25) — A church exploited the death of an atheist mother’s baby. (26:20) — A Florida Democrat (!) wants to force public schools to offer Bible classes again. (37:48) — These are some expensive Jesus Shoes. (41:06) — The Catholic Church is selling “smart” rosaries. For cold hard cash. (45:32) — A Dutch “family” has been hidden in the basement for years, apparently waiting for the end of the world. (48:52) — Former congresswoman Michele Bachmann says climate change isn’t a problem since God said we wouldn’t be flooded… again. (54:12) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant has a new YouTube channel! Have you subscribed? You should. — Hemant will be at California Freethought Day this weekend. Tickets are still available! — David Silverman is running an atheist group again. (1:40) — Beto O’Rourke was wrong to say churches should lose their tax exemptions if they’re anti-gay. (16:20) — Why didn’t Demario Davis get in trouble for violating the NFL’s dress code by wearing a headband that promoted Christianity? (27:26) — A Louisiana high school rejected free food from Chick-fil-A because you know exactly why. (33:10) — Uganda is bringing back its infamous “Kill the Gays” bill. (34:58) — A North Carolina sheriff’s office says employees are banned from cohabitating because God said so. (38:00) — If a Christian club promotes prayer in school, teachers shouldn’t respond. (40:05) — This girl never should have been suspended from school for speaking out about their inaction on sexual assault. (45:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — We’re having our first meet-and-greet in Chicago on October 5! Please join us if you can! — Hemant has a new YouTube channel! Have you subscribed? You should. — Hemant will be at California Freethought Day next weekend. Tickets are still available! — Judge Tammy Kemp should never have preached Christianity to convicted murderer Amber Guyger in the Botham Jean murder case. (2:13) — Todd Starnes has been let go by FOX News. Now that is rock bottom. (10:42) — The Associated Press says 1,700 Catholic clergy members accused of sexual abuse now live among us. (21:03) — A Tennessee woman had a choice: Get baptized or go to jail. (27:00) — The three moms who make up One Million Moms are mad about gender-neutral dolls. (31:00) — A pastor cleansed his church after a gay man spoke there. (33:00) — 8% of U.S. teens say they’ve had a teacher lead the class in prayer. (41:41) — Bleach is not a healthy response to autism. (45:01) — Illinois secretly built a giant Planned Parenthood near the Missouri border. (49:43) — A teacher who won’t use trans pronouns can’t believe he got fired. (53:20) — The Trump administration is waging a new war on trans people. (56:44) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — We’re having our first meet-and-greet in Chicago! Please join us if you can! (0:30) — Impeachment is a bad idea, says Christian Right leader who constantly wanted to impeach Obama. (1:30) — Why did America lose its religion? Thank the internet. (6:06) — A GOP lawmaker wants to stop abortion because he loves gay people too much. (15:08) — Be sure to test those rape kits. That concludes my TED talk. (20:04) — This 90-million-year-old fossil remained buried because its founders feared God. (23:58) — Don’t do this with a child at church. Or anywhere. (29:23) — Ark Encounter got schooled by a local superintendent. (31:48) — The CEO of a Christian magazine is stepping away after accusations of racial insensitivity. (35:52) — When you’re in the marching band, this is how you troll an anti-gay school. (44:30) — Donald Trump doesn’t do grammar so good. (47:29) — People who think God is real say climate change is a hoax. (49:15) — We found it. The worst right-wing take on Greta Thunberg. (51:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — We’re having our first meet-and-greet in Chicago! Please join us if you can! (0:30) — The kicker for the Chicago Bears did his job, therefore you must believe in Jesus. (1:41) — Dennis Prager thinks his YouTube propaganda videos constitute an actual university. (5:55) — The Congressional Freethought Caucus has two more members than we knew about. (9:37) — The race for mayor of Grand Rapids (MI) is between a competent leader and a Christian theocrat. (13:45) — A school board president in Minnesota wants to know why they teach evolution. (17:33) — Saturday Night Live fired its racist new cast member Shane Gillis. (20:25) — High school students who pray before football games aren’t defying atheists. (23:22) — The Clergy Project has now helped 1,000 pastors who no longer believe in God. (26:50) — A Republican mayor in FL is calling for action on gun violence because his prayers aren’t working. (28:30) — Professional liar Sean Spicer says if you love Jesus, you’ll vote for him on Dancing With the Stars. (33:42) — Research shows “thoughts and prayers” are so annoying, atheists would pay money to avoid them. (35:30) — A financial watchdog for evangelical churches is mired in its own financial problems. (38:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Televangelist Benny Hinn renounced “seed money.” That didn’t last long. (0:50) — If you ever get cast on Saturday Night Live, maybe rethink everything you’ve said that’s online. (6:38) — Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell, Jr. is even more corrupt than we knew. (17:14) — Quarterback Drew Brees made a video for an anti-gay hate group and doesn’t want to admit that’s a problem. (23:31) — Christian lawmaker Jason Rapert doesn’t want you to see him answer questions truthfully. (34:10) — The anti-gay Christian owner of a wedding venue will now allow gay couples after intense backlash. Should she be praised? (42:53) — A Tennessee lawmaker wants to get rid of higher education to prevent people from becoming liberal. (51:30) — North Carolina’s Republican Party hijacked the state government with a lie on 9/11. (56:05) — A bunch of awful Christians have a bunch of awful things to say about a pastor who died by suicide. (59:13) — A student charged with sexual assault was set free because he’s “high achieving.” (1:06:38) — California is cracking down on fake vaccine exemptions. (1:09:00) — Check out the film Islam & the Future of Tolerance! Podcast listeners who go to that link and purchase the HD version can use the code “10OFF” to get 10% off the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Christian-owned wedding venue won’t permit mixed-race couples to get married there… because the Bible. (0:30) — Does a former “gay conversion” therapy leader deserve forgiveness now that he’s on the other side? (23:30) — A Tennessee Catholic school banned Harry Potter books because the curses are real. (Seriously.) (39:41) — Alleged child molester Roy Moore still thinks Muslims shouldn’t be allowed to serve in Congress. (45:03) — What caused the mass shooting in Odessa, Texas? Apparently, the teaching of evolution. (52:33) — A Texas lawmaker insists he won’t do anything useful to prevent gun violence. (54:13) — The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City shouldn’t be doing a sex abuse investigation by itself. (57:11) — This pastor has a Manhood Checklist. (1:00:14) — Check out the film Islam & the Future of Tolerance! Podcast listeners who go to that link and purchase the HD version can use the code "10OFF" to get 10% off the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A grocery store cashier is being hailed as a Christian martyr for making lines longer. (4:11) — Carroll County, MD finally accepted that their Christian prayers at meetings were illegal. It’ll cost them $125,000. (6:28) — In Bangladesh, women no longer have to declare themselves virgins on their marriage licenses. (13:50) — An atheist resigned from a Virginia women-focused committee after her old anti-religion tweets came to light. (15:22) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. A handsome young man. A generous business deal. No, not the Pool Boy. This is another one. (21:05) — A preacher said he saw two babies raised from the dead in the past week. Don’t bother looking for video. (30:14) — A MI candidate for city council withdrew after backlash for saying she wanted a white community. (34:50) — The Democratic Party passed a resolution acknowledging the values of non-religious Americans. Somehow, this is controversial. (40:20) — A New Mexico city is trying to crowdfund its legal bills over an illegal Ten Commandments monument. It’s not going well. (45:47) — A lawsuit against Ark Encounter says the Creationists didn’t pay their fair share of taxes, hurting local schools. (49:37) — Kentucky will have to pay $225,000 for Kim Davis’ bigotry. And Davis herself may be held liable for it. (55:22) — An appeals court says it’s legal for the Pennsylvania State House to block atheists from giving invocations. (57:20) — Check out the film Islam & the Future of Tolerance! Podcast listeners who go to that link and purchase the HD version can use the code “10OFF” to get 10% off the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I both have other obligations this weekend, so we pre-recorded this episode to answer some questions about atheism. — Are you afraid of Hell? (1:39) — Why do so many atheists care about LGBTQ rights? (4:00) — Is it hypocritical for atheists to celebrate Christmas? (7:00) — Why not just accept other people’s religious beliefs? (10:44) — How do we educate ourselves about religion? (14:50) — How does being an atheist play out in our daily lives? (22:01) — What’s the worst thing about being around other atheists? (24:10) — Is being an atheist inherently selfish? (26:30) — How does evolution affect our beliefs? (29:00) — Are atheists too angry? (33:30) — Will we see more atheists running for office in 2020? (36:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Kentucky school district found a great way to get around the state’s “In God We Trust” law, and it’s already angering state officials. (1:52) — A candidate for Colorado House says women shouldn’t wear pants. (9:40) — GOP Rep. Steve King says humanity exists only because of rape and incest. (17:44) — A Christian pastor, formerly an extremist, is urging Trump to tone down the violent rhetoric. (23:00) — A FL teacher was suspended after posting a message about how racism was over and Pledge protests were immature. (25:33) — Never debate Christian pseudo-historian David Barton. His rules are weird. (30:25) — An Oregon man won’t pay taxes because he’s a Christian who opposes abortion. So there. (35:58) — Another famous Christian announced he’s no longer a Christian. (39:29) — The FDA says you shouldn’t drink bleach no matter what this one church says. (47:24) — The Department of Labor wants to make it legal for faith-based contractors to discriminate on the basis of religion. (51:10) — White evangelicals are delighted by Donald Trump‘s cruelty heading into 2020… unless he swears. (57:37) — Check out the film Islam & the Future of Tolerance! Podcast listeners who go to that link and purchase the HD version can use the code “10OFF” to get 10% off the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — In New Zealand, evangelicals have a “trust” problem. (0:36) — Neil deGrasse Tyson‘s thoughtless tweet after last week’s mass shootings. (6:30) — Donald Trump hammed it up for a picture with the baby who’s now an orphan because of Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric. (21:45) — This Ohio lawmaker blamed the Dayton mass shooting on everything and everyone except guns. (26:59) — Mike Huckabee thinks more Jesus will prevent mass shootings. (29:29) — A Christian Cross in a Pennsylvania county’s logo isn’t promoting Christianity, a court says. (34:11) — A Christian sheriff says he was fired for his faith. It’s actually because he wouldn’t train a woman. (39:35) — Mike Pence has some horribly worded post-shooting advice. (46:00) — Does the Mormon Church deserve to be sued for lying to people? (48:15) — Most Catholics don’t believe in Eucharist, so why are they Catholic? (54:55) — Conservatives always offer “thoughts and prayers” in response to guns but never abortion. (1:02:26) — Joe Biden made a Bidenlike gaffe. (1:04:40) — The Boy Scouts have been sued for acting like the Catholic Church. (1:06:02) — Wanna do battle in the Times mini-crossword? Bring it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — 40% of Americans are Creationists. (4:00) — Answers in Genesis says they get no money from Kentucky taxpayers. That’s a lie. (9:25) — “Purity Culture” poster boy Joshua Harris says he’s no longer a Christian. (18:45) — A Greek Orthodox priest has a very strange idea about where gay people come from… (24:44) — Where did Target’s “Humanist” throw pillow go? (30:10) — This is awful advice for women whose relationships have fallen apart. (34:52) — Attorney General William Barr is bringing back the death penalty. Does that conflict with his Catholicism? (40:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Pew survey finds that Jews and atheists know more about religion than every kind of Christian. Let’s take the quiz! (0:27, with analysis at 19:08) — An anti-LGBTQ Republican lawmaker from TN resigned amidst allegations that he was using Grindr to meet men. (25:09) — The Mormon Church knew about a pedophile but never reported him to authorities. (30:30) — Iceland has lost a glacier. A freaking glacier. (36:45) — The congregation revolted after a pastor put up a sign saying “America: Love or Leave It.” (39:59) — The Tega Cay Police Department in South Carolina put up a Christian monument, then quickly took it down. (42:40) — The governor of Texas wants you to know Chick-fil-A is safe. (45:58) — Secular “churches” are struggling to stay relevant. (48:36) — A woman violently pushed a priest off stage. Was it justified? (55:50) (***Update***: We discussed what the priest said before the woman pushed him. It turns out that is false!) — Another Alabama candidate for Senate wants to create a theocracy. (58:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant’s new Pledge podcast is now available for everyone! (1:16) — “Purity culture” advocate Joshua Harris is separating from his wife. (2:43) — The U.S. House chaplain blamed the “spirits of darkness” for Donald Trump‘s racism. (15:12) — An AL GOP Senate candidate says TV is bad today because of all the “homosexual activities.” What is he watching…? (23:33) — A NH Republican lawmaker has a hot take on slavery. (27:54) — After asking Alabama for information about the death penalty, state officials asked her about her faith. (33:10) — A Christian mommy blogger says godly wives must lose weight if their husbands call them fat. (38:27) — A judge said the Duggar sisters can sue city officials who released documents about their molesting brother. (42:33) — The GOP’s new human rights commission is full of anti-LGBTQ activists. (49:25) — An Arizona Humanist group wants to challenge the part of the IRS tax code that gives a major perk to pastors. (54:32) — Despite benefitting from a city’s holiday display policy, atheists demand neutrality. (1:00:41) — Netflix is pushing back against a “Straight Pride” parade. (1:05:46) — This billboard in Detroit says “Trans people are sacred.” (1:10:01) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Mississippi GOP gubernatorial candidate won’t allow a female reporter to shadow him. (0:47) — A Christian school fired a professor for writing a novel with un-Christian characters. (9:09) — A Virginia lawmaker says women who get raped are naïve for not carrying guns. (15:22) — A Florida principal said the school couldn’t teach the Holocaust because he had to remain neutral. He’s out of a job now. (20:05) — The “God Warrior” lady from Trading Spouses is now pro-LGBTQ. (30:34) — In Texas, “In No God We Trust” banners were put up… and vandalized. (34:12) — A Florida park adopted by Satanists was also vandalized. (38:01) — Immunization rates in Australia are at a record high! (42:10) — 67% of Republicans say burning the flag should result in a loss of citizenship. (43:53) — In the UK, Christianity is less popular than ever. (47:19) — The Catholic Church’s barrier to become a saint gets lower every time. (49:58) — Teen boys who avoided parenthood through abortion? Your future is bright. (53:02) — One Million Moms is very angry with two moms in Toy Story 4. (56:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Supreme Court will hear a case involving public money supporting religious schools in Montana. (3:50) — A Giant Christian Cross in Florida will have to be reconsidered after last week’s SCOTUS ruling. (10:09) — This is what Mayor Pete Buttigieg got wrong in his memorable debate line about religion. (16:11) — A Minnesota city got rid of the Pledge of Allegiance, and critics are now blaming Rep. Ilhan Omar. (25:18) — The American Medical Association is suing North Dakota over abortion access because doctors are being told to lie. (27:48) — An Ohio legislator’s anti-porn resolution makes no sense. (33:22) — A misleading, worthless research paper suggests cellphone use leads to horns growing out of your head. (37:51) — A Christian sign in Hawkins, Texas just came down after years of battles. (45:30) — A Satanist gave an invocation at an Alaskan borough meeting. Now they want to abolish the practice. (49:36) — Jesus healed the blind. This South Carolina church kicks them out. (51:38) — The GOP’s anti-abortion “gag rule” for foreign funding has led to higher abortion rates. (54:57) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — This Christian writer thinks LGBTQ people get recognized 163 days a year. (0:29) — A former staffer at Answers in Genesis has a lot of harsh words about her old employer… (6:22) — … so does a former staffer at Liberty University. (16:13) — Speaking of which, Jerry Falwell, Jr. thinks only business owners can have strong opinions about this administration’s handling of refugees. (20:00) — A church’s Pride flag in a Chicago neighborhood was vandalized. (23:20) — Surveys show we are becoming a less LGBTQ-friendly society. (25:16) — An Alabama woman was shot and lost her pregnancy. Now she’s being charged with manslaughter. (32:28) — An Alabama car dealership wants to give people a Bible, gun, and flag with every purchase. (36:04) — A Florida library was forced to cancel its Pride Prom because of Christian bigots. (38:58) — Tennessee will block people with online ordinations from officiating weddings. (45:38) — West Virginia’s top Republican can’t decide when bigotry is okay. (54:03) — Our president is a sexual predator. (57:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Supreme Court issued a bad, but not the worst, but still weird ruling on the Bladensburg Peace Cross. (1:12) — If you’re going to demand the cancellation of a TV show, make sure you’re going after the right company. (28:40) — A Satanist delivered her second invocation in Alaska. (32:59) — Christian Nationalist and alleged child molester Roy Moore is running for Senate from Alabama again. (38:48) — An Alabama church just got permission to create its own police force. (46:15) — A Texas town declared itself a sanctuary city for fetuses. (50:35) — A church is refusing to pay the legal fees after calling for the Chino Valley school board in California to foolishly fight for Christian prayers at meetings. (53:50) — A Catholic medical journal pulled a paper on conversion therapy after we pointed out its flaws. (59:27) — The GOP Senate is confirming anti-LGBTQ judges at an alarming rate. (1:08:06) — Donald Trump called for a ban on flag burning. Because he hasn’t read the Constitution. (1:20:04) — Donald Trump is on the verge of inadvertently creating a “Bible Tax.” (1:24:07) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A group of extremist Christians are holding a “Make America Straight Again” conference this weekend. (0:38) — Romance writer Nicholas Sparks opened a Christian school that is anti-gay. (9:41) — A Tennessee law enforcement official thinks people like him should be able to put gay people to death. (12:41) — A prominent doctor, who is also anti-gay, promoted religion in his final article for a medical journal. (16:50) — Actress Jessica Biel is fighting against a vaccination bill in California. (22:26) — A Christian publisher insists their racist Bible School lessons aren’t racist. (28:25) — There are a whole bunch of “post-Christian” cities now. (34:14) — Rick Santorum is launching a Bitcoin for Catholics. (38:05) — Who knew meatless burgers were Satanic? (41:50) — The Vatican released a new anti-transgender document. (46:17) — Most Americans say the Catholic Church’s abuse scandal is an ongoing crisis. (48:45) — A pastor promoted God at a public school graduation in Appleton, Wisconsin… Again. (53:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Was Pastor David Platt right or wrong to remain apolitical during a visit from Donald Trump? (0:50) — For no scientific reasons, the Trump administration will restrict fetal tissue research. (17:00) — This is a strange way to wage an attack on Netflix over its abortion position. (21:50) — These people are horrible at defending a televangelist’s private jet. (29:00) — The Catholic Church has lobbyists. Guess what they’re lobbying for? (39:15) — We know which Democratic candidate atheists prefer the most — and it’s not Joe Biden. (43:15) — A district attorney in Tennessee says his rejection of marriage equality changes how he prosecutes criminals. (49:49) — An Alabama mayor says he was just joking about killing LGBTQ people. (No he wasn’t.) (55:00) — A Catholic bishop from West Virginia spent millions of dollars on travel and gifts. (59:54) — Creationists are mocking Flat Earthers for not understanding science. My irony meter just broke. (1:03:16) — Nevada has decriminalized abortion! (1:05:18) — A Sikh man with a rainbow turban won the internet. (1:06:00) — God loves you. That’s why he might kill you. (1:07:07) — Here’s more information about attorney Andrew Seidel‘s talk in Chicago, which Hemant will be moderating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Ark Encounter is suing its insurers because they wouldn’t cover $1 million worth of rain damage. RAIN DAMAGE! (2:07) — A Christian moms group can’t handle a Gillette ad featuring a father helping his transgender son shave. (9:20) — Trans activists got a monument in New York. (16:54) — It’s not just Catholic priests. Nuns can be abusers, too. (20:15) — The Satanic Temple says members don’t have to abide by Indiana’s fetal burial law. Because they’re a religion now. (22:57) — There’s no sex in Heaven. Good think we’re all going to Hell. (27:00) — A Texas church will pay for your wedding if you stop co-habitating, not realizing the problems they’re creating. (33:35) — Research finds that anti-atheist stereotypes aren’t accurate. Who knew?! (41:55) — A man from Arizona is allegedly stalking women at Planned Parenthood. (51:30) — Evangelist Franklin Graham wants people to pray for Donald Trump. I don’t recall him doing that for Obama… (53:40) — Alabama lawmakers changed the law so judges don’t have to sign off on same-sex marriages. It’s equal, but it is right? (57:34) — Media outlets are threatening to leave Georgia over its abortion restrictions. (1:02:30) — The University of CA won’t partner with a Catholic health care system after massive backlash. (1:12:30) — Maine has finally banned conversion therapy. (1:15:01) — Missouri may lose its last abortion clinic. (1:16:12) — Illinois is on the verge of strengthening its own abortion laws and passing a major marijuana bill. (1:21:50) — Steak. Two of them. (1:24:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Christian Right is having a hard time dealing with the candidacy of Pete Buttigieg. (0:24) — A Methodist pastor had the best comments about the pro-life crowd’s hypocrisy. (8:03) — An episode of Arthur featuring a gay wedding didn’t air in Alabama. (11:35) — A “pro-life” Christian lawmaker from Mississippi was arrested for punching his wife in the face because she wouldn’t undress for sex quickly enough. (15:32) — A New Orleans man accused of multiple rapes was granted bail, possibly putting women in danger. (18:06) — A former Illinois megachurch pastor allegedly hired a hitman. (20:27) — An Alabama school board member wants to “investigate” why kids aren’t standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. (26:58) — A new study says religious couples have better sex lives. Is it accurate? (29:30) — A California bill that would force priests to be mandated reporters is on the verge of becoming law… but only after some amendments. (38:39) — Nevada is taking a sensible step to stop doctors from having to tell patients unnecessary information about abortions. (45:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant’s new podcast has hit its Kickstarter goal! But it’s not too late to donate! (0:41) — Alabama’s near-complete ban on abortion may backfire and even conservatives seem to understand it. (2:03) — Conservative blogger Matt Walsh says it’s good to force rape victims to have babies because it’s proof of the rape. (8:28) — In Michigan, an anti-abortion lawmaker said abortions should be painful because that’s what God wants. (16:13) — A Christian broadcaster says pro-choice people will be repeatedly aborted in Hell. (27:30) — The Catholic Church’s lobbying arm in Pennsylvania called a sexual abuse victim a “troll.” (31:22) — A cartoon rat from “Arthur” got gay-married and conservatives were furious. (37:09) — Non-religious Americans are more reliably Democratic than nearly every other group. Why don’t candidates care? (41:35) — A pastor who raped his 14-year-old adopted daughter got a more lenient prison sentence because he’s a Christian. (47:44) — Hate-preacher Steven Anderson has been banned from just about every country. (50:40) — A Christian school turned Hemant into a personal project. (53:12) — This is a horrible reason for why kids should say “God Bless America” after the Pledge of Allegiance. (1:00:32) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant is working on a new podcast and could use your support! (0:30) — I’m sad to say progressive Christian writer Rachel Held Evans has died. (6:50) — The Catholic Church has new rules to stop sexual abuse. They don’t go far enough. (10:58) — A new Gallup poll finds that 60% of Americans could support an atheist for president. (16:30) — A Texas lawmaker says vaccines are “sorcery.” (22:43) — A Kentucky student who sued over pro-vaccine policies… now has chickenpox. (26:26) — A Texas church baptized a man only after he held up a sign saying he believed “a lie from the devil” that he was gay. (30:55) — Tell us more about these racy pics, Jerry Falwell, Jr. (35:20) — Georgia’s anti-abortion “heartbeat” bill is as extreme as anything we’ve ever seen. (41:07) — A Georgia mayor was revealed to be a racist… and she’s not even the most racist person on the city council. (45:13) — An Ohio lawmaker doesn’t understand how ectopic pregnancies work. (53:48) — Watching porn is bad… if you’re a conservative Christian. (59:20) — A Minnesota woman helped end her state’s “marital rape” exception in the law. (1:03:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Donald Trump announced new disastrous “religious freedom” exemptions for medical workers. (0:25) — Pete Buttigieg had a weird week when it came to vaccination policy. (3:50) — The Alabama House just passed a bill making abortion a felony. But something good for abortion rights happened in Kansas! Seriously! (8:51) — Why are these men not going to jail for their crimes? (10:48) — Pat Robertson, in rare form, said something sensible about Creationism. Now Creationists are complaining about it. (13:59) — It wasn’t heartwarming to see a BYU valedictorian come out as gay at graduation because we know what comes next. (17:00) — A Christian college covered up classical works of art in textbooks. (21:30) — After a school shooting, a North Carolina church used the opportunity to win converts. (28:18) — A college president said safe sex is a myth. (31:08) — Navy sailors were told to applaud for Mike Pence as if they’re “at a strip club.” (35:03) — Fundamentalist Christian Lori Alexander says wives should always have sex with their husbands because it won’t even take long. (36:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Duggar family refuses to call them deviled eggs. (1:15) — Right-wingers attacked Democrats for their Sri Lanka tweets, but Donald Trump‘s similar message was ignored. (5:15) — This Kentucky restaurant’s anti-LGBTQ shirts make no sense. (9:49) — The U.S. House can legally reject atheist invocations. (13:58) — A court said Philadelphia’s taxpayer-funded foster care clinics can’t discriminate against same-sex couples (20:03) — Evangelist Franklin Graham says Pete Buttigieg “flaunted” his homosexuality by existing, I guess. (22:28) — A Maryland middle school almost canceled a play because there’s a same-sex couple in it. (25:20) — Never take sex advice from a person who was a virgin until marriage. (28:45) — A study said abstinence pledges hurt women’s reproductive health down the line. (This survey is actually from 2016; it’s not recent. Sorry!) (39:07) — Racist Rep. Steve King says he knows what Jesus went through because people hate him, too. (43:27) — Irish bishops admitted that religious education classes make you dumber. (46:15) — A right-wing rabbi said being gay is way worse than being a lesbian. (51:50) — Stephen Moore‘s writing about women is the worst. (56:43) — A New York sheriff compared himself to Jesus when challenging body cams for cops. (1:02:25) — A United Nations resolution against sexual violence hit an obstacle with the Trump administration. (1:06:09) — We hope Rachel Held Evans gets well soon. (1:09:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Notre Dame fire is a tragedy no matter what you think about religion. (3:00) — Gallup says church membership is at an all-time low. (14:50) — A preacher claims Pete Buttigieg will turn the country into a “homocracy.” (29:47) — Evangelicals released a statement on artificial intelligence. It’s anti-gay. (41:25) — A Christian donor said she wouldn’t give money to a fundraiser for a baby with cancer because her parents are lesbians. (46:20) — An Ohio pastor told kids to beat him up… to teach them a lesson about Jesus. (50:04) — The Texas House passed a radical anti-abortion bill that misleads the public. (54:35) — The Tennessee House voted to amend its Constitution to include a shout-out to “Almighty God.” (58:50) — Republicans are dismissing science as a “Democrat thing.” (1:01:53) — An Italian court censored an atheist group’s perfectly fine ad. (1:03:26) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant is speaking near Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Sunday! Come watch! (0:38) — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas doesn’t think atheists are trustworthy. (1:34) — An Illinois billboard welcomes Missouri women who want abortions without obstacles. (7:59) — Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg isn’t a real Christian, say Religious Right figures who have ruined Christianity. (10:12) — Mike Huckabee blamed weak Christians for allowing gender roles to break down. (19:10) — A now-scuttled Texas bill would have punished women with the death penalty for having an abortion. (27:07) — Ohio Republicans have signed into law an abortion ban that goes into effect before some women even know they’re pregnant. (31:21) — Lori Loughlin says God is helping her cope with the role in the college admissions scandal. (33:18) — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI broke his silence to offer horrible excuses for the Church’s sex abuse scandal. (36:10) — The black hole! (39:47) — The Catholic University of America wants to ban the top 200 adult websites. It won’t work. (44:41) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant is speaking near Chapel Hill, North Carolina next Sunday! Come watch! (0:24) — The Mormon Church has changed its rules to be a little less anti-gay. (0:56) — Atheists are calling on Mississippi to offer a free alternative to the default “In God We Trust” license plate. (7:54) — This is the worst Christian take on the election of Lori Lightfoot to mayor of Chicago. (14:09) — Texas will ban all chaplains from execution chambers instead of allowing a Buddhist priest to enter the room with an inmate. (17:01) — House Republicans voted against the Violence Against Women Act. (21:03) — A North Dakota legislator was very upset by a Hindu invocation because the man didn’t pray to the “One True God.” (23:21) — We finally have an openly Humanist member of Congress. It’s official! (26:30) — An Arizona information hotline may lose funding because 0.0003% of calls last year asked about abortion services. (29:39) — An unvaccinated kid may have exposed hundreds of people to measles in California. (35:30) — Liberty University’s Title IX violation form shows you how little they care. (40:45) — A guest of FOX News’ Laura Ingraham said transgender people are trying to “create a new species.” (43:20) — The HPV vaccine has been linked to a serious drop in cervical disease. (46:29) — Donald Trump doesn’t understand windmills. (47:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant is speaking at the Freethought Festival in Madison, Wisconsin this weekend! Come watch! (1:24) — A Catholic mother really doesn’t want students wearing leggings at Notre Dame… but students pushed back. (1:45) — Tennessee is considering legalizing and regulating sports betting… but not on Sundays, because Jesus. (9:40) – Fundamentalist Pastor Steven Anderson uploaded another old sermon trashing independent women. (14:50) — Cory Booker says he’d “rather hang out with a nice atheist than a mean Christian.” Great line or subtle jab against atheists? (17:45) — A Christian lawmaker from Pennsylvania gave the worst invocation at the worst time, probably on purpose. (37:33) — Is it kind or creepy that Christians in Tennessee sent 40,000 handwritten letters to strangers about Jesus? (44:46) — Houston’s Drag Queen Story Time will come to an end due to threats from Christians. (48:00) — Rockland County, NY is banning unvaccinated children from public spaces. (56:00) — Self-proclaimed paranormalist Uri Geller says he can “telepathically” stop Brexit. (1:01:22) — A Texas bill would allow licensed professionals to discriminate against LGBTQ clients. (1:05:35) — State-funded adoption agencies in Michigan, including religious ones, can no longer discriminate against LGBTQ clients. (1:07:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant is speaking at the Freethought Festival in Madison, Wisconsin next week! Come watch! (0:30) — Hemant’s working on two new projects! Here’s what they are and how you can support him! (0:59) — The Nones are #1… what does that mean? (5:21) — A university in Calgary canceled a talk by an ex-Muslim atheist out of sensitivity to victims of the New Zealand terror attack. But when’s the right time to criticize religion? (10:55) — LifeWay, the largest Christian retailer, is shutting down all stores. You’ll have to buy your Christians elsewhere. (18:31) — FOX News’ Todd Starnes thinks we need “heterosexual history classes.” (24:28) — Chick-fil-A is back in the news for its anti-LGBTQ ways. (31:26) — If you want to help your kids deal with chickenpox, don’t do what Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin did. (40:58) — An Italian politician who fought against mandatory vaccination contracted chickenpox. (47:33) — A kid is suing his local Department of Health in Kentucky after getting banned from his high school’s events for being unvaccinated. (49:12) — Christian moms are furious over a new supposedly sexualized Kit Kat commercial. (51:15) — Georgia is on the verge of banning abortions after six weeks. (57:00) — A physicist got $1.4 million for saying science and religion might be compatible. (1:00:18) — The Neil deGrasse Tyson investigation is over. What did we learn? (1:03:50) — The Irish prime minister and his same-sex partner had some words for Mike Pence. (1:13:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Hemant’s speaking in Florida this weekend! (0:56) — Jessica got into a Twitter fight with a celebrity (?) over the meaning of “atheist.” (1:38) — Hemant’s invocation in DuPage County will lead to a vote on the practice. (5:59) — A high schooler who broke school rules claims she was punished for her religion. (11:40) — The Diocese of Brooklyn is angrier about Pete Davidson‘s SNL joke than child abuse. (16:51) — Cardinal George Pell will spend only six years in jail for child rape. (23:30) — A Georgia legislator says she’ll introduce a bill to regulate men’s balls. (28:50) — Humanist weddings are less likely to end in divorce, according to figures out of Scotland. (34:40) — Analyzing rape kits actually works. Who knew? (41:20) — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos wants taxpayers to fund “secular” services by religious groups for schools. (46:26) — Captain Marvel did not sit well with an anti-feminist Christian writer. (49:42) — Westboro Baptist Church protested against a trans legislator… but there were counter-protesters with kazoos. (55:39) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Donald Trump is signing bibles for victims of the tornado in Alabama. (0:25) — I’m giving talks next week in Tampa and Orlando! Come on by, people of Florida! (4:14) — The Supreme Court won’t hear a case involving taxpayers funding church renovations. (5:38) — A boy has tetanus. A kid has measles. A major study of 650,000 patients found no link between vaccines and autism. Will vaccine deniers ever accept reality? (13:15) — A college dean resigned from her position (but not the school) after the campus said no to bringing a Chick-fil-A on campus. (26:55) — Utah is about to make premarital sex legal. Which means it wasn’t legal. (31:08) — A Christian firefighter is suing his department because they wouldn’t let him grow a beard. (36:20) — The GOP is confirming anti-church/state separation judges at a rapid rate. (39:36) — For the second time, a patient was cured of HIV! (43:03) — Planned Parenthood and the American Medical Association are suing the Trump administration for punishing family planning clinics that refer women for abortions. (44:42) — Changing your religion before marriage is the lowest form of religious conversion. (47:20) — Was it sensible or cowardly for a high school Christian wrestler to forfeit matches to avoid matches with girls? (50:30) — Did you know drive-thru ashes were a thing on Ash Wednesday? (58:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Here’s what happened in the Supreme Court as they discussed the Bladensburg Cross. (1:27) — The “My Pillow” guy, Mike Lindell, told CPAC Donald Trump was the best president ever because he was “chosen by God.” (12:45) — Cardinal George Pell‘s lawyer tried to get him a more lenient sentence by referring to his actions as “plain vanilla” child rape. (15:36) — A Missouri bill would ban anonymity for anyone who files a church/state separation lawsuit. (20:00) — The United Methodist Church just voted for its own extinction by adopting an anti-LGBTQ stance. (26:56) — Skeptics came up with a clever way to expose psychic mediums. (33:22) — Richard Dawkins is giving away professionally translated versions of his books for free for readers in Muslim-majority nations. (41:22) — Pope Francis had no concrete suggestions for handling child sex abuse at a summit about handling child sex abuse. (44:18) — Portland (Oregon) now explicitly includes atheists in its non-discrimination ordinance. (46:33) — With a conservative government, Brazilian lawmakers are resurrecting old bills that promote Christian supremacy. (48:20) — In Argentina, an 11-year-old girl was forced to give birth to her rapist’s baby. Because that’s what the “pro-lifers” wanted. (51:37) — A Florida Democrat is skipping the first day of the legislative session so she can hang out with Pat Robertson. (54:06) — A Kansas lawmaker won’t endorse anti-gay “parody marriage” bill after daughter’s open letter, but he doesn’t go far enough. (56:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A California law would force Catholic priests to report child sex abuse. (0:41) — Washington legislators want to remove faith-healing homicide exemptions from the law. (6:47) — A Colorado billboard welcomes women seeking abortions. (11:30) — A Tennessee legislator wants to change the Constitution to include a useless line about God. (21:10) — A Wyoming lawmaker supports the death penalty since that’s how Jesus was killed. (25:52) — Who’s to blame for the Flat Earth movement? YouTube. (27:50) — Should a former teen ISIS member be allowed to re-enter society when she becomes an adult, if she doesn’t have any remorse? (32:50) — Move over, Christian bakers. You’ve got company in the tax department. (41:55) — The Church of Norway is apologizing for its stance on abortion. (45:42) — Pope Francis said critics of the Catholic Church were “friends of the Devil.” (48:52) — Catholic cardinals blamed the “homosexual agenda” for the sex abuse scandal. (50:30) — Michigan’s attorney general is going after the Catholic Church and its sex abuse cover-up. (52:16) — A Christian Right leader went on a rant about witches in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez‘s district. (56:05) — What the Southern Baptist sex scandals teach us about the Catholic Church sex scandals. (1:00:40) — An 11-year-old was arrested after he didn’t say the Pledge. Kind of. (1:04:15) — What is going on with Jussie Smollett? (1:07:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kenny Campbell is and actor and comedian known for roles in Home Alone, Groundhog Day, and Armageddon. Jessica and Kenny discussed how he almost got fired from his dream job, what it's like being the voice of a talking baby, and his likely criminal past of the men of the Bluemke family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Once again, an atheist invocation by an Arizona legislator was rebuked by a Christian who couldn’t handle it. (0:45) — An investigation found rampant abuse among Southern Baptist churches. (7:00) — A Nebraska lawmaker wants atheists to promote religion in order to keep everyone “in line.” (18:06) — Don’t shake the hand of this FOX News host. (27:18) — A theologian claimed that female pastors are as bad as sex offender pastors. (31:14) — The MAGA hat-wearing boys from Covington Catholic did nothing wrong, says an investigation commissioned by Covington Catholic. (32:39) — A Christian school told female dancers to bind their breasts before a show. (37:11) — A Planned Parenthood (that doesn’t even perform abortions) was set on fire in a possible hate crime. (42:55) — A West Virginia lawmaker suggested he would drown his kids if they were gay. (52:12) — Women in the military say they’re being denied birth control. (56:35) — An 18-year-old who had never been vaccinated defied his parents and got his shots. (58:11) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Donald Trump accidentally praised religious leaders for achieving the “abolition of civil rights” during the National Prayer Breakfast. (1:18) — A TN lawmaker says taxpayer-funded abortions violate the law because they’re an endorsement of the “religion” of Secular Humanism. (4:00) — A cross washed up on a Florida beach… so of course it’s supernatural. (9:00) — Democrats are debating “In God We Trust” when administering oaths in House subcommittees, and one decided to do away with the phrase altogether. (12:20) — Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson says he doesn’t need health care because God made us all immortal. (16:19) — In Arizona, the specialty “In God We Trust” license plate is funding a Christian hate group. (20:40) — Hemant is giving an atheist invocation at a county council meeting! (27:10) — New Jersey will begin teaching LGBT history in public schools. (30:32) — A gay atheist in Poland just launched his own political party to push back against Catholic influence. (33:06) — Michigan’s attorney general just pulled the state out of three church/state separation lawsuits on which they were fighting for the wrong side. (36:13) — Pope Francis, for the first time, acknowledged the ongoing sexual abuse of nuns by priests. (38:35) — A judge said a 13-year-old girl was the “aggressor” in a sexual abuse crime involving a 67-year-old man. (41:45) — A 24/7 Dutch church service meant to protect refugees finally ended after the policy in question changed. (42:24) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Blocher is the cohost of Oh No Ross and Carrie. Jessica and Ross discussed some of his recent investigations into Scientology and the frustrating art of talking to Flat Earthers. He also gave us a preview into an upcoming investigation... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gareth Reynolds is the cohost of The Dollop, an American history comedy podcast. Jessica and Gareth discussed understanding the present political climate by understanding history and the changes in the comedy landscape. They also made fun of Jessica's brother a whole lot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Sarah Huckabee Sanders says God wanted Donald Trump to be president. (1:05) — Here’s how atheists are telling the Supreme Court that a giant public cross is unconstitutional. (7:59) — Kentucky’s Christian governor wants Kim Davis to pay her own bigotry fine. (29:08) — An Illinois Republican accidentally told the truth about his “In God We Trust” bill. (36:19) — A Chicago radio host slammed a local pastor for his manipulative ways. (40:59) — Conservatives were angry that a New York Times reporter asked people for their Christian school experiences. (47:56) — Biblical literacy classes might be okay, just not for the reason Trump likes them. (53:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — What have we learned about the MAGA hat-wearing kids who were in the middle of a media firestorm? (0:20) — The Trump administration will allow a South Carolina faith-based foster care agency to discriminate against non-Christians using taxpayer funding. (19:30) — The definition of “domestic violence” has changed, for some reason, under the Trump administration. (24:02) — A Virginia legislator voted against the Equal Rights Amendment because God already says men and women are equal. (27:25) — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared on a Twitch livestream and helped raise $340,000 for a trans rights charity. (35:30) — Conan O’Brien had an optimistic take on what could be a very depressing thought. (42:32) — How do we fund Donald Trump’s border wall? One Arizona legislator wants to issue a tax on adult content online. (48:00) — Being a virgin, like everything else, is no excuse to commit a mass shooting. (54:33) — A Mormon gay conversion therapist says he wants to date men. (55:44) — A judge ruled against a lesbian couple who were rejected from a faith-based retirement home. (1:01:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse Thorn is the owner of the Maximum Fun podcast network, an journalist with NPR, and a podcast host. Jessica and Jesse discussed how comedy and comedians have changed in recent years, the role of kindness in skepticism, and his truly delightful anecdote about Maya Angelou. Also he made fun of 16" softball which is basically a crime against Chicagoans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Second Lady Karen Pence is working at an anti-LGBTQ Christian school. (5:20) — A study finds that more than half of young transgender men attempt suicide. (20:15) — North Dakota may finally repeal the last of its Blue Laws. (23:08) — An Indiana legislator wants Creationism‘ taught in the classroom… again. (26:30) — A Christian hate group is furious that gay parents are on the cover of Parents magazine. (29:10) — Christian radio host Jesse Lee Peterson lashed out against several female freshmen Democrats for the worst reasons. (32:45) — Former World Series MVP and outspoken Christian John Wetteland has been charged with the worst sort of crime. (35:50) — Michael Cohen paid a Liberty University IT guy to rig polls for Donald Trump in 2016. (40:05) — Jenny McCarthy is a global health threat. (42:38) — A crucified Ronald McDonald is the subject of protests outside an Israeli art museum. (46:00) — A pastor who said Caitlin Jenner was “still a man” no longer has a job. (47:28) — 41% of Republicans would be very uncomfortable with a female president. Because of course they would. (48:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Congressional Freethought Caucus co-chair Rep. Jamie Raskin said the GOP is “operating like a religious cult.” (5:30) — Canada has granted asylum to the Saudi woman trying to escape her religious parents. (7:41) — Catholics trust clergy members less than ever before. (14:20) — The historical phrase “CE” is upsetting British Christians. (17:17) — States are already pushing for mandatory Bible classes in public high schools. (21:25) — Liberty Counsel is furious that an anti-lynching bill includes protection for LGBTQ people. (29:05) — Hate-Pastor Donnie Romero has resigned from his church after admitting multiple sins (but he insists he still hates gay people). (33:36) — The Dutch version of the anti-LGBTQ Nashville Statement has pro-LGBTQ secular competition. (39:10) — Pat Robertson doesn’t understand how internet searches work. (42:42) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The religious makeup of the new Congress and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema‘s oath of office. (1:47) — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez can dance and conservatives are furious. (25:28) — Rep. Rashida Tlaib told a crowd the Democratic House would ITMFA. (31:30) — What Sen. Elizabeth Warren‘s presidential campaign could mean. (35:40) — Preacher John Piper wants you to “marry your Bible” this year. (39:12) — Female Mormon missionaries can wear pants now. (41:02) — Jerry Falwell, Jr. said there’s nothing Donald Trump can do to lose the support of evangelical leaders. (45:46) — An experiment to lure Jewish families to Alabama for $50,000 per family didn’t work. (50:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Catholic Church in IL didn’t disclose allegations against more than 500 priests. (1:42) — The Christian Right’s Project Blitz is getting bigger in 2019. (10:58) — After a teenager died of suicide, a Catholic priest condemned his actions during the funeral. (25:16) — An Illinois school modified its graduation speech policy in order to permit Christian preaching. (34:53) — There’s a new album designed for Christians to play when they’re making love. (41:27) — Trust in clergy is at an all-time low. (44:52) — A Miami church just got hit with a $7 million tax bill. (49:10) — What podcasts would you recommend to a listener? (54:06) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pastor John Gray, after denouncing “pulpit pimps,” gave his wife a $200,000 car. (0:30) — There’s a financial scam that the Catholic Church says it has nothing to do with. How can anyone tell which one’s the scam? (6:59) — A bishop said women who are sexually assaulted probably did something to deserve it. (10:15) — The Supreme Court’s Trinity Lutheran decision is the basis for two conflicting legal battles. (14:30) –Southern Baptists finally acknowledged their racist past. What about their bigoted present? (23:05) — The Trump administration is cracking down on research that uses fetal tissues even if it could help treat HIV. (29:00) — The child of atheist parents was discriminated against by her school, said a human rights tribunal, but her parents are still jerks. (32:55) — There are sex advice message boards for abstinence-preaching conservative Christians. (42:52) — A new poll finds that atheism isn’t a political liability in certain situations. (47:29) — A Christian author who said atheism and morality didn’t go together was caught having an affair. This is old news (sorry!) but a link about it is here. (53:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — How seriously should we take the allegations against Neil deGrasse Tyson? (1:14) — Was a pastor who gave cash back to his congregation being generous? (28:45) — A Lutheran pastor wants to melt down purity rings and turn them into a golden vagina. (36:45) — How does a doctorate in End Times theology even work? (42:30) — A psychic was arrested for scamming a woman out of $12,000.(48:30) — Was a substitute teacher wrong to tell children Santa isn’t real? (53:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Who deserves the blame for missionary John Chau‘s death? (1:49) — Celine Dion‘s new gender-neutral clothing line is apparently demonic. (19:04) — When you say life begins at conception, people are bound to try and use that to their advantage. (24:24) — Sending prayers after a tragedy decreases the amount you give to victims, according to a new study. (28:10) — An Arkansas state senator wants legislators across the country to join his Christian legislator club. (32:05) — Hijabs should be allowed on the floor of Congress, but the proposed rule change doesn’t go far enough. (36:44) — Hemant reflects on his FOX News segment. (40:52) — A Dutch church is conducting non-stop services to protect a family from being deported. (55:23) — An Australian wedding magazine run by a Christian couple shut down after advertisers fled due to their anti-gay policy. (56:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Copson is the Chief Executive of Humanists UK, formerly known as the British Humanist Association, as well as the current President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. He also studied Classics and Ancient and Modern History at the University of Oxford. His new book is called Secularism and it's a primer on the history of the philosophy, what it means today, and how it offers a solution to some of the biggest conflicts in the world. We spoke about the difference between secular and atheistic nations, the biggest threats to secularism around the world, and why even religious people ought to support a secular society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Wentzville, Missouri will pay the price for trying to silence an atheist who criticized their “In God We Trust” sign. (0:58) — A white Kansas county commissioner told a black woman that he belonged to the “master race.” (4:35) — Ricky Gervais and Stephen Colbert talked about religion once again, and it’s a joy to watch. (9:43) — A 19-year-old progressive woman was elected to the New Hampshire State House. She ran after a sitting official insulted her. (12:00) — The conservative lawyers in a major church/state separation case aren’t getting all the money they wanted because the judge said they’re greedy. (15:40) — Kentucky’s governor is blaming mass shootings on zombies and abortions. (24:48) — An awful video game lets you shoot LGBTQ people. (27:52) — This Christian ministry’s contract with a public school district is bananas. (31:12) — Zayn Malik of One Direction says he’s not a Muslim. (40:19) — Some Republicans in a Texas county want to oust a local leader because he’s Muslim. (44:04) — People did not like these rainbow poppies on Remembrance Day. (49:38) — After an anti-gay Christian burned LGBTQ library books, an atheist raised over $1,000 to replace them. (53:37) — Why doesn’t the media cover religion with more skepticism? (57:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Atheism, politics, and the consequences of the midterm elections! We discussed canvassing for a great candidate, the atheists who were elected, and what the GOP Senate majority could do to the courts. (1:00) — The anti-gay county clerk from Kentucky, Kim Davis, is now out of a job having lost her re-election bid. (39:08) — The Trump administration wants to make it even harder for women to obtain birth control. (45:15) — The mother of a mass shooting victim says she doesn’t want anyone’s thoughts and prayers. She just wants gun control. (48:40) — Michelle Obama conceived her daughters through IVF. (51:07) — Here’s a FOX News story you may enjoy… (53:07) — Hemant will be speaking in St. Louis, Missouri on Sunday night! It’s free. Come! (58:00) — Students at a high school outside of Chicago were sent swastikas on their phones. (59:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Kellyanne Conway blamed the synagogue shooting on anti-religiosity, not anti-Semitism. (3:04) — Don’t invite a Jews for Jesus rabbi to speak after a mass shooting of Jewish people. (10:32) — Muslims covered the funeral expenses for victims of anti-Semitic mass shooting. (16:35) — Did the University of Utah properly handle the death of a student? (19:05) — Don’t ever go to a gynecologist who does this. (21:30) — The Pakistani Supreme Court overturned a death sentence for Asia Bibi. Will she be safe? (23:50) — A Washington State Rep. wrote “Biblical Basis for War” manifesto. (29:50) — Attorney Michael Avenatti may run for president as the Great White Democratic Hope. (33:22) — Some young evangelicals are realizing Democrats practice what Christians preach. (36:40) — In Alberta, a patient had to discuss end of life care on the sidewalk because a Catholic hospital wouldn’t allow it inside. (43:20) — A Catholic bishop allegedly told kids that Santa doesn’t exist. (47:44) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Tasmania may remove gender from birth certificates. (3:55) — The Trump administration may revoke legal protections for transgender people. (8:35) — Ark Encounter attendance is still dropping faster than ever. (18:18) — Astrological chapstick is now a thing. (20:37) — The Museum of the Bible realized five of its Dead Sea Scrolls are fake. Who wants to tell them…? (22:47) — If the Australian prime minister apologized for abuses in the Catholic Church, does it matter? (29:38) — Anti-vaxxers got Arizona to scrap its vaccine education program. (35:55) — Should anyone accept Caitlyn Jenner‘s apology for supporting Donald Trump despite his actions against transgender people? (41:36) — Most evangelicals don’t understand their core beliefs, according to a new survey. (51:28) — A rabbi wants people to avoid online ordination for weddings. He doesn’t get the problem with that. (1:09:03) — This pastor thinks Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be executed for treason. (1:17:09) — Is it okay for parents to swear around their children? (1:19:36) — How do you meet atheists when you’re new in town? (1:20:21) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Catholic pharmacist wouldn’t give a woman the medicine she needed to abort a miscarriage. (2:35) — Christian videographers want the right to discriminate against gay customers and it may go to the Supreme Court. (10:48) — Republicans are rushing to confirm an enemy of church/state separation before Democrats can weigh in. (21:12) — Stephen Hawking is adamant about his atheism in his final book. (30:42) — Donald Trump said he has a “natural instinct” for science, a comment which shows he doesn’t understand science. (34:30) — There’s a “grueling” exam for astrologers. I guess you fail by taking it. (37:02) — Christian author says rape doesn’t count if the woman doesn’t scream. Again. (42:52) — An anti-gay former fire chief in Atlanta got $1.2 million in settlement. (49:15) — 90% of Goop wellness products are not supported by science. (57:43) — Can you be a bad atheist? (1:02:07) — How can we stay optimistic in a depressing world? (1:07:59) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Atheist charity Nonbelief Relief just had its tax exemption revoked by the IRS… arguably on purpose. The group says this amounts to religious discrimination by the government. (0:45) — Here are the major church/state separation cases in front of the Supreme Court that Brett Kavanaugh could soon be ruling on. (11:55) — Secular Democrats are among the most enthusiastic about the midterms. But will that mean votes? (18:38) — Mike Huckabee thinks Taylor Swift‘s endorsement for Democrats won’t matter. As usual, he’s wrong. (22:45) — The Mormon president said women should take a 10-day social media “fast”… right before the election. (27:24) — The new Quebec premier says a large crucifix in the National Assembly isn’t a religious symbol at all. (32:36) — Want an important take on the #MeToo movement? Don’t ask North Dakota GOP Senate candidate Kevin Cramer. (35:41) — A group representing Catholic moms released a video supporting Kavanaugh that was all about how false allegations could happen to the men in your lives. (41:41) — The UK Supreme Court just ruled in favor of Christian bakers who didn’t want to bake a cake for a gay customer. But this could backfire on Christians. (44:02) — Teachers at a middle school couldn’t decide what to do with a trans student during a lockdown drill. Thank goodness it was only a drill. (49:02) — Matthew Shepard will finally have a resting place nearly two decades after a hate crime took his life. (51:23) — When are government officials (including teachers) allowed to wear religious symbols? (55:42) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Tucker Carlson says the Brett Kavanaugh backlash is due to an atheist “theocracy.” (4:40) — Does Purity Culture explain why evangelical women still support Brett Kavanaugh? (11:06) — Former Southern Baptist leader Paige Patterson is teaching a class on ethics for some reason. (14:58) — Even Catholics are getting sick of Pope Francis. (19:52) — In a letter, Albert Einstein called God a “product of human weakness.” (24:41) — Ark Encounter does not make for an educational (or legal) field trip. (26:40) — The “Nones” believe a lot of New Age nonsense. (30:02) — The Jenga approach to religion. (34:17) — Irish schools have an awful track record when it comes to religion. (37:55) — The Trump administration will end visas for unmarried gay partners of diplomats. (41:48) — Is “freethought” a good word for atheists to use? (47:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Even if Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, half of evangelicals wouldn’t care. (1:30) — A Jesuit publication rescinded its endorsement of Kavanaugh. (11:25) — The question to Kavanaugh from Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) about God was inappropriate. (15:49) — A Kentucky city council member is holding a school district hostage unless they take back their support of church/state separation. (18:20) — The Pennsylvania House passed a bill that would create a new two-year window for child sex abuse victims to sue their abusers. (23:56) — Preacher John Piper says Christians shouldn’t attend the weddings of couples who don’t feel bad for having pre-marital sex. (28:53) — The Texas attorney general says students cannot “unilaterally refuse” to say the Pledge. A 1943 Supreme Court ruling says otherwise. (32:40) — NPR’s Terry Gross is not anti-Christian. (37:46) — The Congressional Freethought Caucus is growing! (40:30) — Listener mail: Why do we talk about LGBTQ issues so much on an atheist podcast? And why will Hemant be the first one destroyed in the Zombie Apocalypse? (42:46) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — White evangelicals say we shouldn’t listen to Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser unless there were 2-3 witnesses because the Bible says so, and that he was respectful after she said no. (0:35) — A man who strangled a woman received no jail time. (26:35) — A Louisiana congressman claims atheists are spying on students in one high school. (29:42) — An art gallery owner found a clever way to get church members to stop parking in his spaces. (34:11) — Three pastors tried banning books from a library’s Banned Books display. (35:52) — An Indian court found a great reason to reject a blasphemy complaint. (43:12) — This is a remarkably tone-deaf ad, even for the GOP. (46:00) — The Mormon Church excommunicated a man who was trying to protect children. (53:34) — A former GOP state senator and Trump supporter was sentenced to 15 years in jail for child sex trafficking. (57:12) — Should taxpayers be funding church renovations? The Supreme Court may get to weigh in on that. (59:45) — How can you criticize minority religions without being called “Islamophobic” or anti-Semitic? (1:07:58) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — This is a great way to respond to an anti-abortion protest outside a high school. (0:45) — A 9-year-old girl protesting the National Anthem… in Australia. And she has a good point. (6:20) — Republican candidates’ old videos are catching up to them in their races. (11:36) — What is causing Hurricane Florence? These Christians have all the (wrong) ideas. (24:35) — Here’s the biggest problem with the atheist character on God Friended Me. (30:23) — Should pro-Christian advertisements be allowed on high school football fields? (38:39) — North Carolina Republicans shelved scientists’ recommendations about dealing with rising sea levels. (44:12) — A Christian college won’t let a student finish his degree because he’s openly gay. (47:45) — Pope Francis referred to The Great Accuser (Satan) when discussing the sex abuse scandal. (53:25) — Should you pay money to see a psychic even if you know it’s not real? (1:02:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — These Christians are threatening to follow the law if they don’t get to pray over the loudspeakers before football games. (2:20) — A new book talks about the harm of the evangelical “purity” movement. (7:53) — Several states are launching their own investigations into the Catholic Church. (17:37) — Researchers calculated how much money victims of Catholic Church abuse lose over their lifetimes. (22:18) — A Mexican cardinal says victims of the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal have their own skeletons and should shut up. (28:55) — Sinéad O’Connor deserves all the apologies for calling out Catholic Church abuse long before it was a news story. (31:09) — A Christian school has banned all Nike products for athletes after the Colin Kaepernick ad. (37:20) — A bunch of evangelical Christians released a statement denouncing social justice activism. (45:55) — A Texas pastor sexually assaulted a teen in church. Is the church handling the situation properly? (58:53) — American Atheists has a new president. Here’s what he should focus on. (1:03:34) — Is it fair to question Serena Williams about her Jehovah’s Witness beliefs? (1:25:38) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Donald Trump held a dinner party for conservative Christian leaders, screwed up a quotation, and urged pastors to tell their congregations how to vote. (6:22) — The Pope’s visit to Ireland was not nearly as popular as organizers expected. (13:51) — A critic of the Pope says he knew about the abuse and did nothing… but the messenger has problems of his own. (18:02) — Louis CK is performing again… what does that say about #MeToo? (27:35) — A critic of Mormon “masturbation interviews” is being threatened with excommunication. 32:34) — Who installed a Scientology kiosk in a Hollywood police station? (40:45) — A girl was stabbed at a high school after rejecting a boy’s advances. (44:25) — A 9-year-old boy killed himself after being bullied for being gay. (46:49) — 97-year-old televangelist Ernest Angley is being sued for all kinds of creepy abuse. (48:57) — Russian bots wanted to increase hostilities on both sides of the vaccine “debate.” (56:09) — A preacher who went viral for speaking in tongues now says we weren’t meant to see that. (57:44) — Forget the “Nones.” Say hello to the “Solidly Seculars.” (1:02:24) — How many victims of the Catholic Church do we not know about? (1:12:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) used Christianity to cover up his campaign finance fraud. (2:55) — The Catholic Church has spent millions of dollars in New York lobbying against bills that would let victims of child sex abuse seek justice. (7:50) — Good news! Claiming to have flown in an alien spaceship is no longer a dealbreaker to get an endorsement from the Miami Herald. (11:50) — Christine Hallquist, a trans woman, is the Democratic nominee for governor in Vermont! (16:55) — A conservative legal group is furious that Hawaii asked non-profits to play by the rules this election season. (18:58) — An Arkansas school district did not like the contextualized “In God We Trust” poster offered to them by American Atheists. (23:25) — Surprise: HPV vaccines aren’t bad for you! (28:23) — A young Mormon woman dumped her fiancé after she realized he watched porn. (33:38) — The Christian family that handles snakes in church can’t stop getting bitten by snakes for some reason. (43:30) — Rose McGowan goes from hero to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ in a recent #MeToo story. (47:14) — The former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was charged with forcible touching. (50:37) — Hemant will be in Portland, Oregon on Friday, August 31 for a free conversation about religion with a Christian apologist. Expect all the fireworks! (51:39) — Thanks to our Patreon supporters! (52:15) — Is Donald Trump the first atheist president in history? (52:43) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The grand jury’s report on the child sex abuse in six Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses… and it’s the most disturbing stuff you’ll ever hear. (0:35 with details at 5:15) — The Catholic League’s Bill Donohue, as usual, is downplaying the seriousness of the allegations against priests. (24:10) — Mormons don’t want to be called Mormons anymore. (37:55) — The Christian baker who famously refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple is back in the news for not wanting to make a birthday cake for a trans woman. (40:05) — Amidst a sex scandal involving its founder, Willow Creek paid out millions of dollars to settle cases involving a volunteer allegedly abusing two special needs kids. (43:55) — Pat Robertson told a grieving mother who worried about her daughter getting molested to “get over it.” (45:25) — Liberty University won’t let student journalists do any actual journalism. (47:45) — A Catholic school has, again, kicked out a beloved staff for being gay-married. (54:20) — A Michigan Democrat is on the verge of becoming the first Muslim woman in Congress. (59:25) — Hemant’s speaking with a Christian apologist in Portland on August 31. (1:01:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The rest of Willow Creek church’s leadership resigned over the Bill Hybels scandal. (0:28) — Brock Turner lost his appeal to overturn a sexual assault conviction. (16:14) — A one-minute video promoting animal rights was too controversial for a Southern Baptist group. (20:40) — An anti-abortion pamphlet was found inside a box of diapers. (28:30) — An Atlanta charter school tried to avoid a Pledge of Allegiance controversy… only to get embroiled in a Pledge of Allegiance controversy. (32:25) — A Tokyo medical school changed test scores to purposely exclude women… for years. (37:28) — Why are people abandoning religion? Not believing in God isn’t the #1 reason. (42:10) — Arkansas State Sen. Jason Rapert is rewriting history and blame atheists for wrecking his Ten Commandments monument. (52:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Willow Creek megachurch’s founder Bill Hybels has now been accused of sexually harassing his assistant decades ago, and the lead pastor quit as a result. (2:15) — Jeff Sessions‘ “Religious Freedom Task Force” is just a government program to help conservative Christians discriminate against groups they hate. (18:09) — Child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church would stop if only seminaries required applicants to abstain from lust or masturbation for a year, says priest. (23:55) — Cosmologist Lawrence Krauss no longer has his top science job at Arizona State after an investigation found that he groped a woman at a conference. But he’s still on the school’s payroll. (28:58) — Want to volunteer with Franklin Graham‘s Samaritan’s Purse group to help with California wildfire relief efforts? You need to be anti-gay first. (36:44) — There can be no compromise between LGBTQ Americans and conservative Christians. (41:59) — Move over, bananas. Atheists have a new worst nightmare: Broccoli. (50:43) — Pope Francis says the death penalty is never okay. Hallelujah! (55:02) — A Mormon woman couldn’t get a Temple Recommend because she breastfed her baby in church. (1:04:27) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- 50 years ago, the pope said birth control was immoral. (1:15) -- Did you know Gwyneth Paltrow hired a fact checker for Goop? (9:40) -- This 11-year-old college grad wants to pursue astrophysics so he can prove God's existence. (19:44) -- Computer models could help us understand the future of religion. (30:25) -- A Republican candidate for office thinks the Founding Fathers put "One Nation Under God" in the Pledge... which wasn't written until after they all died. (45:35) -- Two South Asian atheists face blasphemy charges in their countries. One's currently filming a reality show. (56:25) -- This alternative Ten Commandments is incredible. (1:02:20) -- We answer a question about whether or not to show off your shoulders in a very Mormon part of Utah. (1:07:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. ---- Republicans just passed another bill to repeal the Johnson Amendment. (0:22) -- If you're running for governor, don't belittle someone who asks a good question about climate change. (6:35) -- Russian spy Mariia Butina infiltrated the government via the National Prayer Breakfast. (12:25) -- Science denier Jenny McCarthy has solid verifiable proof that a ghost is in her house. There's even video! (25:45) -- Why a gay Catholic could help end the blood donation ban on gay men. (29:15) -- Richard Dawkins doesn't like the sound of Muslim prayers. Should we be offended? (40:05) -- White evangelicals don't like that America is becoming less white. (55:26) -- An Alabama county commissioner with the endorsement of Jesus lost her election. (59:20) -- Darla Shine, wife of the new Trump administration appointee, thinks women are just asking for harassment if they join the military. (1:02:17) -- House Republicans passed a bill effectively allowing anti-gay discrimination at adoption agencies. (1:04:19) -- Ken Ham's merry band of Creationists tried explaining the discovery of a new planet, since it violates their beliefs. (1:10:45) -- The Humanist Legal Society, an atheist response to the Federalist Society, just launched. (1:16:04) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The new Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the one right-wing group that opposed him (temporarily), and his claim that church/state separation is "based on bad history." (0:30) -- This is why it's a problem believing communion wafers are the literal body of Christ. (20:14) -- Apparently you're not a real man unless you have a first-born son. (25:29) -- Kentucky can't decide if religious license plates should be allowed because atheists would get to have them. (27:44) -- Donald Trump's spiritual adviser Pastor Paula White says (wrongly) Jesus never broke the law. (33:00) -- A judge ruled against the least offensive atheist bus ad ever. (38:09) -- What did you do, Papa John? (43:47) -- The studio behind God's Not Dead wants to make a movie about the Thai kids trapped in a cave. (46:53) -- The Center For Inquiry is suing CVS for selling homeopathic medicine in misleading ways. (52:40) -- Australia is punishing parents who don't vaccinate their kids. Good. (57:52) -- The UK government is planning on banning gay conversion therapy. (1:01:10) -- A 12-year-old girl is working to bring a Pride parade to Buffalo Grove, Illinois. (1:04:20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Is Ark Encounter lying about attendance again? (0:39) -- A Republican congressional candidate thinks women are best described as "helpers." (15:52) -- What does Scott Pruitt's resignation letter say about God? (26:22) -- The man who destroyed the Ten Commandments monument in Arkansas doesn't regret it. (30:40) -- In Virginia, a new city council was sworn in... and they got rid of prayer. (36:21) -- A priest conducting a funeral went crazy after someone bumped into a chalice. (39:30) -- Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a potential Supreme Court pick, has a church/state separation problem. (43:58) -- Southern Baptist donors are furious that a seminary fired Paige Patterson, a man who downplayed or ignored sexual abuse. (58:22) -- This church protested Donald Trump's immigration policy by locking the Holy Family up in a cage. (1:02:37) -- There's a cultural vacuum in Trump's White House. (1:04:37) -- The issue of government-led prayer is in chaos because of the Supreme Court. (1:10:26) -- Don't get suckered in by Christians saying "I'm sorry" at a Pride parade. (1:21:30) -- The new season of the StartUp podcast is looking at a church plant. (1:31:08) -- We've got listener mail! (1:33:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January, Jessica found out her brother Kevin was reading a book about the Satanic Panic and she thought it would be fun to sit down and have him walk her through the ins and outs of that era. They recorded in February. They had technical issues and had to scrap it. They tried again in April. It went very poorly. They scrapped it. But, third time's a charm, and so now we present to you "The Bluemke Sibling Dollop Tribute Journey Through the Satanic Panic." Notes: This podcast is a hat tip to The Dollop, a favorite American History comedy podcast hosted by Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds. (We suggest starting with Episode 2: Purity Balls if you enjoy the FA Podcast.) Kevin's sources are from Satanic Panic: Pop-Cultural Paranoia in the 1980s edited by Kier-La Janisse and Paul Corupe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- What does Anthony Kennedy's retirement mean for church/state separation? (1:05) -- The Supreme Court banning abortion will backfire on evangelicals. (18:25) -- A Walgreens pharmacist refused to fill a prescription for a woman who miscarried. (32:00) -- Your thoughts and prayers alone won't help the victims in Annapolis, Maryland. (37:50) -- The American Family Association thinks a man spying on women in a Target dressing room is a good reason Target should ban trans people from using the right bathroom. (43:50) -- Joel Davis, a man who fought to stop sexual violence, has been charged with committing sexual exploitation against children. (51:50) -- El Al, Israeli's national airline, vows to kick off ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse to sit in seats next to women. (54:20) -- The GOP's tax bill accidentally hurt churches. (57:42) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Should Catholic Church confessionals about child abuse be reported to the cops? (2:01) -- Apparently, Australia doesn't exist. (9:45) -- Two Christian women released a marriage checklist. It's disturbing. (13:14) -- In Alberta, religious schools want the ability to "out" members of Gay-Straight Alliances to their parents. (26:00) -- PA State Rep. Brian Sims had a one-finger salute for Mike Pence. (36:27) -- "Hot Dog Water" isn't a thing. But people are buying it. (39:13) -- Focus on the Family doesn't care about families being ripped apart by Donald Trump. (43:05) -- Country musician Rory Feek accepted his gay daughter's marriage. Now Christian bookstores won't sell his memoir. (45:54) -- Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP tried to get more scientific... and failed. (53:36) -- The governor of Texas promised a dying boy that he would ban abortion completely. (59:26) -- Attorney General Jeff Sessions was accused of immigrant child abuse by 600 members of his own religion. (1:07:13) -- Muslim reformer Maajid Nawaz won a huge settlement from the Southern Poverty Law Center (yay!) and the Religious Right is using it to their advantage (boo). (1:14:45) -- Can you separate art from the artist? (1:27:03) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The Trump administration is using Bible verses to justify tearing children away from their parents. (1:29) -- Canada's Supreme Court says legal societies can reject the accreditation of an anti-gay Christian law school. (14:52) -- Abortion: Why won't anyone think of the men? (28:14) -- A Christian Right group plans to spend $20 million for the upcoming midterms. How will you respond? (40:42) -- A study says religious people live several years longer than atheists. Don't believe it. (50:09) -- These cities are in danger of outbreaks due to parents not vaccinating their kids. (58:30) -- Ireland has set a date for a referendum to overturn the law banning blasphemy. (1:02:12) -- Another Bangladeshi atheist was murdered. (1:08:38) -- Why would a UK legislator block this bill? (1:13:25) -- We got mail! (1:16:34) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode, Hemant spoke with David Ellis Dickerson. He's a writer mostly known for his many appearances on "This American Life," telling stories about growing up a conservative Christian in Tucson, Arizona. In 2013, he became an Emmy-nominated game show writer for his work on the Christian game show "The American Bible Challenge," which aired on the Game Show Network and can now be seen on Netflix. We spoke about how our paths inadvertently crossed about a decade ago, how an atheist gets a job writing for a Christian game show, and what "SEX DUO" has to do with the Bible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The Catholic League's Bill Donohue is already using Anthony Bourdain's suicide to celebrate himself. (0:50) -- The Masterpiece Cakeshop decision was the worst of all possible worlds for conservative Christians, even though they won. (12:08) -- Does a Muslim beautician have the legal right to tell a trans woman she won't wax her private parts? (23:44) -- A Texas church's list of dangerous "isms" includes Judaism and atheism, but not racism and sexism. (31:23) -- What is up with college professors who commit acts of sexual misconduct against students? (35:45) -- CrossFit fired a high-ranking employee for his anti-LGBTQ rhetoric on Twitter. (44:52) -- Dr. Oz is promoting astrology again. (49:37) -- Did an Ethiopian pastor get fatally attacked by a crocodile during a baptism? (59:24) -- TV tattoo artist Kat Von D will not be vaccinating her baby. (1:05:45) -- Denmark's burqa ban is a big mistake. (1:11:59) -- This ex-lesbian wants Christian women to avoid the #MeToo movement. (1:17:43) -- We got mail! (1:21:50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Now that abortion will be legal in Ireland, Focus on the Family is lying about what will happen next. (2:54) -- Donald Trump pardoned Dinesh D'Souza because nothing matters anymore. (19:44) -- The Mormon Church is way richer than we thought. (24:15) -- A Republican politician knows why school shootings happen: Kids are buying smut at grocery stores. (33:24) -- Atheists have filed a lawsuit for the right to solemnize marriages in Michigan. (49:48) -- An atheist's lawsuit to get "In God We Trust" off the money has failed again. (55:10) -- An Archdiocese in Minnesota agreed to a $210 million settlement with sex abuse victims. (1:09:45) -- Homeopathic sound files don't cure Ebola. Or anything else. (1:16:29) -- A rant on Roseanne and Samantha Bee. (1:23:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Laats is Professor of Education and History (by courtesy) at Binghamton University (State University of New York). He has contributed essays to Education Week, Chronicle of Higher Education, Washington Post, Time, and Newsweek. He blogs about education, history, and culture-war angst at I Love You but Youʼre Going to Hell. He is the author, most recently, of Fundamentalist U: Keeping the Faith in American Higher Education. I spoke with him about how fundamentalist Christian colleges handle dissenting views, whether or not they exist in a bubble, and what faculty members debate behind the scenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note from Hemant: I'm out of the country right now, but Jessica and her friend Anne got together to record this episode! They talked about a weird school policy regarding smiling, the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem (and why Robert Jeffress and John Hagee were there), and how I (Hemant) got called out by Ken Ham during his news show. (Timestamps will return when I get back home!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Franklin Graham says Donald Trump’s affair with Stormy Daniels is “nobody’s business.” That's not what he said when Bill Clinton was in office. (3:14) -- The Natural History Museum in Jerusalem is covering up an evolution exhibit so they don't offend ultra-Orthodox Jews. (12:47) -- The 13-year-old "miracle boy" from Alabama, who survived brain trauma, isn't a miracle at all. (14:52) -- Southern Baptist leader Paige Patterson has apologized... kind of. Not really. (20:40) -- The Mormon Church says it'll cut all ties with the Boy Scouts. (34:12) -- Not everyone was happy with the Met Gala theme: "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." (41:54) -- The rally for gay conversion drew tens of people. (51:45) -- Christian schools often censor student journalists, according to a new survey. (56:40) -- We answer listener mail! (1:03:11) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Paige Patterson, a leader of the Southern Baptists, has horrible advice for abused wives. (0:42) -- The problem with Incels. (17:52) -- A Michigan Catholic school told girls they'd have to wear "Modesty Ponchos" at Prom if they were dressed too sluttily, but they caved after backlash. (31:09) -- We learned about a new fossil that marks a transition between dinosaurs and modern birds. Creationist Ken Ham isn't buying it. (36:45) -- A Pulse nightclub massacre survivor says he's no longer gay because of Jesus. (44:44) -- Mike Pence takes great "joy" in Michelle Wolf's jokes about him. He should've read further on in the Bible. (50:10) -- Iowa has banned abortions after 6 weeks... because they want to get sued over this. (55:24) -- The House Chaplain is back on the job after getting booted. (1:02:11) -- Liberty University is the second largest Christian school in the country. But not by their math. (1:03:41) -- Survey featuring "Islamophobia Index" finds Nones are largely supportive of Muslims' rights. (1:09:10) -- Matt Walsh said something dumb on Twitter about man caves. (1:14:03) -- We answer listener mail! (1:22:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The Ten Commandments monument outside the Arkansas Capitol... again. (3:12) -- The Congressional Freethought Caucus has finally formed! (13:13) -- Why did the House chaplain resign? Maybe he deserved to. (24:15) -- There's an open atheist in the NFL once again: The Arizona Cardinals' Josh Rosen. (37:42) -- There's no good reason to prevent your kids from learning about sex education. (41:50) -- A Tennessee school district wants to celebrate Billy Graham Day. No... just no. (59:13) -- GQ says the Bible isn't an essential read. They're right. (1:04:48) -- Oklahoma is on the verge of passing a bill allowing taxpayer-funded adoption agencies to discriminate against gay couples and non-Christians. (1:09:47) -- When FOX News is too tough on you, Donald Trump just goes to Christian television. (1:15:44) -- Jessica has some thoughts on recent mass shootings. (1:19:14) -- We answer listener mail! (1:23:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Kent Hovind is advertising his new Creationist theme park using a meme mocking Creationists. (1:41) -- White evangelical Christian support for Donald Trump is at an all-time high. (7:37) -- The frighteningly conservative White House Bible studies being run by Capitol Ministries’ Ralph Drollinger. (13:40) -- A Stanford study doesn't really show that the most religious kids do best in school. (17:56) -- Pope Francis lied to a kid about whether or not his dead atheist father was in Heaven. (26:18) -- This is a fairly accurate assessment of why people think Christians are "A**holes." (32:36) -- Liberty University makes bank through its online education program. Too bad it's not good for students. (34:50) -- Focus on the Family is legally a "church" now, and you should see how they pulled it off... (41:23) -- Students at “Christian Hogwarts” are doing something called "grave sucking" and trying to walk through walls. (52:06) -- Was Democratic National Committee vice chairman Keith Ellison right to say, "Women are dying" because his party loses elections? (57:34) -- We answer listener mail! (1:09:21) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Why was David Silverman fired from American Atheists? Because of this. (1:05) -- Attendance at Catholic churches is going down. (33:16) -- Evangelical Christians can't save their "brand" from Donald Trump since it was a problem to begin with. (35:22) -- Liberty University doesn't want student reporters to report on a progressive Christian event. (43:37) -- Oklahoma just named its “Official Inspirational Song” and it's a Christian rock ballad. (51:55) -- Senator Cory Booker grilled Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo over his anti-gay views. (54:55) -- Focus on the Family has quietly ended its anti-LGBTQ “Day of Dialogue.” (58:34) -- Creationist Ken Ham is mad that people said he's loosening restrictions in his hiring... even though he is. (1:02:05) -- Missouri interfaith leaders are speaking out against a bill allowing concealed carry weapons in churches. (1:07:43) -- We answer listener mail! (1:09:54) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Whether atheists are indeed "veering dangerously" toward the alt-right. (0:15) -- Why Creationist Ken Ham has a lot of job openings, but no takers. (30:20) -- Some incredibly manipulative faith-based backstabbing in Victoria, Australia. (34:57) -- Why Christians must disavow Donald Trump, according to a Christian. (40:15) -- Little Free Libraries are becoming havens for religious proselytizing. (45:50) -- The backlash to a vaccination bill in New Jersey. (50:50) -- A Christian author says we have to avoid vaccines since the Bible never mentions them. (54:58) -- After 73 years of marriage, this Canadian couple chose to end their lives together... and some people are furious. (59:13) -- God’s Not Dead 3 tanked at the box office. (1:05:05) -- This "perfect" way to stop gay couples from renting a wedding venue may backfire. (1:09:15) -- This is depressing: A third of Americans ages 18-24 aren’t sure the Earth is round. (1:13:09) -- Many people want to kill women who have abortions. (1:16:55) -- We answer listener mail! (1:26:15) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Gwyneth Paltrow's pseudoscience repository Goop is now worth a quarter-billion dollars because America is an embarrassment. (0:50) -- One of the most liberal federal judges in the nation has died. He was so liberal, he agreed "Under God" in the Pledge was unconstitutional. (7:17) -- Evangelical Christians still, by and large, support Donald Trump. (15:10) -- A Houston pastor who delivered benediction at President George W. Bush's inauguration has been charged with wire fraud (and more!). (23:34) -- Liberty University now has a gun range. Just like Jesus wanted. (31:22) -- The Pope doesn't believe in Hell, according to an atheist journalist who didn't take notes and has way too much access to the Catholic leader. (37:14) -- A survey says even religious people don't take the Ten Commandments seriously. (41:16) -- The Mormon Church finally says women shouldn't stay in abusive relationships. (46:54) -- Who needs more representation on TV? Not atheists, according to this survey. (54:34) -- We answer listener mail! (59:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The Johnson Amendment is (temporarily) safe again! (0:41) -- The Navy has rejected the application of a Humanist chaplain after pushback from Republicans. (6:08) -- The new director of the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services overcame discrimination in his youth. Now Roger Severino wants to discriminate against others. (14:06) -- Don't listen to Gwyneth Paltrow: Bee stings won't improve your health. Haven't you seen My Girl? (23:45) -- Young Europeans are abandoning religion in droves. (26:55) -- A Memphis pastor has finally resigned after sexually assaulting a teen girl decades ago. (30:10) -- One of the most influential megachurches in the country, Willow Creek, is dealing with misconduct allegations against its founding pastor Bill Hybels. (37:35) -- Hipster pastors are the worst because they're too afraid to have opinions. (47:35) -- Is it okay for a Democrat to be personally anti-abortion if he won't legislate that way? (54:38) -- Focus on the Family wants you to stop saying they support gay conversion therapy... even though they totally support gay conversion therapy. (1:00:55) -- Is Jim Carrey mocking Christians with his portrait of someone who looks a lot like Sarah Huckabee Sanders? (1:06:20) -- Why do Donald Trump's political endorsements matter more to evangelicals than Mike Pence's? (1:11:24) -- Richard Dawkins will offer free translated versions of his books in several languages. (1:17:10) -- This is the worst book about atheists I've read in a long time. (1:21:20) -- We answer a listener's question! (1:28:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The people who think Stephen Hawking is burning in Hell. (0:18) -- PA Republican House candidate Rick Saccone claimed his critics "have a hatred for God." Nope. He's confusing God with Donald Trump. (13:55) -- Trump supporters who continue to support him. (17:05) -- Christian author claims transgender activists are urging lesbians to keep going and "become trans." (21:14) -- Tony Perkins says liberals are using Trump's affair with Stormy Daniels to "shame" politically active evangelicals. (25:29) -- Congressional Republicans are trying to stop the Navy from appointing a Humanist Chaplain. (30:48) -- The Kansas commissioner who told atheists to go to Hell. (41:43) -- An Alabama Republican legislator doesn't want to arm teachers (yay) because most of them are women (wut). (45:23) -- The pastor who once said women don't control their bodies because they belong to God. (48:36) -- Evangelical Christian Matt Barber says the Academy Awards didn't honor Rev. Billy Graham because "they hate him." (53:19) -- Pastor with "debilitating" disease sued by insurers after they discover her incriminating Facebook posts. (57:39) -- We answer a listener's question! (1:01:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis wrote a memoir. I read it. I hate myself. (1:02) -- A gay escort was right to expose dozens of Catholic priests who were clients. (17:53) -- Mississippi now bans abortion after 15 weeks. (26:30) -- The dominoes are still falling for Lawrence Krauss. (32:05) -- This Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate thinks banning abortion will stop abortions. (50:53) -- The Shape of Water's “sexual depravity” will destroy America, says a pastor who thinks fish-men are real. (54:49) -- A GOP congressman thinks Jews could’ve survived the Holocaust if they had guns. (59:43) -- A lot of African-Americans are leaving their predominantly white megachurches. (1:02:20) -- Sinclair broadcasting is pushing right-wing propaganda through local news channels. (1:06:20) -- Steve Bannon is scared of Oprah. (1:11:20) -- We answer a listener's question! (1:12:54) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the first episode of the Friendly Atheist Bonus Listeners Entertainment Show (or FABLES). We're releasing this one on the public feed; all future episodes will only go to Patreon subscribers. For this debut episode, Jess sits down with her bestie from college and they discuss Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. Along the way they also discuss their friendship origin story, their Cool Girl (TM) roots, and what it means to be a feminist. New episodes will be released monthly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- -- Tennessee's Lt. Gov. is telling voters to reject an atheist candidate because she's "dangerous." (1:07) -- Even country music stars want nothing to do with Mike Huckabee. (10:40) -- Rep. Blake Farenthold hasn't paid an $84,000 harassment settlement, leaving the bill for taxpayers. (18:25) -- Billy Graham's body didn't deserve to lay in the Capitol rotunda, nor should his statue go up in National Statuary Hall. (23:25) -- The Department of Health and Human Services is a disaster for LGBTQ people. (28:45) -- A bill in Michigan to extend the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse is getting resistance from -- wait for it -- the Catholic Church. (37:59) -- There are times when we don't need to condemn people sending their thoughts and prayers, like when actor Chris Pratt said it after director Kevin Smith's heart attack. (43:26) -- Want to coach football at Louisiana College? Make sure your mother isn't Jewish. (49:13) -- Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis just published a book. Should be a very interesting paragraph. (52:10) -- Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been accused of sexual harassment. Because of course he has. (57:05) -- Here's an interesting art project by a student at Brigham Young University. (59:22) -- We answer a listener's question! (1:02:54) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Lawrence Krauss faces sexual misconduct allegations from multiple women. (1:00) -- The death of Billy Graham and his sad legacy. (20:54) -- GMOs are good for you, says a new study. (28:47) -- The phrase "In God We Trust" will not stop bullets. (31:30) -- South Carolina's education chief said school shootings could end if we just taught kids more about Jesus. (35:20) -- Even Pat Robertson (!) called for a ban on assault weapons. (37:45) -- A GOP congressman gave Donald Trump a literal bag of prayers after the school shooting. (44:22) -- A PA church (near an elementary school) will bless your assault rifles next week. (46:03) -- An ex-Jehovah’s Witness killed her family, then herself. Was it because of her shunning? (50:15) -- Why are these Christian non-profits telling the IRS they’re churches? (53:57) -- Iceland may ban circumcision for non-medical reasons. (59:17) -- The Teenagers Roast Marco Rubio Show. (1:02:39) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Republicans should just admit their prayers to stop school shootings aren't helping. (1:09) -- A pastor was found with a naked, tied-up man in his car. He swears “on a stack of bibles” that nothing happened. (11:45) -- This racist cartoonist published a cartoon attacking DREAMers. (14:55) -- A Colorado teacher has been charged with abusing and assaulting a student who wouldn't stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. (19:50) -- Even Omarosa Manigault, a minister, thinks Mike Pence is a crazy Christian. (23:57) -- The Trump administration's response to the Rob Porter scandal has been disappointing and exactly what you'd expect. (26:55) -- The Tennessee GOP Unleashed an attack on a “radical atheist” running for State Senate. (32:46) -- Dennis Prager says evangelicals aren’t hypocrites for backing Donald Trump. Even though they totally are. (39:35) -- A New Mexico city owes the ACLU $700,000 after not taking their advice about a Ten Commandments monument, then losing the court case. (50:54) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Levin is the Director of Grassroots and Community Programs at the Secular Coalition for America. She has served in various roles at the Secular Coalition since 2013, including as the organization's chief lobbyist on Capitol Hill and as the State Chapter Coordinator, managing and growing the organization’s state chapter program and implementing various grassroots campaigns on the national and state level. I spoke with her about the biggest church/state separation concerns facing Americans, what counts as a success in the age of Trump, and how the Secular Coalition for America wants to empower atheists nationwide to get active in state politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Eric Trump is mad Democrats didn't stand up for God during the State of the Union. An atheist lawyer schooled him on why that happened. (0:32) -- Wait for it. Donald Trump says he's not a feminist. (8:15) -- Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered powerful remarks against religious bigotry. (10:28) -- A Texas legislator wants to ban abortions so women learn to be "more personally responsible." (15:15) -- A televangelist says we don't need to get flu shots because Jesus got one for all of us. (21:05) -- What does the chair for the academic study of atheism do? (26:55) -- Are men threatened by intelligent women? (30:35) -- This is how Christian groups trick public schools into handing them fresh meat. (33:05) -- Mel Gibson is making a sequel to Passion of the Christ. Because why the hell not. (40:48) -- A gay Mormon who married a woman is getting divorced because (wait for it) he's still gay. (47:15) -- Why won't this New Zealand church tell me if they approved an advertisement calling their pastor hot? (57:00) -- David Brooks is wrong. Democrats shouldn't adopt anti-abortion policies to win elections. (59:47) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- A GOP House member got called out on CNN for not knowing what the “Immaculate Conception” was. (4:14) -- The Christian Right is giving Donald Trump a "mulligan" on everything immoral he did before his presidency. (9:44) -- Generation Z, born after 1999, is less religious than any other age group. (22:33) - Self-hating atheist S.E. Cupp explained why evangelical Christians continue to stand behind Trump. (28:55) -- Courtland Sykes wins this week's award for most misogynistic Republican in the state of Missouri. (36:26) -- Want to alter South Dakota's state seal? You could have been jailed for it. (42:40) -- The nation was less supportive of LGBTQ people in 2017, compared to the previous year. I wonder what changed... (48:34) -- We have no confirmation yet on whether this church advertisement featuring a "hot" pastor is real. (52:15) -- The judge overseeing the Larry Nassar sentencing was on fire. (56:20) -- The Satanic Temple is using the Religious Right's legal arguments against them in Missouri. (1:01:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I celebrated our 200th episode... and discussed the past week in politics and atheism. -- Your letters, questions, and emails! (2:38) -- Hawaii's false alarm and the lack of atheist conversions. (45:05) -- Rick Saccone, a GOP House candidate in PA for an upcoming special election, doesn't care about church/state separation. (48:40) -- Televangelist Kenneth Copeland just got a private plane. Thanks, Jesus! (53:13) -- Pope Francis is doing an awful job of letting sexual abuse victims know he's on their side. (56:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- All the action in local governments: A secular affirmation, the end of one city's invocations, how one politician compared atheist invocations to baby murder, a delightful atheist invocation in Florida, and two officials in California who aren't standing for the Pledge. (4:46) -- Feminine hygiene products are free for public school students in Illinois and California. (18:32) -- An elected official told his committee they needed another man to fill a vacant seat because the Bible said so. (20:02) -- Dan Harmon's worthwhile apology. (26:39) -- Megachurch pastor Andy Savage received a standing ovation for assaulted a girl decades ago then giving a half-hearted apology for it. (31:21) -- Joshua Feuerstein said the actresses at the Golden Globes couldn't credibly speak out against assault because they were "dressed like hookers." (44:35) -- Gwyneth Paltrow wants you to spend $135 to spray coffee up your butt. (59:54) -- A Turkish scientist claims Noah called his son on a cell phone before boarding the Ark. (1:00:30) -- Bill Donohue claims the Catholic Church is a “model” for handling sexual misconduct. (1:02:03) -- Singer Charlie Daniels doesn't like that Taco Bell mocked the Illuminati. (1:03:20) -- Donald Trump's "spiritual advisor" is capitalizing on her fame by asking everyone to give her a month's salary. (1:04:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- A Mississippi legislator wants to make the Bible the official state book. For the third time. (1:38) -- The head of the Mormon Church, Thomas S. Monson, is dead. What should he be remembered for? (7:21) -- South Carolina Republicans wanted to honor black people who fought for the Confederacy, but they missed a key detail... (18:48) -- Roy Moore's Jewish lawyer is actually a Christian. (21:58) -- FEMA says churches can get taxpayer funding to rebuild after “Acts of God.” (30:18) -- "Raw water" is a thing now... at least if you're rich and dumb. (35:42) -- This church has “documented proof” that God answers prayers. (43:04) -- Bill Nye needs to read more books, says rapper who believes the Earth is flat. (47:23) -- A Texas mall just installed a giant Ten Commandments monument. Oh, the irony... (50:02) -- A Noah’s Ark replica broke free in the Netherlands and then caused massive damage. (53:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Did the CDC really ban words like "science-based" and "transgender"? (1:21) -- An Oregon atheist threatened to sue over a religious street banner, but he has no case. (5:42) -- An Australian politician plans to defend Christianity against mockery. (9:49) -- Ivanka Trump wishes everyone "Happy Holidays!" (16:45) -- It doesn't matter that the BBC’s Head of Religious Programming is an atheist. (17:45) -- OKCupid says liking Donald Trump is a dealbreaker for users. (21:26) -- Democratic men are more likely to be feminist than Republican women. (23:50) -- A Milwaukee priest came out as gay, everyone celebrated it, but it's still heartbreaking. (30:57) -- Cardinal Law is dead. (38:11) -- "Feminism" is Mirriam-Webster's Word of the Year. (41:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Doug Jones won the Senate race in Alabama! That means Roy Moore can ride Sassy horribly into the sunset. (1:47) -- Roy Moore's spokesman doesn't understand we're not a theocracy. (11:30) -- Kentucky pastor and State Rep. Dan Johnson killed himself after his lies were exposed by investigative journalists. (21:45) -- Why the Catholic Church covered up the death of Irene Garza. (30:35) -- Liberty Counsel's "Naughty and Nice" list is more sinister than you think. (34:05) -- What the heck just happened in Israel? (38:21) -- Donald Trump just ruined Christmas in Jesus' hometown. (41:49) -- The Johnson Amendment repeal won't be in the GOP's tax scam bill. (43:30) -- The Mormon Church was teaching a lot of lies about homosexuality in 1981. (49:33) -- Christianity was the big loser in Alabama's election. (58:10) -- How to tell your kids about Santa without lying to them. (1:04:24) -- Satanists want $35,000 from a Minnesota town for a monument they built but couldn't use. (1:07:44) -- The CDC is banning words like "science" and "evidence" from budget documents. (1:14:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The Supreme Court heard the case of an anti-gay Christian baker. (1:13) -- Roy Moore only has one issue on his platform: Abortion. Should Democrats have run an anti-abortion candidate? (10:40) -- Pat Robertson told a woman collecting unemployment checks that she needs to keep tithing if she wants to find a job. (27:50) -- Kim Davis will be challenged for her county clerk seat by a gay man whose marriage license she once denied. (29:43) -- The Pope may change the Lord's Prayer. (32:10) -- A GOP-appointed Florida commission may put church/state separation on the 2018 ballot. (35:04) -- Why would Mike Pence stick with Donald Trump? Because it's part of God's Plan for him. (40:48) -- Ravi Zacharias, whose falsified his credentials for years, blames you for his lies. (48:29) -- A former priest was finally convicted of a murder that happened 50 years ago. (56:44) -- Jessica unleashes an epic rant brought about by the question: Is hugging still okay? (58:09) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Donald Trump screwed up Christianity 101 at the White House Christmas Tree Lighting. (1:17) -- Will anything prevent evangelical Christians from voting for Roy Moore in next week's special election to the Senate? (7:36) -- In a tragic story, an atheist activist killed his wife, then himself, in a "suspected murder-suicide." (27:26) -- American Atheists' new billboard campaign says “Just Skip Church… It’s All Fake News!” (32:24) -- Does the Creation Museum's new exhibit make Creationists look dumb? Or did I speak too soon? (34:10) -- And what can we learn from Ark Encounter's attendance numbers? (39:15) -- Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias can't explain his biographical lies. (45:25) -- These Christian standardized exams are bad indicators of college performance. (58:13) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. (We had an echo during the recording. Sorry! We'll fix it next time.) -- A Scottish shop owner got pushback for keeping her store open on Sundays. (1:16) -- A New Zealand megachurch will lose its tax exempt status after failing to file tax returns. (7:26) -- Why are these UK water companies okay with workers who use divining rods? (12:33) -- This guy wants to launch himself in space to prove the world is flat. (16:30) -- The problems with atheist conventions. (23:35) -- Bob Marshall, the VA Republican who lost to transgender challenger Danica Roem, is furious that his letter to the editor was edited. (52:37) -- An Australian official won’t support marriage equality because of crocodile attacks. (56:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- How should we be reacting to the news that Sen. Al Franken once groped and kissed a model without her consent? (0:42) -- Roy Moore's defenders are not making him look good. (18:17) -- An Australian lawyer will help a Christian couple get divorced after marriage equality passes. (24:43) -- An assisted suicide bill was defeated in New South Wales, in part due to misinformation. (27:30) -- Will Donald Trump hurt the "pro-life" movement in the long term? (31:49) -- A conservative Ohio lawmaker resigned after getting caught having an affair in his office with another man. (37:44) -- Should Muslim Barbie wear a hijab? (42:00) -- Televangelist Jim Bakker says "They outlawed 'Merry Christmas' a few years ago." (44:45) -- Did this truck driver break any laws when she put a derogatory message about Trump on her back window? (48:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The Texas shooter was allegedly an atheist. Is it true? What would that even mean in this situation? (0:49) -- Roy Moore, the family values Christian and Senate candidate, allegedly molested a 14-year-old girl several decades ago. (14:41) -- Congressman Jared Huffman said he doesn't believe in God... and no one seemed to care. (31:50) -- Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses are making their presence known in Kingdom Hall meetings. Is that a good tactic? (40:31) -- Donald Trump supposedly wants to revoke the Church of Scientology's tax exemption. (52:24) -- Does your church have secrets? FaithLeaks wants to know. (1:01:25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Some critics are angry that Canada's Governor General Julie Payette mocked pseudoscience. (1:05) -- Pat Robertson tried comforting a grieving mother by trashing atheists. (13:00) -- The GOP's tax plan would let pastors endorse candidates from the pulpit without punishment. (18:58) -- A Christian pastor (wrongly) claimed there are no atheist relief groups. (27:06) -- A Christian activist offered a disturbing rewrite of a Disney show with a gay main character. (35:11) -- A Christian college is forcing freshmen to take a class in patriotism. (45:20) -- There's no single "atheist movement" and we have to acknowledge that. (51:59) -- Harvey Weinstein has a Bible verse on his hat. (1:13:54) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert and the Ten Commandments monument going up (again) in Arkansas. (0:30) -- Alberta Catholic schools want to teach an alternative sex ed curriculum. (13:25) -- The dad from Duck Dynasty is spreading the lie that crime soars in areas without God. (24:40) -- A new Satanic billboard says "Our religion doesn’t believe in hitting children." (32:10) -- No one in this TX school district understands the Establishment Clause. (36:40) -- The Catholic Church won't allow a gravestone marker calling out abusive priests. (43:36) -- Pastor Robert Jeffress says we've let atheists “seize control of this country.” (49:13) -- An Indiana county ended a life-saving needle exchange program because Jesus said so. (55:49) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- The new Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, is an ex-Mormon who describes herself as Agnostic. (1:41) -- There's a push for Christian churches to clarify where they stand on issues involving LGBTQ rights. (8:18) -- An ad campaign for the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter makes no sense at all. (19:40) -- Most Americans no longer believe you need God to be good. (28:00) -- Here's how a Religious Right group is misleading Congress about support for the Johnson Amendment repeal. (35:06) -- The Boy Scouts of America will let girls join! But open atheists are still banned. Don't worry. A Christian alternative still proudly bans everyone who isn't a straight, cisgender boy. (44:04) -- Young people are shedding their faith long before they go to college, contrary to the plot of movies like God's Not Dead. (56:35) -- Go watch this incredible (and short) documentary of an atheist who escaped the train to Auschwitz during World War II. (1:11:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

81% of evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump last year, despite his bragging about sexual assault, despite his multiple marriages, despite his wealth and complete lack of concern for the poor, despite his flip-flopping on matters of abortion and saying women who had them needed to be punished, despite the lies and racism and bigotry. It seems like they were going to vote for whoever the Republican candidate was no matter what. And that no matter what continues to play out today. Trump is a deeply unpopular president whose decisions and morals are constantly questioned. He may be nominating the Religious Right's Dream Team to judicial seats, including the Supreme Court, but beyond that, it's hard to see how he fits the mold of a "family values" conservative who inspires loves for Jesus. So how did he do it? How did he convince evangelicals to support him, not just in the election, but to this day? And will there be any consequences for evangelicals moving forward? Stephen Mansfield explores all those questions in his new book Choosing Donald Trump: God, Anger, Hope, and Why Christian Conservatives Supported Him. I spoke with him about whether Trump's presidency will hurt evangelical Christianity, if there's anything Trump can do to lose the Religious Right's support, and why Trump's pandering rhetoric is so powerful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Your thoughts and prayers after the shooting in Las Vegas aren't helping. (1:06) -- The folks at Fox and Friends think the shooter just “didn’t believe in God.” (14:31) -- The worst response to the shooting came from a Mormon who blamed the victims. (22:02) -- What should we make of the survivor who said he found God after surviving the massacre? (24:25) -- A woman says God protected her... after surviving an awful car accident. (32:53) -- The 14 Attorneys General who say a Giant Christian Cross in a Florida park is totally secular. (36:27) -- It's okay to question a judicial nominee's religious history. (43:31) -- Anti-abortion politician Rep. Tim Murphy is resigning after allegedly texting his mistress to tell her to abort their possible lovechild. (53:27) -- Flipping the bird in church is constitutionally protected speech! (56:47) -- Happy stories... about why Olive Garden is ruining Hemant. (1:02:22) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Conservative Matt Walsh criticized a male actor subbing in for a sick actress as promoting a transgender agenda. (1:39) -- Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona Democrat who is religiously unaffiliated, will run for Senate in 2018. (10:20) -- Christian theocrat Roy Moore is a step closer to becoming a senator. (21:34) -- Mark Wahlberg is telling kids to go to church. (35:46) -- Christians who are silent about Donald Trump don't get to criticize Hugh Hefner. (38:40) -- A Colorado student is suing her high school district for promoting religion, over and over and over. (42:19) -- Women will soon be able to drive in Saudi Arabia... but not before religious leaders say dumb things about it. (53:08) -- A Florida pastor bragged about destroying a Satanic monument due to go up this winter. (1:04:49) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a bonus episode of the podcast, I spoke with Camille Beredjick about her new book Queer Disbelief (which I helped edit). We spoke about why atheists should be on the front lines of LGBTQ activism, what aspect of the book was most difficult to write, and how she celebrated the completion of her first book. Please support the project at Kickstarter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- Hemant and fellow writer Camille Beredjick have been working on a new book about the intersection of LGBTQ rights and atheism. (0:09) -- BYU is finally selling caffeinated soda on campus. This is the most exciting thing EVER, said Mormons... and nobody else. (7:12) -- Journalist Sally Quinn trashed atheists (again) while talking about her new book on spirituality. (13:52) -- Five football players at evangelical Wheaton College face felony charges after allegedly raping another students. (25:44) -- A peewee football team learning how and why to kneel during the National Anthem. (45:17) -- The world is ending on September 23, according to one "Christian numerologist." (49:01) -- Got money to waste? You can buy Bigfoot Juice or Psychic Vampire Repellent. (52:55) -- Doctors and a judge intervened to save the life of a young Jehovah's Witness. (58:59) -- Two Christian Right activists think homosexuality is unnatural since kids find it icky. (1:06:28) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. -- An Australian minister refused to perform a straight wedding because the couple supported marriage equality. (0:58) -- Evangelical Christians suddenly don't care about a president's private morality. I wonder what changed their minds... (8:13) -- It's harder for some men to get vasectomies because of Catholic hospitals. (24:37) -- Josh Duggar’s sisters say they’d be traumatized if they had to sit next to him in court even though they're on the same side of a privacy lawsuit. (30:15) -- This is how conservatives think school prayer works. (37:04) -- Sen. Ted Cruz loves the ladies on Twitter. Spoiler: This segment involves bad dad jokes. (39:43) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. -- Here's how atheists are helping people in Houston after Hurricane Harvey. (0:38) -- An Illinois library board member was voted out of his seat after his anti-gay comments. (7:55) -- Should atheist groups speak out against Donald Trump’s DACA decision? (13:06) -- Alt-Right leader Steve Bannon says Catholic bishops support DACA only because they need people to fill the pews. The bishops disagree. (23:12) -- Ark Encounter just got its first rebate check, courtesy of Kentucky taxpayers. (26:52) -- Creationist Ken Ham doesn't know what a light-year is. (31:30) -- A survey found that atheists are less open-minded than religious people. (33:33) -- The new Lord Mayor of Belfast skipped a formal prayer and everyone lost their mind. (37:03) -- The pastor who had to resign from his church after speaking out against racism and white supremacy. (41:30) -- The head of Focus on the Family thinks only Christians can teach kids character. (44:50) -- The Australian postal plebiscite and the woman raised by lesbian parents who claims to be forever scarred because of it. (48:45) -- An Illinois megachurch pastor's awful sex sermon. (1:00:09) -- Texas churches are suing FEMA to get taxpayer-funded rebuilding grants. (1:09:50) -- Take care of your mental health, everyone. (1:16:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. -- Why Pastor Joel Osteen didn't open his Houston megachurch for people needing shelter during Hurricane Harvey until after he was publicly shamed over it. (0:37) -- The Nashville Statement, an anti-LGBTQ manifesto written by conservative Christians. (The statement is at 17:28; analysis is at 31:32) -- A new survey that shows many Protestants and Catholics don't understand the basic principles of their faith. (43:21) -- A Matt Walsh tweet that was delightfully mocked by everybody. (56:18) -- People calling it a "miracle" when they see a cross or Virgin Mary statue left standing in the midst of hurricane destruction. (1:01:28) -- Ark Encounter finally (and inadvertently) shared some attendance figures. (1:05:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amber Cantorna was a home-schooled child raised in a conservative Christian family. But her father wasn't merely a believer. He's spent 30 years as an executive at Focus on the Family, the ministry founded by James Dobson and known as one of the most anti-LGBTQ groups out there. All of that became a problem when Amber came out as gay, a pivotal moment in her life which she writes about in her forthcoming memoir Refocusing My Family. We spoke about how her relationship with her family changed after coming out, why she still believes in God, and why taking off her purity ring marked a new beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and her brother Kevin sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. (Hemant was out once again dealing with a newborn.) - Kentuckians for Coal are boycotting the eclipse. - A Melbourne archbishop says he'd rather go to jail than report child abuse told to him during confessional. - Donald Trump's lawyer comparing George Washington to Robert E. Lee. - A New Zealand pastor advocates killing gay couples. - Comedian Tim Allen doesn't understand evolution. - There's a Chick-fil-A, which is closed on Sundays, in the Atlanta Falcons' new football stadium. - The Juggalos are coming to D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and Anne Bouleanu sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. (Hemant was away this weekend.) -- Are serial killers more likely to be atheists? -- An evangelical advisor says Donald Trump has God's authority to take out Kim Jong-un. -- A waitress was stiffed on her tip because of her rainbow equality tattoo. -- Christians are more than twice as likely to blame a person's poverty on lack of effort. -- A lawsuit alleges that a private Christian school told a rape victim to "turn the other cheek." -- Confessions of a former "it" church pastor. -- A school board president speaks out against California Healthy Youth act, which teaches kids about sexual orientation and identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. -- BYU-Idaho asked a student why she dropped out... so she told them the truth. (0:42) -- The Mayor of Knoxville (TN) finally admitted a Bible sign hanging in the police department was illegal. (5:30) -- The White House Bible Study is bad enough, but the instructor is worse. (13:42) -- Donald Trump's Religious Right lawyer can't stop lying for him. (17:56) -- An NFL player thinks dinosaurs aren't real and fossils are fake. (23:23) -- The Activist Mommy has a lot of advice on how to beat your children properly. (26:33) -- Bastyr University, a naturopathic school, says a former student is defaming them online. She says she's just sharing what she learned there. (37:24) -- Atheists are asking the Supreme Court to rule on prayers at school board meetings. (52:11) -- Rod Dreher is frustrated by Christians who support Trump, but he’s part of the problem. (59:50) -- Ark Encounter has a new silly excuse for why attendance is low. (1:06:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. -- Donald Trump said "We Worship God." All of us. (02:21) -- Trump's ban on transgender troops. (06:21) -- The Colorado atheist who gave his invocation slot to a Satanist. (12:04) -- Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback will become a “Religious Freedom” ambassador... for some reason. (17:45) -- The Boy Scouts' pathetic apology for Trump's speech. (26:51) -- Ark Encounter will finally pay the Williamstown safety fee. (36:34) -- The anti-abortion crowd's interest in reverse abortions. (40:04) -- Don't get suckered in by a Catholic church's seemingly pro-LGBT comments. (47:00) -- England's NHS will ban prescriptions for homeopathic remedies. (54:34) -- A Pakistani village's "reverse" rape. (103:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. -- Ark Encounter lost a tax rebate worth up to $18 million to avoid a 50-cent-per-ticket safety fee. -- Creationists are mocking Flat Earthers for taking the Bible too literally. Really. -- The "inspirational" Mormon story that is anything but uplifting. -- The MN town that shut down a "free speech zone" to prevent Satanists from using it. -- How Wisconsin is considering a bill that would make it harder to train OB/GYNs. -- The BYU-Idaho professor who lost her job for supporting LGBT equality. -- The Boy Scouts may allow girls before they allow atheist boys. -- The African-American pastor who renounced his ordination with the Southern Baptist Convention. -- The Muslim Democrat running for Senate who received a surprising message from her Republican opponent. -- Richard Dawkins getting de-platformed by a radio station in Berkeley, CA. -- Doctor Who isn't a man. And other things Hemant doesn't understand. (1:26:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: -- The "Activist Mommy" who can't handle an article in Teen Vogue. -- An Appeals Court decision saying Christian prayers led by elected officials is unconstitutional. -- Eugene Peterson, the Bible scholar who inched toward support of marriage equality, then ran back to the other side. -- Pat Robertson's useless interview with Donald Trump. -- The "gay Muslim" marriage that's more heartbreaking than inspiring. -- Why Republicans dislike higher education. -- The worst possible explanation for why God allows suffering. -- The growth of the Flat Earth movement. -- How Jesus apparently needs gluten to transubstantiate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: -- Hobby Lobby's owners smuggling black market Iraqi artifacts that may have helped ISIS. -- The Pakistani pizza shop owner who made sure his robot waitress wasn't offending customers. -- The Muslim woman who thinks ex-Muslims are just trying to cash in on apostasy. -- The sad rise of female genital mutilation cases in England. -- How some Hindus believe the Ganges River can't be polluted because it's divine. -- Ken Ham is still blaming others for the economic failures of Ark Encounter. -- The demise of Utah's irrational "Zion Curtains" law. -- An excellent episode of the Sawbones podcast dealing with vaccines. -- Amelia Earhart's apparent resurrection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: -- Cardinal George Pell just became the highest-ranking Vatican official charged with sex abuse. -- Sarah Huckabee Sanders' irrational godly defense of Donald Trump's misogyny. -- The Christian who vandalized the new Ten Commandments monument outside the Arkansas Capitol building. -- Judge Sonia Sotomayor's eloquent dissent in the Trinity Lutheran case. -- How the Christian harassing an atheist lawyer defended himself by saying he's "man enough" to stand behind his hateful words. -- Whether hooking up really happens less often on Catholic campuses and what that really means. -- How the people buying products from Infowars and Goop are all irrational. -- The House Republicans' plan to use a budget bill to repeal the Johnson Amendment. -- How Canadians would rather see an atheist Prime Minister than an Evangelical one. -- There are no longer any openly atheist elected officials in the Republican Party. -- Upcoming talks, including one outside Ark Encounter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: -- The Christian terrorist threatening atheists over a statue in Tennessee. -- The Christians harassing the atheist attorney who won a lawsuit in Florida. -- GuideStar's decision to highlight "hate" groups using the Southern Poverty Law Center's database. -- The woman who won a lawsuit against an Israeli airline because she didn't want to switch seats for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. -- How the Catholic Church is forcing more people to suffer in Canadian hospitals. -- Why “Breatharians” aren't real. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: -- The rise of the Religious Left. -- Ken Ham is now blaming atheists for the failures of Ark Encounter and the local economy. -- Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader in the UK who resigned saying he couldn't reconcile his Party's platform with his evangelical faith. -- The Virginia church that wants you to pray for the resurrection of a man who died earlier this week. -- The pantyliner invented by a man who clearly doesn't understand female anatomy. -- Walgreen's absurd policy regarding pharmacists who don't want to do their jobs. -- Joshua Feuerstein's crusade against McDonald's rainbow-colored fry boxes. -- Can God love you if you're a woman with short hair? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. But because the audio crashed after we recorded (oh, computers...), I recorded this brief episode to bring up two important events from the week. They included: -- Sen. Bernie Sanders' misguided questioning of an evangelical nominee to a major government position. -- A New York high school that accommodated Muslim students who wanted to pray during Ramadan. Did administrators go too far or were they making the right decision? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: -- Donald Trump's irresponsible decision to back out of the Paris climate agreement, and the conservatives who don't care because of Jesus. -- Trump's decision to allow religious employers, then all employers, to block birth control coverage for their employees. -- The evangelical women who use Planned Parenthood. -- The Keepers on Netflix. Watch it. -- Australian tennis star Margaret Court's anti-gay Christian bigotry, and whether the Margaret Court Arena should change its name. -- How Brio, a magazine for Christian girls, wants them to cover up so they don't tempt boys. -- The all-women screening of Wonder Woman and the people who get all worked up about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've followed the articles, movies, and TV shows about the Church of Scientology recently, you're probably familiar with the name David Miscavige, the man who runs the Church. His father is Ron Miscavige, and he joined the church in 1970. David was 10 at the time. It wasn't until 2012 that Ron escaped. Since then, he's worked hard to undo some of the damage caused by the Church, including their policy of basically shunning those outside of it. His book, now out in paperback, is called Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me. I spoke with Ron about whether his son knows that the Church's beliefs aren't real, why Scientology is so appealing to some people, and how he managed to break out of the bubble. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: -- The high school student punished by her Christian school for not having an abortion. -- How Ark Encounter has been bad for the local economy in Kentucky. -- The Manchester mayor calling the suicide bomber a terrorist who isn't a Muslim. -- Greg Gianforte, the violent Creationist who will represent Montana in the U.S. House. -- How Joel Osteen unintentionally summoned the Devil in the minds of his fans. -- Betsy DeVos' inability to say no to discrimination when it comes to taxpayer dollars funding schools. -- How Jesus isn't going to fix the offshore tax haven loopholes in the law. -- The Arizona Democratic Party's brand new Secular Caucus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maggie Rowe grew up as an evangelical Christian in the suburbs of Chicago. And for reasons we'll get into, when she was 19, she landed in a Christian mental health center where she spent three months. While parts of that experience were disturbing, some of it actually helped her eventually walk away from Christianity. She's now a comedy writer who has worked on the show Arrested Development and currently works on Netflix's Flaked. Her book is called Sin Bravely: A Memoir of Spiritual Disobedience. I spoke with her about the "spiritual terrorism" of teaching kids about Hell, what someone with a Christian upbringing notices in a comedy writers' room, and how long it took to finally overcome her faith-based guilt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: - The resignation of the atheist State Rep. from New Hampshire who created Reddit’s "Red Pill" forum. - The Virginia atheist who painted an "offensive" Bible verse on his truck. - Why you should be skeptical anytime you hear about an African pastor who drowns while trying to walk on water. - The Christian mother who treated her gay son as if he were dead. - How a video of a baby crying out for Jesus isn't "adorable." - The juror who was dismissed from a corruption trial after saying God told her the suspect wasn't guilty. -- Why a photo doesn't show that God was taking accident victims to Heaven. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: - Comedian Stephen Fry's blasphemy ordeal and what it says about blasphemy laws. - The Missouri Republican who thinks there's a difference between being gay and just being human. - Whether circumcision should be banned? - If banning a method for animal slaughter is religious discrimination. - The absurd lawsuit claiming discrimination against a Creationist "researcher." - What religious people would like to learn from atheists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: - What was the point of the Johnson Amendment executive order? (And why did Trump lie about the military ban on Bibles?) - What was Trump's reaction after the Access Hollywood tape? - Why did Franklin Graham blame Kate Middleton for an invasion of her privacy? - Is it okay to say an emotional congresswoman is in "hysterics"? - Why aren't Millennials religious? - Do the Girl Scouts support abortions? - Should a Christian school force faculty members to oppose gay marriage? - Why did Alabama's governor sign legislation allowing religious adoption agencies to discriminate against gay couples? And an update on the Athena Salman invocation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religious and politics. They included: - The atheist politician who created a "men's rights" subreddit - Is the star of The Handmaid's Tale avoiding the word "feminist" because she's a Scientologist? - Did a Christian homeless shelter actually make a wise strategic decision when it rejected money from a gay chorus to appease other donors? - If a Christian university imposes severe restrictions on the type of material students are exposed to, what are they actually learning? - Why would a woman want to be harassed by someone like Bill O'Reilly? - Why would the mayor of San Antonio say godlessness was the root cause of generational poverty? - Why was the IRS visiting Benny Hinn's ministries? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Why did Arizona Republicans oppose an atheist invocation delivered by State Rep. Athena Salman? - Is it ethical to tell a dying man that Donald Trump was impeached? - Would you vote for a Democrat who once ran a psychic network? - When your child narrowly averts tragedy, is it reasonable for religious parents to thank God? - Is Christianity a religion or something else? We discuss all these stories and more in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

- Should you protest a Chick-fil-A on campus? - What effect will Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch have on a major church/state separation case? - Should a church be allowed to have a police force? - Why isn’t the media talking about how the San Bernardino shooter was an outspoken Christian? - What do you have to believe in to be a True Christian? - Why do we still have blue laws? - Do atheists need to have more babies? - Is the Bible Bee like the Spelling Bee? - How will Republicans sneak the Johnson Amendment repeal through? - Can reality TV shows like Survivor and The Bachelor offer a benefit to society? We discuss all these stories and more in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Gerbic is a photographer and skeptical activist from California. She contributes to the Skepticality podcast and Skeptical Inquirer magazine. In addition to co-founding the Monterey County Skeptics, she leads a group called Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia. We've spoken before about her group, but we spoke this time about how to spread our ideas beyond our bubble, how to support other atheist activists, and why updating Wikipedia is so vital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does Vice President Mike Pence have to eat alone? Why can't ultra-Orthodox Jews handle looking at a picture of Smurfette? Who fears death more: Atheists or the devoutly religious? We discuss all these stories and more in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne Bouleanu is a freelance journalist from Chicago. She has worked in digital media and television covering a range of topics including U.S. politics, women's rights, conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, political tensions in South America, and police brutality and race relations in the United States. She covered the primaries during the 2016 U.S. presidential race, focusing on policy issues and increasing divisions among the American electorate. During her time at Al Jazeera America, Anne produced breaking news segments as well as packages on underreported global issues. Prior to this, Anne worked at Bloomberg TV focusing on global and domestic financial news. Jessica spoke with Anne about her experience in South America over the summer, their experiences as women in a largely male workplace, and what the media will look like under Donald Trump. (Full disclosure: They've been friends and coworkers for years... in case that's not abundantly clear!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bart Campolo is the Humanist Chaplain at the Univ. of Southern California, the host of a fantastic podcast called "Humanize Me," and the author of a new book written with his evangelical father Tony Campolo called Why I Left, Why I Stayed. Bart, if you haven't figured it out already, is the one who left Christianity. The book is all about that conflict, and their love for each other, and how they can both advocate for beliefs that are in direct competition with each other without losing their own bond. I spoke with Bart about how his parents were devastated by his apparent apostasy, what atheists don't get about Christians, and why hot dogs aren't the key to a happier life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Louis Theroux's new film, My Scientology Movie, the Church of Scientology doesn't give him access to the key leaders or buildings themselves... That sounds like quite the obstacle for a documentarian, so Theroux does the next best thing: He hires actors to recreate well-documented scenes in Scientology's history. All the while, the actual Church seems to be keeping tabs on him. Theroux has worked with Michael Moore, and his projects have often focused on interesting subcultures -- everything from the KKK to Westboro Baptist Church. I spoke with him about Scientology's version of "turn the other cheek," the harassment that one key defector of the Church still has to put up with, and what one thing could hurt the Church the most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Hatch is the winner of the first season of Survivor, where he basically created the whole concept of an alliance. He also competed on the 8th season of the show (Survivor: All-Stars) in 2004. In 2011, he was on Celebrity Apprentice, and last year, he appeared on The Biggest Loser: Temptation Nation. Along the way, he spent time in jail over unpaid taxes, though he maintains his innocence in the matter. We spoke about whether he'll be returning to the show he helped popularize, his journey out of religion, and whether there's anything redeeming about Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica and I sat down to talk about some of the biggest stories from the week involving religious and politics. They included: - A Danish man charged with blasphemy. - Death threats to a mother who fought to take down a Ten Commandments monument outside her daughter's public school. - The Broken Windows Theory of Church/State Separation - How Christians still feel persecuted despite having all the power. - The Pope's backhanded compliment to atheists - What happens when a fake psychic pretends to be a real psychic (who's not really psychic). - Communion: Is it really haunted bread? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex J. O'Connor is a YouTuber who makes videos on the Cosmic Skeptic channel. He also runs a blog of the same name. I've really enjoyed his work in the few months since he began posting content and this was my first opportunity to talk to him. We spoke about advice he would offer aspiring YouTubers, why anyone interested in becoming the next Richard Dawkins should start now, and whether there's a difference between atheists who were influenced by the New Atheism books versus those influenced by YouTube (and if one is better than the other). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Daniel Dennett is a philosopher, professor at Tufts University, and author of several books including Breaking the Spell and Darwin's Dangerous Idea. His research also led to the formation of The Clergy Project, an online forum for closeted religious leaders who no longer believe in God. His latest book is called From Bacteria to Bach and Back, and it's all about how our minds evolved. I spoke with him about why our minds are like a loaded iPhone, what we would do if the internet broke, and his new art exhibit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Moline is President of Interfaith Alliance. In his long career, he's become a powerful voice fighting for religious freedom for all Americans, regardless of their faith or belief system. As a rabbi, he has worked to create common ground between people of diverse religious and secular backgrounds. He's advocated for a number of issues, including services for this disabled, affordable housing, marriage equality, pay equity and civil rights. Rabbi Moline has authored two books and offered commentary on a number of news programs. I spoke with him about whether Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch could be a surprise on church/state issues, why Trump's proposed repeal of the Johnson Amendment would be a disaster in more ways than you might think, and what role atheists play in the interfaith movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest podcast, Jessica and I discussed the first week of the Donald Trump presidency. We spoke about the Women's March (and whether they were right to push aside anti-abortion groups), whether religious pandering still matters in politics, and what Trump did in his first week in office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maggie Garrett is the Legislative Director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. She leads the National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE), which opposes school voucher legislation, and is the chair of the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination (CARD), the national coalition fighting to repeal the Bush Faith-Based Initiative. On the day of Donald Trump's inauguration, we spoke about the church/state issues affecting his Cabinet nominees, what a future Supreme Court might look like, and whether a right-wing government is good for groups like Americans United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Hensler is the founder of Grief Beyond Belief, a Facebook group devoted to faith-free grief support for those who have just lost a loved one. We spoke about how honesty about death can be comforting for atheists, what she would say to religious people who want to help atheists grieve but say the wrong things, and her go-to resources for secular people coping with loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Galen Broaddus is a writer, web developer, and occasional secular activist currently living in the flatlands of central Illinois. He just won a lawsuit that will allow Secular Celebrants to solemnize weddings in the state. I spoke with Galen about why this lawsuit was necessary, what services he provides families as a Celebrant, and why some atheists wish he never took on this battle at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We (Hemant and Jessica) sat down to answer several of the questions atheists told us they had trouble answering. They included: Should you be vocal about your atheism in the South? Is it okay to have your child baptized to please your parents? And could you ever date someone who was religious? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This past week saw the launch of a website called MormonLeaks (formerly Mormon Wikileaks), a "safe, secure, and anonymous way to submit documents, videos, or any other information regarding the Church." The site was created by Ryan McKnight, a former Mormon. I spoke with Ryan about why he left the Mormon Church, why he hopes to achieve by exposing the Church's secrets, and what the ultimate secret would be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monica Long Ross and Amy Ellison are two of the producers at 137 Films, a non-profit production company based in Chicago that promotes science through storytelling. (The other producer, Clayton Brown, couldn't join us for the interview.) In 2008, they released the film The Atom Smashers, all about physicists at Fermilab working to find the Higgs boson. In 2013, they put out The Believers, all about the two scientists who wrongly claimed to have discovered "cold fusion" in 1989. Their next project, currently in post-production, is called We Believe in Dinosaurs, all about Noah's Ark, Creationism, and America's troubled relationship with science. I spoke with them about Ken Ham's reaction to their project, whether Ark Encounter has led to an economic boom in the community it's in, and why the word "Believe" is in the title of the film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We (Hemant and Jessica) sat down to discuss all the big stories from 2016. By which we mean whatever stories we could cram into two hours. Those topics included atheism, our future traveling roadshow, and Donald Trump. Fair warning: There was a box of wine between us during the taping of this podcast. See if you can guess when the Merlot kicks in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Mancini is an ER nurse from Pennsylvania. In 2013, she was arrested and prosecuted on charges of trying to help her terminally ill 93-year-old father take his own life. She is now an advocate for medical aid in dying. We spoke with Barbara about her heartbreaking personal story, the connection between assisted suicide and abortion rights, and her correspondence with Brittany Maynard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ali A. Rizvi is a Pakistani-Canadian writer, physician, and musician who resides in Toronto. He’s the author of a new book called The Atheist Muslim: A Journey from Religion to Reason. Ali lived in Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, as part of a progressive Muslim family, before he moved permanently to Canada in his twenties. He is a trained physician and a vocal advocate for secularism, science, and reform, particularly in the Muslim community. We spoke about whether someone can be culturally Muslim, whether there's something uniquely problematic with the doctrine of Islam, and what people like Reza Aslan get wrong about the faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Steven Tomlins is a researcher and graduate of the University of Ottawa who has just co-edited a new academic book called The Atheist Bus Campaign: Global Manifestations and Responses. It looks at the various atheist advertising campaigns -- billboards, bus ads, and the like -- all over the world. We spoke about how this idea went viral, which kinds of ads are more successful, and whether the media coverage matters more than the messages themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Levin is the Senior Legislative Representative for the Secular Coalition for America, a lobbying group in Washington, D.C. representing non-religious people on Capitol Hill. She graduated from American University with a degree in International Studies, focusing on the Middle East and Israeli domestic politics. Following Tuesday's elections, we spoke about what church/state separation advocates should be worried about over the next few years, the positive developments (and there were some!) from Election Day, and what atheists need to do to become more of a political force in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendon Marotta is an award-winning filmmaker based out of Austin, Texas. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Film School, to work as a professional film editor. His first feature-length documentary as director is called American Circumcision. (You'll never guess what it's about.) We spoke about why male circumcision is problematic, the dubious health benefits of getting circumcized, and whether there's any chance of passing laws to prevent the procedure (at least without consent of the patient). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever seen VeggieTales, you’re familiar with Phil Vischer. He’s the animator, puppeteer, writer, voice actor, and songwriter who co-created that series. His production company soon grew to over 200 workers by the year 2000 before a lawsuit sent the company into bankruptcy and forced Phil to basically start over again. He now runs Jellyfish Labs, where he produces faith-based content. He also hosts the Phil Vischer Podcast which is a very entertaining show all about Christianity in a post-Christian America. We spoke with Phil about why Christian media is so cringeworthy, how he tells Bible stories that may offend parts of his audience, and what the hell is happening with evangelicals in the upcoming election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Fevin has fought against mandatory prayers in Alberta (Canada) secular schools. He sits on the Board of the Society of Edmonton Atheists and founded the advocacy group Albertan's for Equality Education. I spoke with Luke about some of the major church/state issues taking place in Canada, including within the public schools, local governments, and Catholic hospitals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vyckie Garrison was once a prominent member of the "Quiverfull" community, a rapidly growing Christian fundamentalist movement that bans birth control and encourages huge, "Biblical families" (much like the Duggars of TLCs 19 Kids and Counting fame). Garrison edited and published a Christian "pro-life, pro-family" newspaper for 16+ years in northeast Nebraska while home-churching, home birthing, and home schooling seven children. She made waves when she left the Quiverfull movement, divorced her husband, and began speaking out against the lifestyle. She recently received American Atheists' Atheist of the Year award and runs the blog "No Longer Quivering" to provide support to women and children who are escaping abusive religious movements and to provide the public with accurate and compassionate information on the unique challenges faced by the spiritually abused. We spoke about what her Quiverfull lifestyle entailed, how she escaped it, and what advice she would give to other women in her position. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Janet Heimlich is the founder of the Child-Friendly Faith Project, and author of Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment, both of which examine child abuse and neglect that is enabled by religious belief in the United States. Janet is also a reporter who has worked for NPR and written for a variety of publications. (Full disclosure, I'm on the advisory board for the Child-Friendly Faith Project.) I spoke with her about the way children suffer at the hands of religion, whether teaching kids about Hell constitutes abuse, and what atheists can do to help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Leigh Eric Schmidt is the Edward C. Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor in the Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis. He joined the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics in 2011. He previously taught at Harvard and Princeton. He has appeared in and on all kinds of media to talk about his work and he’s the author of several books. His latest is Village Atheists: How America's Unbelievers Made Their Way in a Godly Nation. We spoke with Leigh about whether we were ever a "Christian nation," why the "New Atheists" really aren't new at all, what we can learn from a cartoonist who lived a century ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In another life, Frank Schaeffer would probably be an evangelical leader and someone with a powerful position in conservative politics. His father was the influential Christian theologian Francis Schaeffer and Frank himself, along with his father, helped create the modern Religious Right. Frank is the author of "Crazy for God: How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back" and, more recently, "Why I am an Atheist Who Believes in God." We spoke about his role in creating the Religious Right, why evangelicals are flocking to Donald Trump when he shares almost none of their values, and what he would say to anyone who might vote for Gary Johnson or Jill Stein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Karen Garst is the former executive director of the Oregon Community College Association and Oregon State Bar. She writes at the website Faithless Feminist, and she’s the editor of a new book called Women Beyond Belief: Discovering Life Without Religion. We spoke about how women are uniquely affected in a negative way by religion, what's stopping more women from leaving their faith, and why we don't see more women celebrated as atheists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Britt Marie Hermes is a former naturopathic doctor who now speaks out about the pseudoscientific ideology. Hermes is currently obtaining her Master of Science degree at the University of Kiel. Since her departure from her previous career, she has been working to understand her former biases within naturopathic medicine. She hopes her stories will protect patients from the false beliefs and bogus treatments sold by alternative medicine practitioners. We spoke about how she went from studying naturopathic medicine to fighting against it, what caused her to change her mind, and what she would say to patients who reject western medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evan Clark is the founder and creative director of Spectrum Experience, the nation's first private Humanist consulting firm that has also been behind the campaigns of several atheists running for local, state, and federal office. His candidates just had a wildly successful primary day in Arizona this past week. Evan is also chair of the Secular Student Alliance and co-host of the Humanist Experience podcast. We spoke about how he began Spectrum Experience, the most strategic ways for atheists to run for office, and why coming out as non-religious matters in politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Levin is the director of FreeBYU, a group whose mission is to "promote freedom of thought and freedom of religion at Brigham Young University." We spoke about how BYU punishes students who become ex-Mormons, why BYU's law school nearly lost its accreditation, and the progress his group has made in changing the Honor Code at the school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob McWilliams is the founder of South East Texas Atheists Helping the Homeless. (The name is fairly self-explanatory.) We spoke with him about how his group is different from churches, how listeners can help his cause, and the most amazing love story ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ray Comfort is the founder and CEO of Living Waters. He's written dozens of books, co-hosted "The Way of the Master" with Kirk Cameron, and produced several movies including Audacity and Evolution vs. God. He recently released Fat Chance (subtitle: Why Pigs Will Fly Before America has an Atheist President) and the movie The Atheist Delusion. Rather than have a debate about God's existence, Ray and I spoke about whether Christians must accept a literal interpretation of Genesis, what he thinks will happen if atheists are elected to political office, and what might change his mind about Christianity. Also: Crocoducks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emma Green is a senior associate editor at The Atlantic, where she covers politics, policy, and religion. We spoke with her about how Democrats appeared to be the Party of God during their recent convention, what stood out while reporting and editing The Atlantic's recent series on young people choosing their religions, and what she would report on with unlimited time and an unlimited budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tracey Moody, a frequent contributor to FriendlyAtheist.com and co-moderator of the Friendly Atheist Facebook page, went to Ark Encounter (the Noah's Ark theme park) in Kentucky on opening day to find out what a $100 million attraction looks like. We spoke about the atheist protest outside the Ark, the exhibits inside of it (including one about how they removed all the excrement), and whether it's worth visiting just for the sake of curiosity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leighann Lord is a comedian and co-host of the StarTalk podcast with Neil deGrasse Tyson. She has performed stand-up on Comedy Central and HBO, has won several awards for her work, and written books including Dict Jokes and Real Women Do It Standing Up. At the recent American Humanist Association conference in Chicago, I spoke with her about how she went from a corporate job to a comedy stage, why performing at colleges has become tougher for comedians, and why unique outreach to African American atheists is worthwhile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Diskin is the President of Camp Quest West. Camp Quest is a summer camp for children that embraces science, natural wonder, and humanist values. David has worked with the group since 2010. He has been a long-time activist in California, co-founding the Stockton Area Atheists and Freethinkers and Sunday Assembly Sacramento. He also serves on the boards of California Freethought Day, the Secular Coalition for California, and the national Reason Rally Coalition. At the recent American Humanist Association conference in Chicago, we spoke with David about whether children of religious parents ever attend the camp, how the camp's curriculum has changed over the years, and what he hopes Camp Quest achieves in the next few years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John de Lancie is an actor best known for his portrayal of Q on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. He's also appeared on Breaking Bad and The West Wing. In September, he filmed a video for the Openly Secular campaign. So what happens when two people who have never watched Star Trek get a chance to interview him on extremely short notice? We talk about the current golden age of television, what defines a great actor, and whether we need to use labels like "Humanist" at all. We spoke at the recent American Humanist Association conference in Chicago, where he was receiving the Humanist Arts Award. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Elizabeth Loftus is a cognitive psychologist who specializes in the malleability of human memory. She has done groundbreaking research into why our memories are not always reliable and how we might create false memories that we fully accept as real. Since earning her Ph.D. in Psychology from Stanford University, Dr. Loftus has published 23 books, more than 500 scientific articles, and is currently a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Irvine. At the recent American Humanist Association conference in Chicago, where she was receiving the Isaac Asimov Award, we spoke with her about how faulty memories can form in our minds, whether research into this subject is ethical, and if "believing the victim" is always the way to go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jerry Coyne is a now-retired Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago. He has written over 115 refereed scientific papers; 130 additional articles, book reviews, and columns; and a scholarly book about his field (Speciation, co-authored with H. Allen Orr). He may be most familiar to listeners for his books Why Evolution is True (which spawned his blog of the same name) and Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible. At the recent American Humanist Association conference in Chicago, we spoke with Dr. Coyne about why science and religion are incompatible, the problems with the "Regressive Left" on college campuses, and what he discusses with his atheist/scientist friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katherine Ozment is the author of "Grace Without God: The Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging in a Secular Age." She has worked for National Geographic and Boston magazine and been published in the New York Times. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three children. For years now, she has been exploring how the ever-growing segment of non-religious parents raise their children. They're not all atheists, but they have to grapple with the Big Questions about life and death and belonging, all without supernatural faith. She wrote a magazine article about it a few years ago, and she has now written a full-length examination into the topic. I spoke with her about what secular "grace" looks like, why atheists may want rituals traditionally reserved for the religious, and how the landscape for atheist parents is rapidly changing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Sweeney may be best known for her years on Saturday Night Live, where she famously played the androgynous character Pat. But she has since written multiple one-woman shows and books which speak to her experiences as a cancer survivor (God Said, Ha!), atheist (Letting Go of God), and mother (If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother). Speaking of which, if you haven't heard Letting Go of God yet, stop what you're doing and go listen to it. It's an incredible, funny story of how Julia shed her Catholicism. (A condensed version of the show was featured on a 2005 episode of This American Life.) At the recent American Humanist Association conference in Chicago, we spoke with Julia and her daughter Mulan about how the character Pat would go over today, the movie Mulan finally watched for the very first time, and what Julia thinks about the new all-female Ghostbusters reboot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Elizabeth Drescher is a professor of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University and the author, most recently, of Choosing Our Religion: The Spiritual Lives of America’s Nones. We spoke with her about what atheist "spirituality" really means, the problem with the language we use to talk about faith, and how religion is no longer being passed down generation after generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the American Humanist Association conference in Chicago recently, we had a chance to speak with a number of incredible people and we'll be posting those interviews over the next few weeks. Today, we're posting our conversation with Margaret Downey, a life-long atheist activist and a member of the Reason Rally Coalition Board of Directors. She is also founder and President of the Freethought Society and a former President of Atheist Alliance International. We spoke with her about what to expect at this weekend's Rally, how she plans to gauge its success, and what she wants people to take away from the event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chrystine Trooien is an eco-conscious, secular, vegan mother based out of Hawaii. About a year ago, she launched a Kickstarter campaign for a book called Christian Mythology for Kids. It’s essentially a book that explains the stories of the Bible as just that: Stories. They don’t disparage religion, and they don’t pretend any of it is real, either. They read just like Greek mythology -- with beautiful illustrations by artist Christopher Zakrzewski to boot. It’s a wonderful way to introduce your children to these characters without indoctrinating them in the faith. We spoke with Chrystine about why it's important to teach kids these stories objectively, how she handled stories with no redeeming message, and whether she'll continue the series with other religions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Wynne LeGrow spent two years as a physician in the Army, where he was promoted to major, and then nearly three decades in private practice. For most of his career, he practiced internal medicine. In 2010, after he retired, he decided to run for Congress from Virginia’s 4th District, which was represented then (and now) by Republican Randy Forbes. Forbes is so conservative, he founded the Congressional Prayer Caucus. LeGrow, on the other hand, ran as an open atheist. He lost the race, but wrote about the experience in his new book Last Leper in the Colony: An Atheist Runs for Congress in the Bible Belt. We spoke to him about what it was like being an atheist in the 1960s/1970s, the surprising politician who inspired him to run for office, and the advice he would give atheists running for office in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Smalley, host of the show Dogma Debate, was in my area a few days ago and took some time to chat with me about his new series of children’s books, the most effective ways to talk with people who disagree with us, and all things politics (Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and atheist candidates for office). Smalley is a former Christian musician who became an atheist after studying psychology, sociology, world religions, and his own faith. He soon turned into a secular activist. He was the editor-in-chief of Secular World and American Atheist magazines, the author of Baptized Atheist, and now runs the Secular Media Group. His company will soon release a children's book titled Tiny Thinkers: Charlie and the Tortoise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Carlin is the author of A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up with George, an autobiography and one-woman show that talks about growing up with her famous father, comedian George Carlin. She’s also host of the podcast Waking from the American Dream and a speaker at the upcoming Reason Rally. We spoke with Kelly about what her father was like off the stage, how being the daughter of a world famous comedian can be a mixed blessing, and how she created her own identity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Runnells was raised in the Church of Latter Day Saints as a 6th generation Mormon. He went on his two year mission. He graduated from BYU. He was an Eagle Scout. But in 2012, he began doubting some of his beliefs. He was asked by a Church Educational System (or CES) director to share his concerns. Jeremy did that in what became known as the Letter to a CES Director, or the CES letter. It is a damning document that exposes so many holes in the Mormon faith and it quickly went viral online, giving a lot of people reason to leave the Church themselves. And then, earlier this year, wouldn’t you know it, Church officials began a process to kick him out. Before they could excommunicate him for good in April, Jeremy announced he was resigning from the Mormon Church himself. He wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of kicking him out. We spoke with Jeremy about what led him to start doubting his faith, how the "Mormon moment" from a few years ago has come to an end, and why he left the Church before it could get rid of him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Dawn Eden was born into a Jewish family, became an Agnostic during her teenage years, and then found God and became a Catholic in her 30s. Along the way, she was a rock journalist and worked as an editor for the New York Post and Daily News. Since her conversion, she’s written several books including The Thrill of the Chaste and Remembering God's Mercy: Redeem the Past and Free Yourself from Painful Memories. She's also a long-time blogger at the Dawn Patrol. Before giving a talk at a church just outside of Chicago recently, we had 20 minutes to chat. We used the limited time to talk about her unique religious journey, whether allowing priests to have sex is a good idea, and how she arguably kickstarted my own career with one blog post. (As I make clear in the podcast, there were several points I would love to have pushed back on and debated further, but time didn't allow for it.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monica Miller is Senior Counsel at the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center. If the AHA is involved in a lawsuit, she’s the person doing the legwork, and that involves everything from letters to city councils to amicus briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court. We spoke with her about when anonymity can be used in a case, the surprising number of religious people who complain about church/state violations, and when a Christian cross isn't a Christian cross. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reddit Atheism may be the largest online community in the world for atheists. Whenever you have an anonymous group of that size, bad things may happen. And the site certainly has a reputation for low-brow memes, smugness, anger, and a disdain for the religious. But they’ve also used their power for good, raising money for groups like Doctors Without Borders. We spoke with two of the moderators of the atheism "subreddit," Feinberg and LurkBeast, about the positives and negatives of the site, the power of the ex-religious subreddits, and why r/atheism isn't as bigoted as one research paper claimed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teresa MacBain is a former Methodist pastor and the first female member of the Clergy Project to publicly “come out” as a nonbeliever. She did that at the 2012 American Atheists convention. She’s now the director of the Hotline Project, which offers callers who are grappling with their faith a chance to talk (anonymously) with an atheist about any questions or concerns. Their number is 1-84-I-Doubt-It (1-844-368-2848). We spoke with her about how she began having doubts about religion while in the pulpit, the type of people who call the Hotline Project, and how to volunteer to be on the receiving end of that call. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking about the presidential race and how religion plays a role in it. We discuss our primary votes, which Republican candidate would be the worst case scenario for atheists, and the openly atheist candidates running for state and federal office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're celebrating our 100th episode with the conversation we never get to have because we're always talking to other people. Our goals for the near future are having more in-person interviews, talking to big-name guests, and making sure we're always asking the questions you want answered. Thank you for sticking with us and we hope you continue listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Magnabosco is best known as a Street Epistemologist. He’s like a preacher you might run across on your college campus, except he’s not trying to convert you. He just wants to ask you questions about religion and get you to think. He posts videos of these interactions on YouTube and they’re fascinating to watch, in part because he deconstructs what went right and wrong each time. We spoke with Anthony about his surprising goals when it comes to chatting with people about religion, why people would ever talk to him at all, and whether debates about God are ever useful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phil Torres is a philosopher and author who writes extensively about the intersection of religion and technology. He’s a regular contributor at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. His latest book is called The End: What Science and Religion Tell Us About the Apocalypse. We spoke with him about why super-intelligence could come back to haunt us, how religious thinking mixed with weapons could bring us closer to doom, and whether we can reason with those who want to get closer to the afterlife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Shellnutt is an associate editor at Christianity Today magazine. She helps run their social media accounts and she also edits their popular site for women, cleverly called Her.meneutics. Before this, she worked as a web producer for the Houston Chronicle’s religion site. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where she earned her masters in reporting and online journalism. We spoke with Kate about how Christianity Today deals with hot-button issues, what a faith-based publication can bring to the table that secular outlets can't, and how comedy and religion go hand-in-hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Prothero is a professor in the department of religion at Boston University and the author of several books, including Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know -- and Doesn’t. You may have seen him on his appearances on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report. His latest book is called Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars (Even When They Lose Elections). We spoke with him about why conservatives pick losing issues, what issues will get liberals out to vote this November, and what surprised him during his research for the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffrey Tayler is an author of several books all about different parts of the world, but you may know him best for his wonderful articles defending atheism and atheists, and criticizing the Religious Right on Salon.com. He’s also the Russia correspondent for the Atlantic. His latest book is called "Topless Jihadis: Inside Femen, the World’s Most Provocative Activist Group." I spoke with Jeffrey about Salon's reputation for publishing just about anything criticizing atheists, what the public doesn't understand about the New Atheists, and the impact religion will have on the 2016 elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lyz Liddell is the Executive Director of the Reason Rally Coalition. Before that, she worked with the Secular Student Alliance and played a large role in the Openly Secular campaign, which got celebrities like Bill Maher, Arian Foster, and Barney Frank to talk about how they’re not religious and encouraged others to join them. I spoke with Lyz about the newest slate of speakers at the Rally, how she balances the competing agendas of the various atheist groups participating in the event, what she's learned from a decade in the movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robyn Blumner spent 16 years as a nationally syndicated columnist and editorial writer at the Tampa Bay Times newspaper, where she wrote a lot about civil liberties, church/state separation, and free speech issues. In 2012, she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize along with the rest of her editorial team. Before she was writing professionally, she headed up ACLU affiliates in Florida and Utah. She entered the world of organized atheism, if you will, in 2014, when she was tapped to run the Richard Dawkins Foundation. Recently, RDF announced a merger with the Center For Inquiry, and Robyn will soon become CEO of the new merged organization. I spoke with Robyn about her experience coming out as an atheist publicly long before it became commonplace, how the CFI/RDF merger took shape, and -- yes -- Richard Dawkins' tweets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William Shunn is the author of The Accidental Terrorist, a book about his time as a Mormon missionary. He was supposed to preach in Alberta, but it wasn’t long before he was convicted of felony mischief after making a false bomb threat. He’s still not allowed to return to Canada. We spoke with Bill about what it's like to be a Mormon missionary when your heart's just not into it, how the Mormon Church catches escaped missionaries, and the extreme length he went to to prevent his mission partner from leaving the base. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linda K. Wertheimer is a former education editor of the Boston Globe and a reporter at the Dallas Morning News and Orlando Sentinel. She recently published a book called Faith Ed: Teaching About Religion in an Age of Intolerance. We spoke with Linda about groups that oppose the teaching of basic Islamic beliefs in public schools; whether teachers are properly equipped to objectively discuss religion in the classroom; and why atheists, Mormons, and Jews tend to know more about religion than larger faith groups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Shelton spent 27 years in the Church of Scientology, where he attained those high levels you only hear about in HBO documentaries. But he got out about three years ago and is now a vocal critic of the Church. He just published a book called Scientology: A to Xenu: An Insider's Guide to What Scientology is All About. We spoke with Chris about what tipped him off to the Church's deceptions, what he was taught about Xenu, and what he believes would be the single biggest blow to the Church's existence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cristin Padgett is a Democrat hoping to win a seat in the Texas State House. She’s doing that in a heavily gerrymandered district in a very red part of the state. What makes her candidacy so unique, though, is that she has made public the fact that she's an atheist, making her one of the only openly non-theistic candidates this election cycle in any part of the country. Not exactly part of anyone's playbook in Texas politics. We spoke with Padgett about how she can convince Texans in her district to support her, what she could accomplish with a Republican majority in the House, and what she learned from the failed gubernatorial campaign of Wendy Davis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Gerbic is a photographer and skeptical activist from California. She contributes to the Skepticality podcast and Skeptical Inquirer magazine. In addition to co-founding the Monterey County Skeptics, she leads a group called Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia. Her goal in that last group is to improve the content of skeptic-related content on Wikipedia. We spoke about why editing Wikipedia is so important, how she avoids charges of bias in the articles, and how you can join her cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric is a writer currently living in Chicago. He was raised in California in the Worldwide Church of God, a Christian organization that is now known as Grace Communion International and has been considered by many to be a cult. Jessica spoke with him about his upbringing in the church, how it affected his childhood, and how he ultimately left it all behind. *We apologize for the sound quality in this episode! The audio equipment wasn't working properly so we had to resort to alternate means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Ken Miller is a Professor of Biology at Brown University and the co-author of a Biology textbook used in schools across the country. He’s also the author of "Finding Darwin’s God" and "Only a Theory." I'm talking to him now because it's the tenth anniversary of the Kitzmiller v. Dover case which gutted the Intelligent Design movement. Miller was an expert witness for the science side. I spoke with him about whether evolution advocates can finally relax, how a Roman Catholic like himself reconciles science and faith, and the effect of Creationist propaganda on science literacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael De Dora is director of the Center for Inquiry’s Office of Public Policy and he’s also CFI’s representative to the United Nations. He’s currently the president of the UN’s NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief. I spoke with him about what we can do about the bloggers currently under attack in Bangladesh, whether our government is doing anything to protect atheists overseas, and what his conversations are like with the Saudi Arabian representatives at the United Nations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chaz Stevens is an activist who’s especially passionate about the First Amendment. In response to a Nativity scene in the Florida Capitol Building, he put up an 8-foot-tall Festivus pole made of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. This year, he’s attempting something similar with a 6-foot pole covered in rainbow colors. He has also been requesting to deliver invocations as a Satanist, forcing several city councils to abandon the prayer practice altogether. I spoke with Chaz about what a Satanist invocation would look like if he ever got to deliver one, why he prefers an over-the-top approach, and what he hopes to accomplish with his activism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this episode, I just answered a whole bunch of questions sent in by listeners! They include: - How can we help the "victims of religion"? - What are the differences between atheists who were once religious and those who have never been religious? - Are there any original atheism-related thoughts left to have? - How has the pressure to generate content changed the way that you interact with people and respond to issues? - Am I less "friendly" than I used to be? - How did I go from math teacher to full-time atheism blogger? And how much does that pay? - What tips do I have for young atheists trying to start a secular school group? - Have I ever been discriminated against due to my beliefs? - What are the positives of religion and the negatives of atheism? - How can "Nones" organize better to leverage our increasing numbers into political and social action? - What do I do to produce so much content? - Will I be speaking at the upcoming Reason Rally and how should it be different from the first? - Why bother with YouTube and podcasting? - Since the religious demographics are shifting so rapidly right now, will we continue heading down the "right path" as a country? - Why do you talk over your guests during podcasts? - Why do I post so many articles and videos on marginal preachers and religious people? - Do I always read the comments? - How do I select guest bloggers? - Will religion ever disappear completely? - How will my wife and I deal with religion with regards to our child? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Haider was born in Pakistan as a practicing Shia Muslim. She moved to Texas and, in her late teens, began reading the Qur’an critically. It wasn’t long before she became an atheist. In 2013, she co-founded Ex-Muslims of North America, where she advocates for the acceptance of religious dissent and works to create local support communities for those who have left Islam. We spoke with Sarah about why it's dangerous for Muslims to leave the faith even in the United States, what the New Atheists get right and wrong about Islam, and why we need to stop using the word "Islamophobic." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Smalley is a former Christian musician who became an atheist after studying psychology, sociology, world religions, and his own faith. He soon turned into a secular activist. He was the editor-in-chief of Secular World and American Atheist magazines, the author of Baptized Atheist, and co-founder of AtheistAudiobooks.com. His Secular Media Group will soon release a children's book titled Tiny Thinkers: Charlie and the Tortoise. You may know him best, however, from his incredibly popular podcast Dogma Debate which has tens of thousands of weekly subscribers. We spoke with David about why it's so important not to be an angry atheist (if you can help it), what it takes to be a successful podcaster, and why he's so passionate about atheist activism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawna Leneé is an openly atheist adult film star who has appeared on the cover of Penthouse and won an AVN award for “Unsung Starlet of the Year.” She left the adult industry temporarily, at which point she attended college began a couple of small businesses, but she’s back making movies now. (You should assume everything in this interview is NSFW.) We spoke with Shawna about why she believes her atheism is the most controversial thing about her, whether she meets a lot of religious people on set, and what she plans to tell her kids about her career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John W. Loftus should be a Christian. He attended and graduated from Great Lakes Christian College, Lincoln Christian University, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where he learned under apologist William Lane Craig. But he’s spent the last several years debunking the faith. His books include Why I Rejected Christianity, Why I Became an Atheist, and The Outsider Test for Faith. His latest book is strangely called How to Defend the Christian Faith. I spoke with John about the worst argument Christian apologists use, how learning the Bible caused him to leave the faith, and whether rejecting Christianity is the same thing as becoming an atheist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Williamson is the founder and President of the Central Florida Freethought Community. His group has been leading the way when it comes to getting atheists to give invocations at local government meetings. I spoke with David about why secular invocations are so valuable, step by step instructions on what local activists can do to get on these invocation lists, and what atheists should say if they get the opportunity to speak in front of government officials. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cathy Lynn Grossman is a senior national correspondent for Religion News Service, a wire service for faith-based news. She often writes stories involving research and statistics. She also worked for more than two decades with USA Today. I spoke with Grossman about the toughest story she's ever written, what the Internet is doing to religion, and whether the amount of religion currently in politics is a new phenomenon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep. 76 - Jocelyn Floyd, Attorney with the Thomas More Society by Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Lane is the Founder and Executive Director of Skepticon, a national conference located annually in Springfield, Missouri that promotes skepticism, science education, and community building. I spoke with Lauren about how her team runs a free conference for more than a thousand people, how they improve the event every year, and what goes on behind the scenes. (Disclosure: I've spoken at Skepticon multiple times, though I won't be able to attend this year. It's a wonderful event and you should all attend if you can!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're thrilled to speak with the team behind YouTube sensation Mrs. Betty Bowers. Andrew Bradley is the creator and writer for BettyBowers.com. If you haven’t seen the videos, Betty is American’s Best Christian, and she has a lot to say about traditional marriage, abortion, the upcoming elections, and so much more. She’s a hilarious parody of right-wing extremists. Andrew was also one of the main writers for Landover Baptist Church, a parody of a fundamentalist Christian church that featured articles that people still believe are real. He’s also the author of Welcome to JesusLand. Deven Green plays Mrs. Betty Bowers. She’s a comedian, musician, and performer. She was also a comedy judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. We spoke with Andrew and Deven about how they collaborate, the kind of hate mail they receive, and the origins of Landover Baptist Church. By the way, this is our first time trying to host four people on the same phone call, so the audio's not always ideal, but hopefully it's all still audible! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Keith Devlin is a mathematician who’s also known as The Math Guy on NPR’s Weekend Edition. He has written several books explaining math to the masses. And he's also the co-founder and Executive Director of Stanford University’s Human-Sciences and Technologies Advanced Research Institute (H-Star). We spoke with Dr. Devlin about why math is difficult to understand and explain, how we tend to know more about mathematicians' lives than their work, and whether programs like Khan Academy help or hurt students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leah Vincent is a former Orthodox Jew and the author of Cut Me Loose: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood. She’s the first person in her family to attend college and she earned her Masters degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. We spoke with Leah about her life growing up in the culture, what fundamentalist faiths have in common, and what she plans to teach her daughter about her religious background. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Morehead is the President of the Reason Rally Coalition. She is also Executive Director of Recovering From Religion, the group that runs the Hotline Project and Secular Therapist Project. She was named American Atheists' 2014 "Atheist of the Year." We spoke about what's in store for the 2016 Reason Rally and how it'll be different from the 2012 event, as well as her work behind the scenes putting together Apostacon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Niose has been the president of two major organizations, the American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America. He currently serves as the AHA’s legal director. He’s also a lawyer who has argued in front of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court about why the Pledge of Allegiance shouldn’t be recited in public school classrooms. And he’s the author of Nonbeliever Nation and Fighting Back the Right: Reclaiming America from the Attack on Reason. We spoke with David about the legal issues affecting young atheists and how they should respond. Topics addressed include: Saying the Pledge of Allegiance, "See You at the Pole" events, religious choir music, science education, Gideons Bible giveaways, faith-based assemblies, and prayers at football games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Barker was a teenage evangelist and longtime preacher before he stepped away from God for good. He is now the co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (along with his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor), a group dedicated to the principle of separation of state and church. Barker is also the author of Godless (2008) and Life Driven Purpose (2015). I spoke with Barker about why he goes on The Daily Show even when the segments aren't very kind to him, his next project encouraging people to read the Bible, and how all Christian ministers are "slaves traders." (Yep.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neil Carter is a blogger at Godless in Dixie, where he writes about being an atheist in the Deep South. He's a teacher, a personal trainer, and a father. I spoke with Neil about what it's like being non-religious in Mississippi, the "evandelism" that followed his coming out, and the importance of having someone to talk to when you have religious doubts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Dehlin just completed his PhD in clinical and counseling psychology. But you may know him best as the founder of the Mormon Stories podcast, one that celebrates the faith and also critiques it when necessary. Because of some of his views supporting same-sex marriage and the ordination of women within Mormonism, Dehlin was excommunicated from the Church earlier this year for apostasy. That story was covered in the New York Times. We spoke with John about how discovering the truth about Mormon history pushed him away from the Church, why he still has a soft spot for the faith, and why Mormons have strategic reasons for standing firm against LGBT rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shulem Deen is a former Hasidic Jew. Since leaving that world, he’s founded the website Unpious which is a voice for other ultra-Orthodox Jews who may be rethinking their faith. His new memoir is called "All Who Go Do Not Return." We spoke with Shulem about the hypocrisy of Hasidic Jews regarding modern technology, how that community reacted to an episode of This American Life focusing on them, and how America Online became his gateway to the outside world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bart Campolo is a former evangelical Christian leader (and son of famed pastor Tony Campolo) who currently serves as the Humanist Chaplain at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. We spoke about progressive Christianity, what it was like coming to terms with his Humanism, and death. Lots about death. In all seriousness, it's one of the most interesting and inspiring conversations about death I've ever had. That segment begins around the 27:00 mark. Do yourself a favor and listen to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Paul Offit is the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of Vaccinology and Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. He’s written tons of published peer-reviewed papers and received countless awards for his work. His latest book, Bad Faith, is all about how religious belief can undermine modern medicine. On the day of taping, California had just passed a law making vaccinations all but mandatory, Jim Carrey had gone on a Twitter rant about vaccines, and a woman had died of measles. We spoke with Dr. Offit about why people still don't get vaccinated, how he responds to the most common arguments offered by anti-vaxxers, and why Bill Maher is wrong when he says we don't need to get flu shots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evangelist Ray Comfort has released a film called "Audacity" with the goal of convincing gay and lesbian viewers to renounce homosexuality. Jessica and I watched the film (so you don't have to) and we give you the play-by-play along with commentary. So there's your spoiler alert! After that, beginning at the 34:44 mark, we have an *exclusive* interview with the film's star Travis Owens. He plays Peter, a very devout Christian who wants to spread the Good Word, but sometimes hesitates because it might be awkward. Because he hesitates, bad things happen -- especially to gays and lesbians who didn't accept Jesus into their lives. In real life, Travis is actually very supportive of LGBT rights, which makes his appearance in this film both questionable and fascinating. We spoke with him about what it's like to work with Ray Comfort, whether he's received more feedback from LGBT viewers or Christians, and why he took on a role that contradicted his personal beliefs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linda Stephens was one of the two plaintiffs in Town of Greece v. Galloway, the 2014 Supreme Court case that legalized religious invocations at government meetings (with a few caveats). She worked as a librarian for two decades, served as president of the Greater Rochester Chapter of the National Organization for Women, and was vice president of a local chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. We spoke about the worst moment of the oral arguments, how she followed SCOTUSblog.com to get updates on her own lawsuit, and why losing the case has ironically worked out in atheists' favor, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Dillahunty is a former fundamentalist Christian who now debates religious apologists. He was the President of the Atheist Community of Austin for several years and co-hosts The Atheist Experience call-in show. He recently began a video series teaching viewers how to respond to frequently-used apologist arguments. Jessica spoke with Matt about his religious upbringing, why he loves debates, and what he sees as the future of faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dianna E. Anderson grew up in South Dakota, and after stints as an English teacher in Japan and a radio producer in Chicago, she’s turned her focus to writing. Her first book, out now, is called Damaged Goods: New Perspectives on Christian Purity and it’s all about the intersection of the church and sexuality. We spoke with Dianna about why sex is often seen as shameful in parts of Christianity, what conversations the broader evangelical church is having about sex, and whether the church can ever become sex-positive. Lots of sex. #Sex Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Muhammad Syed is the co-founder and director of operations for Ex-Muslims of North America. Heina Dadabhoy is an ex-Muslim atheist and feminist who writes at Heinous Dealings. At the American Atheists 2015 convention in Memphis, Tennessee, Jessica spoke with them about the various challenges of leaving Islam and why, if you're having religious doubts, it's better to act on them instead of staying in the faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica Hagy is a cartoonist and writer best known for her insightful and hilarious webcomic Indexed, in which she draws charts and Venn diagrams connecting completely different ideas and getting us to think about them in different ways. Her latest book is The Art of War Visualized. It's the Sun Tzu classic reworked and with illustrations. During a recent stop in Chicago, we spoke about her career change from copywriter to professional author/illustrator, where she finds inspiration for her work, and how her cartoons made their way into my math classes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vyckie Garrison was named American Atheists' 2015 Atheist of the Year. She's also the founding editor of No Longer Qivering, a website based upon the "quiverfull" lifestyle that she left years ago. (Why that spelling? Because, she says, there's no "you" in quivering.) Jessica spoke with Vyckie about how she left the movement made famous by the Duggar family, whether her children are still religious, and why patriarchal thinking hurts men as well as women. (Image via Josiah Mannion on Facebook) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lloyd Evans is the founder of JWSurvey.org, a website that focuses on the problems with Jehovah’s Witnesses. For most of his life, Lloyd was a Witness. But that changed not too long ago. Now he’s trying to help others leave the faith. On a personal note, I’ve learned so much about the seedy underbelly of the religion by reading his work. We spoke with Lloyd about why JWs are suddenly getting more attention, the most painful aspect of leaving the faith, and the awful afterlife in store for those who didn't make the cut for the "chosen" 144,000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Ryan T. Cragun is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Tampa and the author of books including What You Don’t Know About Religion (but Should). His latest is called How to Defeat Religion in 10 Easy Steps. We spoke with Dr. Cragun about whether religious fervor is cyclical or fading, why religious holidays should become secular, and the surprising thing churches can do to stop the shifting trend away from religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Michael Hecht is a historian, philosopher, and author of several bestselling books including Doubt: A History. Her latest book is called Stay: A History of Suicide and the Philosophies Against It. At the American Atheists 2015 convention in Memphis, Tennessee, Jessica spoke with Jennifer about how thoughts of suicide differ between atheists and religious people, how more people in history have been atheists than believers, and whether it's possible to discern what certain historical figures thought about God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gerald Posner is an investigative journalist and author of several books, including ones about the assassinations of JFK and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His latest book, God’s Bankers, is all about the Vatican’s finances, and how the Church got involved with the Mafia and money launderers. We spoke with Gerald about how he followed the trail of the Church's money, what the Vatican Bank is used for, and the advice he has for investigative journalists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff are writers and actors best known for their work on Mystery Science Theater 3000. At the American Atheists 2015 convention in Memphis, Tennessee, Jessica spoke with Trace and Frank about the genesis of MST3K, what they think about podcasts, and whether it's tough to be known only for the show rather than their other projects. (Image via Tim Dorr on Flickr) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Megan Fox is the apparent evolution-denier who "debunked" a science exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History and posted the video on YouTube. In a long, far-ranging, and sometimes infuriating interview, we talked about the reactions to her "audit" videos, whether her gender plays a role in the backlash, and why she doesn't consider herself a Creationist. We also discussed why she believes not censoring the Internet in a local library's adult section sanctions "taxpayer funded access to child porn." (In response to her battle with the Orland Park Public Library, readers of Friendly Atheist raised nearly $7,000 for the library's general fund.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Susan Blackmore is a writer, researcher, and speaker best known for her book "The Meme Machine." At the American Atheists 2015 convention in Memphis, Tennessee, Jessica spoke with Susan about the mystery of consciousness, Blackmore's fascination with memes, and why she avoids most forms of social media. (Image via Wikipedia) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Heap is the Executive Director of the United Coalition of Reason, an organization that has placed billboards promoting local atheist groups all over the country. He is also trying to become the first Humanist chaplain in the United States Armed Forces. I spoke with Jason about the strategy behind putting up non-aggressive billboards, how he left the evangelical Christian faith he was raised in, and why politicians are working so hard to prevent Humanists from becoming officially-recognized chaplains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jerry DeWitt was a Pentecostal preacher from Louisiana whose faith began cracking a few years ago. At first, he battled with his doubts internally, but he soon realized he no longer believed what he had been saying from the pulpit for nearly 25 years. When he finally declared -- publicly -- that he was an atheist, his life began to fall apart. He wrote about his deconversion in his book Hope After Faith. You may have also seen him in the recent CNN special "Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers." Hemant spoke with Jerry recently about what led him to initially doubt his religious beliefs, his journey through the Clergy Project, and how he can still get himself into "preacher mode" when speaking. (Jessica will return to the show in a couple of weeks!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wendy Thomas Russell is a journalist who spent years covering criminal justice. In 2008, she began writing books for and about children, including three books for the Girl Scouts. In 2011, her focus shifted to secular parenting. Not only does she blog on Patheos at Natural Wonderers, she is about to release a new book called Relax, It’s Just God: How and Why to Talk to Your Kids About Religion When You’re Not Religious. We spoke with Wendy about whether or not it makes sense to raise your child as an atheist, why the “sex talk” is easier than the “God talk,” and what she learned from the authors of other books about atheist parenting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nancy French is a four-time New York Times best-selling author who has written books with Sarah Palin, Bristol Palin, The Bachelor star Sean Lowe, and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. We spoke with her about whether liberals misunderstand Sarah Palin, how she came to support Mitt Romney (who doesn’t share her faith), and why all of her collaborations have the same starting point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few weeks ago, I was listening to Alex Blumberg’s popular podcast StartUp which is all about his journey beginning his own podcasting company. In one episode, he aired a conversation with Trevor McKendrick, an atheist who was making quite a bit of money selling a Spanish-language Bible app for your phone. So you know we had to talk to him ourselves. We spoke with Trevor about the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the story, how it publicized his atheism more than he expected (especially as an ex-Mormon), and what Bible-buying trends look like online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Genis (rhymes with "tennis") grew up in New York City, where he attended Stuyvesant High School and New York University, graduating with a degree in history and French. In 2003, however, he committed five armed robberies, which led to a decade behind bars. During that time, he wrote a novel called Narcotica. Now that he’s out, he’s been writing about the intersection of religion and incarceration for publications like Vice, Deadspin, the Washington Post. New York Daily News, and Newsweek. We spoke with Daniel about the soul exchange that got him in trouble, why we should feel any sympathy for him, and what he hopes to do now that he's a free man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Blocher is the co-host of the Oh No, Ross and Carrie! podcast, in which the hosts don't simply talk about the paranormal, but "dive right in by joining religions, attending spiritual events, undergoing “alternative” treatments, partaking in paranormal investigations, and more." Jessica caught up with him during a recent trip to Los Angeles and they spoke about how the podcast began, along with some of his favorite investigations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Boghossian is a philosophy professor at Portland State University and the author of A Manual for Creating Atheists, a book in which he talks about “street epistemology” -- essentially how to talk people out of their faith. He’s currently working on a phone app that’ll guide people through that process. We spoke with Peter about why his approach isn't just "atheist evangelism," why smart people can believe silly things, and whether his techniques work on his own children in other areas of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linda LaScola is a research consultant perhaps best known for her work with philosopher Daniel Dennett in which they speak with pastors who may secretly be atheists. She co-founded the Clergy Project -- a site for religious leaders harboring serious doubts about their faith -- and she is about to re-release her book on the topic, "Caught in the Pulpit," with updates and additions. She also blogs on Patheos at Rational Doubt, a site that features several articles by doubting pastors. We spoke with LaScola about how the Clergy Project began, whether coming out as an atheist (when you're a pastor) is a good or bad idea, and the surprising book that finally turned one pastor into an atheist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noelle George is a secular activist interested in making a tangible difference in the world, rather than simply arguing about religion behind a keyboard. She founded the SECULAR Center in Houston and is the Director of Special Projects for Foundation Beyond Belief (a group I work with). But her latest endeavor is aimed at helping those people who most need it. It’s called Secular Avenue. The website is SecularAvenue.org. And the group will assist those who are unsafe at home because they are no longer religious, living under religious extremism, victims of domestic abuse, or coming out as LGBTQ. Secular Avenue will offer those people financial help, counseling, and legal assistance, among other things. We spoke with Noelle about how people in need can get help, what we can do to pitch in, and why it's so important for atheists to find a way to volunteer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katherine Stewart is an investigative journalist who has written for Rolling Stone, The Nation, The New York Times, and the Guardian. She may be best known as the author of The Good News Club, about an organization bringing religious fundamentalism to elementary schools across the country. We spoke with her about the evil genius behind the "4/14 Window," whether a "Better News Club" for children of atheist parents is a good idea, and how writing about religious fundamentalism is like going back to a bad boyfriend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Niose has been the president of two major organizations, the American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America. He currently serves as the AHA’s legal director. He’s also a lawyer who has argued in front of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court about why the Pledge of Allegiance shouldn’t be recited in public school classrooms. And he’s the author of the fantastic book Nonbeliever Nation. His latest book is called Fighting Back the Right: Reclaiming America from the Attack on Reason. We spoke with David about how we can convince unreasonable people to embrace reason, why the election of George W. Bush was a turning point for organized secularism in America, and which atheist ad campaigns are the most effective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parisa Tabriz is Google’s self-described “Security Princess,” a euphemism she created in part because “hired hacker” sounds kind of evil. Her job is to figure out the problems with Google Chrome and fix them before the bad guys do. That’s a pretty amazing job for anyone, much less a 31-year-old woman, which isn’t exactly the norm in the tech world. Last July, Elle magazine ran a long profile on her. (Full disclosure: I knew Parisa in high school and we had classes together, though we haven’t talked much since graduating.) We spoke with Parisa about how she gets into the mind of a hacker, how we can get more women into this field, and how ignorance really isn't bliss in her world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marshall Brain is best known as the founder of the website HowStuffWorks.com. In 2007, Discovery Communications bought the site for a whopping $250 million. He has appeared on Oprah, National Geographic Channel, and CNN, and written several books. His latest one may be the most controversial one yet. It’s called "How 'God' Works: A Logical Inquiry on Faith." We spoke with Marshall about how his book is different from those by the New Atheists, why he's risking his reputation by deconstructing God, and how he'll know if the book is successful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Temkin is one of the creators of Cards Against Humanity, the “party game for horrible people.” What began as a game Max played with his friends soon became a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2011, and it has turned into one of the most popular, entertaining, and sometimes controversial card games today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabia Chaudry is an attorney who specializes in immigration law, a National Security Fellow at the New America Foundation, and President of the Safe Nation Collaborative, an organization that, among other things, consults with federal agencies about how to counter violent extremism. She writes at SplitTheMoon.com. But you may know her best because she’s the person who brought the story of Adnan Syed to reporter Sarah Koenig, resulting in the Serial podcast phenomenon. Rabia’s little brother was Adnan’s best friend and their families were also close. (I should point out that we taped this episode the day before the final episode aired.) We spoke with Rabia about what she learned from Serial that she didn't know before, her relationship with Sarah Koenig, and whether she was compelled to respond to the misinformation about Adnan online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fred Clark is a progressive evangelical Christian blogger better known as Slacktivist. He’s one of those Christians who defies all the stereotypes atheists tend to have of Christians. He’s for gay marriage, critical of church leaders, and constantly frustrated with what his “tribe” does in the name of Jesus. We spoke with Fred about why he's still working on the longest-running book review ever, what will happen to the Christian church after gay marriage becomes legal everywhere, and how Christians can change church culture from the inside. Full disclosure: Fred writes for Patheos, the same network on which you can find the Friendly Atheist blog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Horus Gilgamesh is a pen name for the author of The Awkward Moments Children’s Bible. Which is really not for children. It features beautiful illustrations of the most disturbing biblical passages you’re ever read. Volume 2 came out recently and I suspect we’ll be seeing more volumes in the future because, well, there’s so much source material. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucien Greaves is the spokesperson for The Satanic Temple. You know his organization because they’ve been very active recently regarding church/state separation issues. In Oklahoma, where there was a Ten Commandments monument near the Capitol building, Greaves’ group requested putting up a statue of Baphomet… leading to all sorts of chaos. They’ve also tried to put up a Satanic display in the Florida Capitol building. And, my favorite, after a Florida school district allowed an outside group to do a Bible giveaway for students, they requested to distribute a Satanic coloring book… which may lead to an end to outside book distributions for good in that district. We spoke with Lucien about how he doesn't actually believe in Satan, what his group's relationship is like with other Satanic groups, and why they conducted a Pink Mass over the grave of Fred Phelps' mother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phil Zuckerman is a professor of sociology and secular studies – yes, secular studies – at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where he lives with his wife and three children. He is the author of several books about atheism, including Society Without God and Faith No More: Why People Reject Religion. Next week, he’ll be releasing a book called Living the Secular Life. We spoke with Phil about whether the rise of the "Unaffiliated" has hit its peak, why more atheists have come out of the closet over the past decade, and why that demographic shift is good for America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Lewis is a board member of the Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE). ICHE is a group that promotes faith-based home-schooling and provides a variety of resources to Christian parents who want to do that. He’s an attorney who specializes in topics including estate planning and guardianship issues. He and his wife have five children, all of whom have been home-schooled. We asked him to join us to give us an insight into a world we know little about, not to debate him on aspects of homeschooling. Still, the conversation will likely infuriate some listeners (you've been warned). We spoke with Jeff about whether homeschooling should be regulated by the state, why public schools are a problem for some Christians, and what to do about kids who fall through the cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest is a college football player from one of the top Division 1 programs in the country. He’s not just a guy on the bench; he himself is one of the top players in the country for his position. At his request, we’re maintaining his anonymity because he deserves to be recognized for his talent and not his atheism, and we don’t want to ruin that for him. Rest assured, though, we know his real name. We’ve verified that he is who he says he is. We wanted to talk to him about faith, football, and his future. For the sake of this interview, we’re going to call him "Patrick." We spoke with Patrick about how he became an atheist, what it's like being an atheist on a mostly religious team, and what those of us on the outside don't know about college football. (Image via Shutterstock) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new Left Behind movie, starring Nicolas Cage, is out -- and Jessica and Hemant decided to go see it... so you don't have to. After several days of keeping their thoughts to themselves, they finally discussed the movie with the microphones on. By the way, the picture you're seeing is Jessica in the theater. By herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Wells is the author of the amazing Skeptics Annotated Bible, which documents all the contradictions and horrible things the Bible says. It’s one of the most useful websites for atheists I have ever seen and you can check it out at skepticsannotatedbible.com. The print version of the book is a must-have. Wells is also the author of Drunk with Blood, which documents all of God’s killings in the Bible. His newest book is called Strange Flesh, and it’s about how the Bible is used to justify anti-gay bigotry or, depending on who you talk to, support LGBT rights. We spoke with Steve about his time in seminary, how one documents the number of deaths during an imaginary flood, and how Christian LGBT-rights advocate Matthew Vines gets it wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elizabeth Cavell graduated from Tulane University Law School in 2009 and worked for a while as a deputy public defender in southern Colorado. She currently works as a staff attorney with the Freedom From Religion Foundation. We spoke with Liz about which kind of complaints are the most numerous at FFRF, how persecution has become a way to protect privilege, and whether she ever speaks with her cultural counterparts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monica Snyder is a representative from the group Secular Pro-Life, a group that seeks to unite pro-lifers, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. She has worked with the group since its inception in 2009. We spoke with Monica about where she fits in among both the pro-life and secular worlds, how she was rejected from volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center because of her beliefs, and why merely focusing on contraception access may not be a viable strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Juhem Navarro-Rivera is a research associate at the Public Religion Research Institute. PRRI publishes some of the most important and credible surveys when it comes to tracking religious demographics in the United States. Before joining PRRI, Juhem was a research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture at Trinity College, where he served as the lead analyst for many studies, including the landmark American Religious Identification Survey. He also taught political science and Latino Studies at the Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut. We spoke with him about how PRRI collects its data, whether the results themselves can draw criticism, and how to grow the diversity within the atheist movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica spoke with Vandy Beth Glenn, Beth Ann Erickson, and Rebecca Bradley from the Skeptic Ink network about blogging in the skeptic/atheist community and their favorite posts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor Robinson graduated from Yale University, where he launched the Yale Humanist Society. He is a Teach for American alumnus. And last year, he began and took part in the Pathfinders Project, a year-long international service project for Humanists. Consider it a Mission Trip minus the religion. He visited Cambodia, Uganda, Ghana, and Haiti, among other places. (Full disclosure, I’m on the board of Foundation Beyond Belief, which helped sponsor this project.) We spoke with Conor about living with a group of strangers for a year, how he had to change his diet while living overseas, and how his life has changed since returning home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica spoke with Skeptics Guide to the Universe host and neuroscientist Steven Novella and magician Jon Armstrong about skepticism and the brain, our faulty memories, and how the placebo effect is not what you may think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Arel has written articles about religion, science, and politics for websites like Salon, AlterNet, and the Huffington Post. His first book, called Parenting Without God, was released in August. We spoke with Dan about how his religious teacher used to fast-forward through science videos, what it was like growing up in a Pentecostal Christian home, and why it's important to discuss parenting without religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica sat down with TAM emcee George Hrab and Psychology Professor Sheldon Helms to talk about their reflections on the conference and the importance of communication in the science community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pam Mueller may be best known as a frequent contestant on Jeopardy! where she has won more than $180,000 during her many, many episodes, including her run to become champion of the 2000 College Tournament. She also worked on Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign, graduated from Harvard Law School, and is now a grad student in Psychology at Princeton University. We spoke with Pam about her research into notetaking, the end of Howard Dean's campaign, and the oddest place she's been recognized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Silverman is the President of American Atheists, a frequent guest on Fox News Channel, and the inspiration for a popular meme. Paul Provenza is a stand-up comedian, director of The Aristocrats, and author of Satiristas! Kira Soltanovich is a stand-up comedian who has appeared on the Oxygen Network's "Girls Behaving Badly." Mike McShane is an actor and comedian who appeared on the British version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Jessica spoke with them about attending Catholic schools and what it means to be an atheist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Myq Kaplan is a comedian who has appeared on Last Comic Standing and every late night talk show you can think of. He’s known for his brilliant wordplay as well as his self-deprecating humor. His albums “Vegan Mind Meld” and “Meat Robot” are absolutely hilarious, but his latest show “Small, Dork and Handsome” is, in my opinion, his best one yet. It’s on Netflix right now and you’re gonna want to watch it… after we’re done with this interview. We spoke with Myq about why most comedians seem to be non-religious, whether his jokes are ever truly finished, and what he learned from Louis C.K. (Myq's photo taken by Mindy Tucker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Dennett is a philosopher/professor at Tufts University and the author of Breaking the Spell. Jessica spoke with him about the term "atheist" and its alternatives, his project "Caught in the Pulpit" about preachers who no longer believe what they preach, and the culture of Americans who prefer to stay put instead of travel abroad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tyler Measom and Justin Weinstein are the producers and directors of An Honest Liar, a documentary about James "The Amazing" Randi. Jessica spoke with them about the movie, the archival footage they found, and Randi "victims" psychic Uri Geller and televangelist Peter Popoff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Randi is the legendary investigator of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims and the namesake of the James Randi Educational Foundation. Banachek is the mentalist who created the "bullet catch" trick made famous by Penn & Teller and the director of JREF's One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge. Jessica spoke with them about the difficulties of testing so-called supernatural powers, performing mentalism and fooling people, and what they still love about watching magic shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Hallowell is the faith editor for TheBlaze.com, perhaps better known as Glenn Beck’s website. He has also written pieces for The Washington Post, The Daily Caller, The Huffington Post, and several other websites, and he is a frequent guest on Fox News Channel. His interest in politics and social issues goes far back, though. He used to be the CEO of VoterWatch, a non-partisan nonprofit focusing on government transparency, and even began a website in high school encouraging students to make a difference in their communities. We spoke with Billy about what he's learned from working under Glenn Beck, what conservatives do poorly, and how we share a surprising bond involving actor Nicolas Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dale is the author of a number of excellent books about atheism. His books Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers are all about bringing up children without religion. He’s the author of Atheism for Dummies, a book that surprisingly didn’t exist until 2013. He began Foundation Beyond Belief to encourage atheists to give to charity. He’s the manager of the Atheist Channel on Patheos.com (full disclosure: that’s where I blog). And his latest book, In Faith and In Doubt, is all about relationships between atheists and believers. We spoke with Dale about how to make mixed-faith marriages work, the biggest surprise he uncovered during his search, and the importance of a hand squeeze between loved ones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Jervis is the prolific blogger at Joe. My. God. (joemygod.com), quite possibly the most popular personal blog about LGBT issues in the world. He’s been writing on the site for more than 10 years – a lifetime in the Internet world. His site has received multiple awards from groups like GLAAD, CBS News and The Village Voice. We spoke with Joe about how he manages to cover seemingly *everything* in the LGBT world, his unique vacation habits, and the biggest problems in his community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Montgomery is a senior fellow at People for the American Way, where he also contributes to their brilliant Right Wing Watch blog. We spoke with Peter about how the team at Right Wing Watch maintain their sanity while watching The 700 Club, who the most influential Christian Right leader is, and what Rick Santorum's new movie (yep) is like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Andrews was not just a Christian for more than 30 years, he was a religious broadcaster and professional video producer as well. Since becoming an atheist, he has put those talents to use on The Thinking Atheist YouTube channel (if you haven’t seen his videos, they’re just inspiring and beautiful). His podcast of the same name is currently the most popular show on Blog Talk Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Pulliam Bailey is a national correspondent for Religion News Service. Before that she served as online editor of Christianity Today, where she interviewed people like Barack Obama in the midst of his 2008 campaign, Mike Huckabee, Malcolm Gladwell, Condoleezza Rice, and Tim Tebow. She’s also a former contributor to the excellent Get Religion blog on Patheos, a site that critiques stories about religion in the media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Dickinson is the syndicated columnist behind “Ask Amy,” which is in over 150 newspapers nationwide. You can also hear her on NPR’s “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” where she is a regular panelist. She has written for Time, Esquire, and O magazines and is the author of the bestselling memoir The Mighty Queens of Freeville. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie Drury is the hilarious mind behind Stuff Christian Culture Likes (@StuffCCLikes on Twitter). We spoke with Stephanie about why Christian culture can be cringe-worthy, why Christian men often feel the need to talk about how hot their wives are, Pastor Mark Driscoll, and the healing abilities of letting all that frustration out online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Silverman is the President of American Atheists, a frequent guest on Fox News Channel, and the inspiration for a popular meme. In a very spirited conversation, we spoke with Dave about Mormons who secretly attended his convention, where to draw the line in criticizing religious beliefs, and whether the leader of an atheist group can really be married to a religious spouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Karen Stollznow is a linguist with a background in history and anthropology. She is also the author of God Bless America, Haunting America, and her newest books Language Myths, Mysteries and Magic and Not What The Dr. Ordered. She has contributed to several publications including Psychology Today and Skeptic, and she is a research fellow of the James Randi Educational Foundation. We spoke with Karen about "foreign accent syndrome," speaking in tongues, and her exploration of different kinds of believers (from Quakers to Satanists). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know Zach Weinersmith from his brilliant and hilarious webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. In our debut episode, we talk to Zach about where he draws his inspiration from, why there's so much interest in his Kickstarter projects, and why on earth he learns math for fun. You can check out Zach's latest book, Augie and the Green Knight: A Children's Adventure Book, right here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices