Within Reason

Peter Hitchens, author, broadcaster, journalist, and commentator discusses the classification of cannabis as a gateway drug, the consequences of decriminalizing cannabis, exploring the limitations of freedom and the question of self-harm, moral arguments vs legal arguments on drug possession, criminalization and moral objections, the impact of drug decriminalization in Portugal, and a heated exchange on drugs versus God.

Drew McCoy, creator and host of Genetically Modified Skeptic, talks about his recent trip to SatanCon and the rise of modern Satanism as a reaction to Christian nationalism. They discuss reclaiming Satanism, attending the largest gathering of Satanists in history, and the political associations of the Satanic Temple. They also explore the evolution of atheism on YouTube and reflect on becoming a responsible role model.

Justin Brierley, Christian apologist and author, explores the surprising rebirth of belief in God and the impact of the new atheist movement. He discusses the decline of religious belief in the UK and shifting perspectives towards religion among prominent atheists. The chapter also delves into the rise of a social justice religion and shares a story about an atheist philosopher who participated in an audacious hoax.

Slavoj Žižek, a Slovenian-born political philosopher and cultural critic, discusses topics ranging from criticism of Stalin to the transformation of horror into pleasure. They explore the paradoxes of cancel culture and the self-destructive tendencies within the Western tradition perpetuated by the woke left. The conversation also touches on the motivations behind destructive sexual fetishes and the obsession of totalitarian regimes with false expressions of loyalty. They discuss the threats to democracy and the need for critical thinking in today's society.

Andrew Doyle, playwright and political satirist, discusses the dangers of cancel culture and the comparison to the Salem Witch Trials. He explores the difficulty of defining hate speech and copying, as well as the faith-based aspects of social justice movements and critical race theory. The podcast also examines examples of employment discrimination and racial segregation in schools, questioning the plausibility of a racism-centered worldview.

Carl Robichaud, co-leader of Longview Philanthropy's program on nuclear weapons and existential risk, discusses the likelihood of nuclear conflict, the devastation of the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, the ethics of nuclear weapons, close calls and the risk of nuclear war, the current landscape of nuclear weapons and international relations, the accuracy and omissions in the film 'Oppenheimer', and the need for continued engagement in managing the risks of a new nuclear age.

Tanya Marie Luhrmann is an American psychological anthropologist known for her studies of modern-day witches, charismatic Christians, and studies of how culture shapes psychotic, dissociative, and related experiences. She is the author of How God Becomes Real, which asks what it means to say that a person 'believes' in gods, how and why this kind of belief is so different from mundane beliefs about the normal world, and how these gods become vividly real to some people. Find Within Reason on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian is an American philosopher, a founding faculty member at the University of Austin, and coined the term "street epistemology" as a method of helping people to change their minds. Peter Boghossian's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@drpeterboghossian

Get Bart Ehrman's course, "Did Jesus Call Himself God?": https://www.bartehrman.com/godman View all of Bart Ehrman's courses: https://www.bartehrman.com/alex To support me on Patreon (thank you): http://www.patreon.com/cosmicskeptic To donate to my PayPal (thank you): http://www.paypal.me/cosmicskeptic Bart Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the origins and development of early Christianity. He has written and edited 30 books, including three college textbooks. He has also authored six New York Times bestsellers. (Wikipedia)

Anil Seth is a professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. He is the author of "Being You: A New Science of Consciousness". Purchase "Being You: A New Science of Consciousness": https://amzn.to/3NgKD53 Anil Seth's website: https://www.anilseth.com/ The Perception Census: https://perceptioncensus.dreamachine.world/