TheThinkingAtheist

How do atheists handle religious holidays (and religious families) every year, and how do many atheists mark an occasion with Christ in the title?  This show features the perspectives of our listeners, advice on how skeptics can (if they choose) enjoy the holiday season and navigate the often turbulent waters stirred by fundamentalist families, and a few holiday anecdotes.SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.stamps.com (promo code: sethandrews)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

It's surprising to many, but a lot of atheists and non-Christians enjoy Christmas music...even the tunes that talk about angels singing and the Bethlehem star.  We speak about this (supposed) contradiction, and several special guests join host Seth Andrews for a casual round of holiday songs around the hearth.  This show is glad to welcome:The Fab Four (The Beatles Tribute Band) http://ww.thefabfour.comJonny Miller  http://www.jonnymiller.orgShelley Segal  http://www.shelleysegal.comJames Covenant: Captain Picard “Make It So  https://youtu.be/oiSn2JuDQScTrev Fury https://www.facebook.com/TrevFuryOfficialHeather Henderson http://hhenderson.com/HP Lovecraft Historical Society  https://store.hplhs.org/products/a-very-scary-solsticeTim Minchin “White Wine in the Sun” https://www.amazon.com/White-Wine-in-the-Sun/dp/B00AHI77UG/SUPPORT OUR SHOW SPONSOR:  http://www.thegreatcourses.com/sethBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

The original U.S. Pledge of Allegiance calls the USA, "one nation...indivisible."  Yet it remains a nation splintered and divided, with many of those divisions fueled by religious ideas.  This broadcast welcomes several special guests to talk about America, the rise of secularism, the influence of the Religious Right, and the future of a country that seems unable to agree about anything.Our guests appearing throughout the broadcast:Amanda Knief: National Legal and Public Policy Director for American Atheists, and author of "The Citizen Lobbyist: A How-to Manual for Making Your Voice Heard in Government."Matthew De Dora: Director of Office of Public Policy for the Center For InquiryMatthew Bulger: American Humanist AssociationJustin Scott: Director of Eastern Iowa AtheistsRebecca Markert: Managing Staff Attorney for the Freedom From Religion FoundationLarry Decker: Executive Director for the Secular Coalition for AmericaHerb Silverman: President of the Secular Coalition for AmericaSarah Levin:  Senior Legislative Representative for the Secular Coalition for AmericaSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:The Great Courses Plus:  http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethStamps.com  http://www.stamps.com (promo code sethandrews) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

The hosts of God Awful Movies join Seth Andrews for a review of Ray Comfort's new film, "The Atheist Delusion."  They watched the movie...so you don't have to.  Enjoy!God Awful Movies:  https://www.patreon.com/GodAwfulVIDEO of this podcast:  https://youtu.be/a62l6jGHAiU     Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

This very special 300th broadcast was recorded in Dallas, Texas on November 19th in front of a live audience at the DoubleTree by Hilton Dallas-Richardson.  Special guests include:Matt Dillahunty:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SansDeitySarah Haider of Ex-Muslims of North America:  http://www.exmna.orgDavid Smalley of Dogma Debate: http://dogmadebate.comAron Ra:  https://www.youtube.com/user/AronRaRecording artist Shelley Segal:  http://www.shelleysegal.comVIDEO of this broadcast here: https://youtu.be/U6ViKFHOC-IBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

In the spring of 2016, Seth Andrews received a strange letter in the mail...a letter which has roots dating back over three decades.  In September of 2016, he told his entertaining story about "The Mystery Letter" to a live audience in Riverside, California.  This is the audio of that presentation.VIDEO of the speech:  https://youtu.be/xWovupLjz7wSUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.casper.com/sethandrews (promo code: sethandrews)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

If you enjoy audiobooks, and if you enjoy didactic fiction, you'll like this show.Author Lee Burvine speaks with host Seth Andrews about his sci-fi novel with religious (some would say sacreligious) themes, and Seth plays the first five chapters of the audiobook - read by Seth Andrews in their entirety - on this broadcast.THE KAFIR PROJECT WEBSITE:  http://www.kafirproject.com/Amazon/Audible link for purchase:  http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Kafir-Project-Audiobook/B01M7SRX8D/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1478011395&sr=1-1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

It's an annual Halloween tradition, as we gather around the virtual campfire, suspend our disbelief in ghosts and spirits, and enjoy some delightful frights together.  Seth Andrews shares various ghost stories, and once again, he finishes the broadcast with an original production that will (hopefully) provide some October thrills and chills.Enjoy!SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR.  Your first month free!   http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethandrewsEd Suominen's blog:  http://blog.edsuom.com/Written version of "This is my Body:"  http://tellectual.com/TBT-This-is-my-Body.html Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR.  Your first month free!   http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethandrewsHow do we separate "nutrition" from "woo-trition?"  This show is about the science (and pseudoscience) of food.  We also spend time on nutrition celebrity "The Food Babe," Vani Hari, a best-selling author and activist named by Time Magazine as one of the 30 most influential people on the internet, despite the fact that she has no degree or expertise in the field of health and nutrition.Joining our discussion are actual health and science educators:Yvette d'Entremont (also known as SciBabe), with a B.S. in chemistry and an MSc in forensic science.  Yvette is a public critic of Vani Hari and a science educator.  http://www.scibabe.comMelissa Dobbins MS, CDE, RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist).  www.SoundBitesRD.comLeah McGrath RDN  @LeahMcGrathRDDr. Steven Novella, clinical neurologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine.  Dr. Novella is a proponent of scientific skepticism and a vocal critic of pseudoscientific health claims and claimants. http://theness.com/neurologicablog Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR.  Your first month free!   http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethandrewsIs Buddhism a religion?  A philosophy?  Both?  Something else?  Many Buddhist organizations - physical and online - promote it as a way of "finding peace within oneself.  What about atheists who are Buddhists?  Is this a spiritual journey, or a method for framing a physical one?LINKS:David G. McAfee on Buddhism:  https://davidgmcafee.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/buddhisms-lived-and-portrayed-traditionsStephen Batchelor:  http://www.stephenbatchelor.orgNo Religion Required podcast:   https://noreligionrequired.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.