Beyond Atheism Podcast

In this episode, we are joined by Sam McGuire, the National Field Director of American Atheists. She imparts wisdom on how atheists can organize as well as offers resources and opportunities for groups and individuals. We learn a lot about organizing as we talk about her experience with the Southern Maryland Chapter of the Washington Area Secular Humanists, her role in the controversy over a sex education lesson, and how her work at Reason Rally 2016 led to her current role.In the bonus content, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, Sam tells us about the time someone threw holy water on her, and we also get her take on whether reports of the atheist movement’s death are greatly exaggerated.For more on Sam: https://www.atheists.org/about/staff/Follow Sam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamJMcGuireAmerican Atheists 2022 National Convention: https://convention.atheists.org/State of the Secular States report: https://states.atheists.org/A video of the County Commissioners meeting on sex-ed in the library (Sam speaks at the 50:15 mark): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYKniafcw64For more on the Drag Queen Story Hour in the library controversy, see here (pp. 17-21): https://www.scribd.com/document/515616589/American-Atheist-Magazine-July-October-2019Nathan recently appeared on the Monday Morning Dullard podcast to talk about atheism. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVmjk9_mMxYFollow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution.

In this episode, we are joined by Eiynah Mohammed-Smith, an author, illustrator and the host of the Polite Conversations podcast. We talk about her time growing up in Saudi Arabia, her break with Islam, her involvement in New Atheism, and her subsequent disillusionment with that movement. Along the way, we talk about Sam Harris, ex-Muslims, hijabs, and more. We also ask Eiynah whether a “true atheist” can do things such as be spiritual or dislike Sam Harris.In the bonus section, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, we ask Eiynah if she regrets her New Atheist phase and, most controversially, if she actually likes mangos.Polite Conversations: https://soundcloud.com/politeconversationsWoking Up Miniseries: https://soundcloud.com/politeconversations/sets/woking-up-miniseriesCheck out Eiynah’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nicemangosFollow Eiynah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NiceMangosFollow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution.

In this episode, we are joined by Alison Gill, the Vice President for Legal and Policy with American Atheists. We talk with Alison about her recent work charting the challenges and priorities of nonreligious people in the US today. We find out why she has said that “2021 was the worst state legislative session for civil rights in more than a decade.” We also ask whether a “true atheist” can support the death penalty or believe in God.In the bonus content, available exclusively for supporters on Patreon, we get Alison’s thoughts on the current state of the atheist movement, the divisions between “woke” and “anti-woke” atheists, and how things have changed since she first got involved in American Atheists.State of the Secular States report: https://states.atheists.org/Press release: https://www.atheists.org/2022/01/christian-nationalist-movement-in-2022/PDF: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d30e25ed90f2f0001d94628/t/61d37df35e2cf21ab00b1e51/1641250292461/2021+State+of+the+Secular+States.pdfReality Check: Being Nonreligious in America: https://www.secularsurvey.org/executive-summaryPress release: https://www.atheists.org/2020/05/reality-check-being-nonreligious-in-america/PDF: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d824da4727dfb5bd9e59d0c/t/5ec6d6d8e8da850b30521353/1590089442015/Reality+Check+-+Being+Nonreligious+in+AmericaThe Tipping Point Generation: America’s Nonreligious Youth: https://www.secularsurvey.org/youthPress release: https://www.atheists.org/2020/12/tipping-point-generation-americas-nonreligious-youth/Black Nonreligious Americans: https://www.secularsurvey.org/black-nonreligious-americansPress release: https://www.atheists.org/2021/10/black-nonreligious-americans-report/Follow Alison on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlisonMGill1Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution.

After almost a year of Beyond Atheism, it is time to take a brief look back to take stock of what we’ve learned so far. In this episode, Nathan and Todd talk about their 10 main takeaways from the podcast, ranging from politics to activism to history. Stick around to hear their reflections on what true atheists can and cannot do.In the bonus content, available exclusively for supporters on Patreon, Nathan and Todd talk about a recent article in LifeHacker, “How to 'Come Out' As an Atheist Without Destroying Your Relationships”: https://lifehacker.com/how-to-come-out-as-an-atheist-without-destroying-your-r-1848313516Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution.

As societies become more and more religiously diverse, and more and more nonreligious, secularism takes on greater importance. But what is secularism? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jacques Berlinerblau, Professor of Jewish Civilization in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and the author of the new book, Secularism: The Basics. In addition to giving us a practical definition, Jacques introduces us to four main frameworks of secularism: the American, French, Indian, and Soviet models. We talk about some of the benefits and drawbacks of each, and he explains why some secular countries can and do give financial support to religions. We also discuss what secularism might look like in a nation with a majority of nonbelievers and why religious groups may become allies in the struggle for greater secularism. We also ask Jacques whether a “true” secular government can ban abortion or allow religious intolerance.In the bonus content, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, we talk with Jacques about his future predictions for secularism around the world. Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about its trajectory? And what are the most pressing issues for secularists today?Check out Jacques’s new book, Secularism: The Basics: https://www.routledge.com/Secularism-The-Basics/Berlinerblau/p/book/9780367691585#Jacques’s website: https://www.jberlinerblau.com/Follow Jacques on Twitter: https://twitter.com/berlinerblauFollow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution.

Sweden is one of the most secular countries in the world. Around half of the population claims to be non-believers; one survey even found that only 18% of Swedes believed in God. But why is this the case? How does Sweden’s history explain its secular nature? To talk about these questions and more, we are joined by Dr. Anton Jansson, an associate professor and researcher in intellectual history at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Along the way, we learn about the importance of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, atheist intellectuals and organizers, and Sweden’s long history of having a state church. Anton also tells us whether a “true atheist” can pray or shop at a Christmas market.In the bonus content, available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon, we talk with Anton about perceptions of Sweden from abroad. Is it a social democratic utopia or a potential hotbed of Islamist radicalism? Anton debunks some of these myths.For more on Anton: ​​https://www.gu.se/en/about/find-staff/antonjanssonFollow Anton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/antnljRead Anton’s article “‘A Swedish Voltaire’: The Life and Afterlife of Ingemar Hedenius, 20th-Century Atheist”: https://secularismandnonreligion.org/articles/10.5334/snr.98/For more on the figures Anton mentioned:Viktor Lennstrand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_LennstrandEllen Key: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_KeyIngemar Hedenius: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingemar_HedeniusFollow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution.

Without a God to author morality, does this leave atheists adrift? What is morality, are there absolute moral truths, and how can we know about them? To examine these questions, we are joined by Aaron Rabinowitz, a PhD student in the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, and the host of two podcasts, Embrace the Void and Philosophers in Space. Aaron explains why the absence of a God actually allows for the creation of objective moral systems, something that should correct biases against atheists. He also tells us about whether a true atheist can be immoral or wish that God existed.In the bonus content, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, we talk with Aaron about the infamous “enlightening round” on his podcast Embrace the Void, where he asks guests whether things like God, races, sandwiches, and fictional characters are “real.”Follow Aaron on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ETVPodCheck out Aaron’s workshop, “Morality Without God,” running for three weeks in January: ​​https://evergreen.humanitru.com/web/campaigns/the-innerwork-center~winter-spring-2022?attend=id%3A4465&sharer_id=3509&medium=&notes=Listing+Card&remote_id=RSgyEmbrace the Void podcast: https://voidpod.com/podcasts/Philosophers in Space podcast: https://0gphilosophy.libsyn.com/Check out Nathan’s appearance on Embrace the Void: https://voidpod.com/podcasts/2021/7/15/ev-201-defining-racism-with-nathan-alexanderFollow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution.

Effective secular activism takes on a number of forms and issues, and builds connections across many different – and often unexpected – groups of like-minded people. In this episode, we talk with Monica Miller, the Legal Director and Senior Counsel for the American Humanist Association and an attorney with the Nonhuman Rights Project, and learn how an early interest in animal rights led to her arguing a separation of church and state case in the US Supreme Court. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the legal biases against the rights of humanists in prison, efforts to get animals like elephants and great apes the status of “legal personhood,” and how her work connects religious activists and vegetarian Satanists. We also find out whether a true humanist can consume animal products or own a pet.In the bonus content, available exclusively for Patreon subscribers, Monica tells us about her experience arguing in front of the Supreme Court and some behind the scenes details of filming the HBO documentary, “Unlocking the Cage.”For more on Monica: https://americanhumanist.org/about/staff/miller-monica/Follow Monica on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mon_L_MillerNonhuman Rights Project: https://www.nonhumanrights.org/American Humanist Association: https://americanhumanist.org/Unlocking the Cage documentary: ​​https://www.unlockingthecagethefilm.com/Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism You can also contribute by going to https://anchor.fm/beyond-atheism and clicking the “Support” button. We are grateful for every contribution.

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Jacqui Frost, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Rice University, to discuss the atheist practice of the Sunday Assembly. Although this burgeoning movement is sometimes referred to as an “Atheist Church,” we learn about what makes these communities different from religious practices. In a wide-ranging conversation, Jacqui explains what a Sunday Assembly service looks like in practice, how the congregations form and avoid hierarchy, and whether they can be a viable replacement for churches or mosques. We also learn whether a “True Atheist” can wish there was an afterlife or visit a psychic.In the bonus content, available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon, we talk with Jacqui about the science of creating rituals through scientific experimentation in “ritual labs.”For more about Jacqui’s work: https://www.jacquifrost.com/Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajacfrostFor more on the Sunday Assembly: https://www.sundayassembly.com/Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism You can also contribute by going to https://anchor.fm/beyond-atheism and clicking the “Support” button. We are grateful for every contribution.

Christopher Hitchens was perhaps the wittiest and most vibrant of the atheist “Four Horsemen” until his passing in 2011. In addition to religious criticism, over his long career as a writer and journalist, “Hitch” turned his critical pen against many figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Henry Kissinger, and even Mother Teresa. But his career was not without controversy, particularly his support for the Iraq War in 2003, which seemed to contradict his socialist politics. To talk about Hitchens’s complex legacy – and other subjects including cancel culture, YouTube debates, and the links between socialism and atheism – we are joined by Dr. Ben Burgis, a philosophy instructor at Rutgers University and author of “Christopher Hitchens: What He Got Right, How He Went Wrong, and Why He Still Matters.”For bonus content, available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon, we talk with Ben about his recent interview with Christopher’s brother, Peter Hitchens, and about Hitch’s legendary affinity for drinking.For more on Ben: https://benburgis.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCByZMNYpHFEetI0s3deYH2gTwitter: https://twitter.com/BenBurgisChristopher Hitchens: What He Got Right, How He Went Wrong, and Why He Still Matters: https://redemmas.org/titles/36536-christopher-hitchens--what-he-got-right--how-he-went-wrong--and-why-he-still-mattersCanceling Comedians While the World Burns: A Critique Of The Contemporary Left: https://redemmas.org/titles/34877-canceling-comedians-while-the-world-burns--a-critique-of-the-contemporary-leftCharlie Kirk debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VWFlteBniwFollow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexanderNathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism You can also contribute by going to https://anchor.fm/beyond-atheism and clicking the “Support” button. We are grateful for every contribution.