

The Scathing Atheist
Puzzle in a Thunderstorm, LLC
A weekly look at religion and the stupidity that breeds it. Hosts Noah Lugeons, Heath Enwright, and Eli Bosnick delve into theistic attempts to intrude on the secular world in an unflinching expose on just how juvenile the whole god thing is.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 30, 2025 • 60min
622: GAW Edition
In this week’s episode, the church begs for mercy too liberally, God maintains the streak of perfect inattendance, and we’ll see what the other side of the aisle has to offer us.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
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Headlines:
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde rebukes Trump at "Service of Prayer for the Nation" in DC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ESheItSWy4
Christians get their responses wrong from every angle: https://www.christianpost.com/news/5-christians-react-to-bishops-sermon-rebuking-trump.html
Jewish groups complain about lack of accreditation for religious schools: https://www.jns.org/four-brooklyn-yeshivahs-file-federal-complaint-against-ny-education-department/
The Christian Post is very suspicious of Grok AI having a logo that looks like a broken cross: https://www.christianpost.com/news/we-asked-grok-whether-its-new-logo-is-a-broken-cross.html
SCOTUS to hear case of taxpayer-funded religious school in Oklahoma: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-supreme-court-will-decide-if

Jan 23, 2025 • 60min
621: Outrage Fatigue Edition
In this week’s episode, Donald trump ORDERS trans people to stop existing, a Tennessee local ordinance demands the CORRECT version of dumb plastic crap on your lawn, and American Atheists’ legal director Geoffrey Blackwell will be here to tell us exactly how fucked we are.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
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Guest Links:
Find out more about American Atheists.
See if there’s a nearby affiliated group with this handy map.
Hear more of Geoff on his podcast, The Not So Grand Jury.
Listen to Noah on Where There’s Woke.
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Headlines:
Trump declares trans people nonexistent: https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/a-line-by-line-analysis-of-trumps
Proposed North Dakota law would force students to say the Pledge of Allegiance: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/proposed-north-dakota-law-would-force
TN woman taken to court for Christmas decorations being too Halloweeny: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/10/style/halloween-decorations-tennessee.html

Jan 16, 2025 • 60min
620: Luke Who's Talking Edition
In this week’s episode, the Christian god does a bunch of fire smiting, Atheist groups finally get rid of that expired ketchup in the back of fridge, and the Bible will still be yammering on about that Jesus guy.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
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Guest Links:
Check out Dan’s fundraiser here: extra-life.org/participant/dane
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Headlines:
Prophetic warning about the LA fires:
https://charismanews.com/news/amanda-grace-prophetic-warning-on-the-l-a-fires/
Blame LA fire horror on the woke religion bringing ruin to our cities: https://nypost.com/2025/01/09/opinion/blame-la-fire-horror-on-the-woke-religions-ruin-of-our-cities/
MTG calls for using weather control to put out the fires: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/marjorie-taylor-greene-launches-unhinged-call-for-officials-to-manipulate-the-weather-to-stop-la-wildfires/ar-BB1rmsjm
Scientology’s ‘Volunteer Ministers’ getting roasted online for LA fire photo ops: https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/scientologys-volunteer-ministers
Atheists sue WV water agency for giving $5 million to a Catholic School: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/atheists-sue-west-virginia-water
Biden awards Medal of Freedom to Pope Francis: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/11/us/politics/biden-medal-of-freedom-pope-francis.html
Mike Johnson misattributed a prayer to Jefferson - the blowback could be heard at Monticello: https://religionnews.com/2025/01/08/blowback-continues-to-grow-over-johnson-misattributing-a-prayer-to-jefferson/
Bunch of atheist groups reaffirm commitment to LGBTQ rights: https://www.atheists.org/2025/01/american-atheists-reaffirms-commitment-to-protecting-lgbtq-rights/
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This Week in Misogyny:
House Speaker cites Genesis to justify law against trans women in sports: https://religionnews.com/2025/01/14/speaker-johnson-cites-genesis-after-house-passes-bill-banning-trans-people-from-womens-sports/
Virginia church publicly shames member for being pregnant out of wedlock: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/virginia-church-publicly-shames-unwed

Jan 9, 2025 • 60min
619: Hollowed Out Edition
In this week’s episode, the State of the Union is BAAAAAAAD, Pope Francis may have accidentally opened a Morning Stargate, and we’ll learn that “flat” is only one of the incorrect earth shapes available to believe in.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
---
Headlines:
American Atheists releases its “State of the secular states” report: https://states.atheists.org/
Oklahoma lawmaker's "covenant marriage" bill would make it harder to get divorced: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/oklahoma-lawmakers-covenant-marriage
Pope criticizes death with dignity and calls out nuns with 'vinegar faces': https://www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/article/pope-criticises-abortion-and-assisted-dying-in-new-year-message-zpzzqt593
https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/pope-calls-out-nuns-with-vinegar-faces-hdgpd6xkb
The Telepathy Tapes Prove We All Want to Believe: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/telepathy-tapes-prove-we-all-want-believe
Buddhist group sues Army Corp of Engineers because conservation is fucking up their meditation: https://religionnews.com/2025/01/03/buddhist-group-says-army-corps-everglades-project-violates-religious-freedom/
Pope Francis may or may not have opened spiritual portals to other dimensions: https://www.thejournal.ie/catholic-church-jubilee-year-pope-francis-vatican-holy-doors-6584288-Jan2025/
https://charismanews.com/news/vatican-to-open-5-sacred-portals-this-christmas-eve/

Jan 2, 2025 • 60min
618: Double D Edition
In this week’s episode, Congress has as many atheists as it does chances not to end our civilization, we learn if it's gay for men to have hetero sex with their wives, and Michael Marshall will be here to woo you.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
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Guest Links:
Check out more from Marsh on Be Reasonable and Skeptics with a K
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Headlines:
New Congress sees tiny uptick in nonreligious members: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/one-new-member-of-congress-is-openly
At Trump’s inauguration, reports of a pay-to-pray: https://religionnews.com/2024/12/23/amid-uncertainty-around-religion-at-trumps-inauguration-reports-of-a-pay-to-pray/
Vatican advances beatification process for Belgian king who abdicated rather than approve abortion: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-belgium-abortion-369b35f6734bdab87786ff6c4870d424
Prominent atheist transphobes leave honorary position with FFRF: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/three-prominent-atheists-resigned
Kenneth Copeland says God told him he’ll live to be 120: https://www.christianpost.com/news/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-predicts-when-he-will-die.html
MAGA influencer husband says giving his wife orgasms would be 'gay sex': https://www.advocate.com/donald-trump/trump-maga-gay-sex-orgasm#rebelltitem1

Dec 26, 2024 • 1min
Xmas Announcement
Just a reminder that we're off this week, but we'll be back next Thursday. Happy holidays!

Dec 19, 2024 • 60min
617: Question Mark Edition
In this week’s episode, Tiny Tim is at the center of RFK Junior’s vision board, flat earthers put their heads where the sun don't shine AND where it always shines, and Don Ford will be here for a few Biblical reshoots.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
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Headlines:
RFK Jr. linked to efforts to revoke approval of the polio vaccine: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/health/aaron-siri-rfk-jr-vaccines.html and https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/15/outcry-after-rfk-jr-linked-to-effort-to-nix-us-approval-for-polio-vaccine
Bill forcing hospitals to administer ivermectin, other requested treatments nears finish line
https://www.cleveland.com/open/2024/12/bill-forcing-hospitals-to-administer-ivermectin-other-requested-treatments-nears-finish-line.html
Ohio State University football players are leading a religious revival on campus: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/11/nx-s1-5213724/ohio-state-university-football-players-are-leading-a-religious-revival
Satanic display in New Hampshire vandalized, restored: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/after-vandalism-a-new-satanic-display
Pupils 'sob' as vicar discusses existence of Santa
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgr9v1ppglo
Pastor taking flat earthers to Antarctica to end the debate:
https://www.iflscience.com/flat-earthers-travel-to-antarctica-to-test-theories-but-are-quickly-humbled-77254
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This Week in Misogyny:
Anti-abortion activists turn to environmental regulation to outlaw abortion pills: https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/christian-nationalist-plan-use-environmental-regulations-further-restrict-abortion
Christian Counselor dismissed after posts about wives submitting to husbands: https://www.christianpost.com/news/counselor-sues-school-after-dismissal-over-marriage-posts.html
Texas seeks to outlaw sex toys at many retailers: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-lawmaker-wants-to-ban-sex-toys-in-grocery-stores-21293540

Dec 12, 2024 • 60min
616: Trinity-Totaller Edition
In this week’s episode, Christians reject our adorable Satanic gnomes, our next chief of public health takes a fake shower like 8-year-old me trying to trick my mom, and CS Lewis will prove himself to be as bad at math as he is at analogies.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
---
Guest Links:
Hear Geoff Blackwell on The Not So Grand Jury here: https://notsograndjury.buzzsprout.com/
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Headlines:
Diatribe: Boston College sued for religious discrimination over vaccine policy: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/man-sues-catholic-school-in-battle
The (actual) War on Christmas begins: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-west-virginia-mayor-kicked-a-pagan
An Iowa pastor put an atheist trying to kill Jesus in his church's Nativity scene: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/an-iowa-pastor-put-an-atheist-trying
Dutch Noah’s Ark Replica is up for auction: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-dutch-made-noahs-ark-replica-is and https://www.troostwijkauctions.com/l/museum-schip-ark-van-noach-A1-26370-1
One Million Moms freaks out over Wicked: https://onemillionmoms.com/current-campaigns/warning-wicked-not-only-includes-witchcraft-but-also-lgbtq-content/
Cheryl Hines selling MAHA candles using a naked RFK Jr. in a promo video: https://www.wonkette.com/p/does-a-naked-rfk-jr-make-you-want
And RFK Jr. deep fries a turkey in beef tallow and takes it out barefoot to MAHA: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/robert-kennedy-jr-turkey-thanksgiving

Dec 5, 2024 • 60min
615: Salvation Harmy Edition
In this week’s episode, we’ll warm some old headlines up for leftovers, Heath pushes new boundaries on the surface tension of stuffing, and we’ll follow up a week off with a week … kinda off.
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To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
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Video Link:
Check out the animated version of the “What the Fuck Is?” segment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7U32vRjZOU
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This Week in Misogyny:
Yet another death because of Texas’s abortion ban: https://www.propublica.org/article/porsha-ngumezi-miscarriage-death-texas-abortion-ban
Kenneth Copeland warns that Trump’s critics will spend eternity hearing the names of aborted babies: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/scamvangelist-trumps-critics-will

Nov 28, 2024 • 52sec
Scathing Atheist Thanksgiving Announcement
There will be no episode this week. For the first time in over a decade, we've decided to take an episode off for Thanksgiving, but we'll be back next week. Thanks for understanding, and thanks for all your support over the year(s).