Friendly Atheist Podcast

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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‚Ķ 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‚Ķ 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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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‚Äòs 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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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‚Ķ 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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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‚Äòs 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‚Äòs 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 risqu√© 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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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‚Ķ 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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.