Friendly Atheist Podcast

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Pastor John Gray, after denouncing "pulpit pimps," gave his wife a $200,000 car. (0:30) — There's a financial scam that the Catholic Church says it has nothing to do with. How can anyone tell which one's the scam? (6:59) — A bishop said women who are sexually assaulted probably did something to deserve it. (10:15) — The Supreme Court's Trinity Lutheran decision is the basis for two conflicting legal battles. (14:30) — Southern Baptists finally acknowledged their racist past. What about their bigoted present? (23:05) — The Trump administration is cracking down on research that uses fetal tissues even if it could help treat HIV. (29:00) — The child of atheist parents was discriminated against by her school, said a human rights tribunal, but her parents are still jerks. (32:55) — There are sex advice message boards for abstinence-preaching conservative Christians. (42:52) — A new poll finds that atheism isn't a political liability in certain situations. (47:29) — A Christian author who said atheism and morality didn't go together was caught having an affair. This is old news (sorry!) but a link about it is here. (53:40)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — How seriously should we take the allegations against Neil deGrasse Tyson? (1:14) — Was a pastor who gave cash back to his congregation being generous? (28:45) — A Lutheran pastor wants to melt down purity rings and turn them into a golden vagina. (36:45) — How does a doctorate in End Times theology even work? (42:30) — A psychic was arrested for scamming a woman out of $12,000.(48:30) — Was a substitute teacher wrong to tell children Santa isn't real? (53:28)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Who deserves the blame for missionary John Chau's death? (1:49) — Celine Dion's new gender-neutral clothing line is apparently demonic. (19:04) — When you say life begins at conception, people are bound to try and use that to their advantage. (24:24) — Sending prayers after a tragedy decreases the amount you give to victims, according to a new study. (28:10) — An Arkansas state senator wants legislators across the country to join his Christian legislator club. (32:05) — Hijabs should be allowed on the floor of Congress, but the proposed rule change doesn't go far enough. (36:44) — Hemant reflects on his FOX News segment. (40:52) — A Dutch church is conducting non-stop services to protect a family from being deported. (55:23) — An Australian wedding magazine run by a Christian couple shut down after advertisers fled due to their anti-gay policy. (56:48)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andrew Copson is the Chief Executive of Humanists UK, formerly known as the British Humanist Association, as well as the current President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. He also studied Classics and Ancient and Modern History at the University of Oxford. His new book is called Secularism and it's a primer on the history of the philosophy, what it means today, and how it offers a solution to some of the biggest conflicts in the world. We spoke about the difference between secular and atheistic nations, the biggest threats to secularism around the world, and why even religious people ought to support a secular society. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Wentzville, Missouri will pay the price for trying to silence an atheist who criticized their "In God We Trust" sign. (0:58) — A white Kansas county commissioner told a black woman that he belonged to the "master race." (4:35) — Ricky Gervais and Stephen Colbert talked about religion once again, and it's a joy to watch. (9:43) — A 19-year-old progressive woman was elected to the New Hampshire State House. She ran after a sitting official insulted her. (12:00) — The conservative lawyers in a major church/state separation case aren't getting all the money they wanted because the judge said they're greedy. (15:40) — Kentucky's governor is blaming mass shootings on zombies and abortions. (24:48) — An awful video game lets you shoot LGBTQ people. (27:52) — This Christian ministry's contract with a public school district is bananas. (31:12) — Zayn Malik of One Direction says he's not a Muslim. (40:19) — Some Republicans in a Texas county want to oust a local leader because he's Muslim. (44:04) — People did not like these rainbow poppies on Remembrance Day. (49:38) — After an anti-gay Christian burned LGBTQ library books, an atheist raised over $1,000 to replace them. (53:37) — Why doesn't the media cover religion with more skepticism? (57:00)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Atheism, politics, and the consequences of the midterm elections! We discussed canvassing for a great candidate, the atheists who were elected, and what the GOP Senate majority could do to the courts. (1:00) — The anti-gay county clerk from Kentucky, Kim Davis, is now out of a job having lost her re-election bid. (39:08) — The Trump administration wants to make it even harder for women to obtain birth control. (45:15) — The mother of a mass shooting victim says she doesn't want anyone's thoughts and prayers. She just wants gun control. (48:40) — Michelle Obama conceived her daughters through IVF. (51:07) — Here's a FOX News story you may enjoy. (53:07) — Hemant will be speaking in St. Louis, Missouri on Sunday night! It's free. Come! (58:00) — Students at a high school outside of Chicago were sent swastikas on their phones. (59:20)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Kellyanne Conway blamed the synagogue shooting on anti-religiosity, not anti-Semitism. (3:04) — Don't invite a Jews for Jesus rabbi to speak after a mass shooting of Jewish people. (10:32) — Muslims covered the funeral expenses for victims of anti-Semitic mass shooting. (16:35) — Did the University of Utah properly handle the death of a student? (19:05) — Don't ever go to a gynecologist who does this. (21:30) — The Pakistani Supreme Court overturned a death sentence for Asia Bibi. Will she be safe? (23:50) — A Washington State Rep. wrote "Biblical Basis for War" manifesto. (29:50) — Attorney Michael Avenatti may run for president as the Great White Democratic Hope. (33:22) — Some young evangelicals are realizing Democrats practice what Christians preach. (36:40) — In Alberta, a patient had to discuss end of life care on the sidewalk because a Catholic hospital wouldn't allow it inside. (43:20) — A Catholic bishop allegedly told kids that Santa doesn't exist. (47:44)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Tasmania may remove gender from birth certificates. (3:55) — The Trump administration may revoke legal protections for transgender people. (8:35) — Ark Encounter attendance is still dropping faster than ever. (18:18) — Astrological chapstick is now a thing. (20:37) — The Museum of the Bible realized five of its Dead Sea Scrolls are fake. Who wants to tell them? (22:47) — If the Australian prime minister apologized for abuses in the Catholic Church, does it matter? (29:38) — Anti-vaxxers got Arizona to scrap its vaccine education program. (35:55) — Should anyone accept Caitlyn Jenner‚Äòs apology for supporting Donald Trump despite his actions against transgender people? (41:36) — Most evangelicals don't understand their core beliefs, according to a new survey. (51:28) — A rabbi wants people to avoid online ordination for weddings. He doesn't get the problem with that. (1:09:03) — This pastor thinks Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be executed for treason. (1:17:09) — Is it okay for parents to swear around their children? (1:19:36) — How do you meet atheists when you're new in town? (1:20:21)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — A Catholic pharmacist wouldn't give a woman the medicine she needed to abort a miscarriage. (2:35) — Christian videographers want the right to discriminate against gay customers and it may go to the Supreme Court. (10:48) — Republicans are rushing to confirm an enemy of church/state separation before Democrats can weigh in. (21:12) — Stephen Hawking is adamant about his atheism in his final book. (30:42) — Donald Trump said he has a "natural instinct" for science, a comment which shows he doesn't understand science. (34:30) — There's a "grueling" exam for astrologers. I guess you fail by taking it. (37:02) — Christian author says rape doesn't count if the woman doesn't scream. Again. (42:52) — An anti-gay former fire chief in Atlanta got $1.2 million in settlement. (49:15) — 90% of Goop wellness products are not supported by science. (57:43) — Can you be a bad atheist? (1:02:07) — How can we stay optimistic in a depressing world? (1:07:59)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Atheist charity Nonbelief Relief just had its tax exemption revoked by the IRS‚ arguably on purpose. The group says this amounts to religious discrimination by the government. (0:45) — Here are the major church/state separation cases in front of the Supreme Court that Brett Kavanaugh could soon be ruling on. (11:55) — Secular Democrats are among the most enthusiastic about the midterms. But will that mean votes? (18:38) — Mike Huckabee thinks Taylor Swift's endorsement for Democrats won't matter. As usual, he's wrong. (22:45) — The Mormon president said women should take a 10-day social media "fast" right before the election. (27:24) — The new Quebec premier says a large crucifix in the National Assembly isn't a religious symbol at all. (32:36) — Want an important take on the #MeToo movement? Don't ask North Dakota GOP Senate candidate Kevin Cramer. (35:41) — A group representing Catholic moms released a video supporting Kavanaugh that was all about how false allegations could happen to the men in your lives. (41:41) — The UK Supreme Court just ruled in favor of Christian bakers who didn't want to bake a cake for a gay customer. But this could backfire on Christians. (44:02) — Teachers at a middle school couldn't decide what to do with a trans student during a lockdown drill. Thank goodness it was only a drill. (49:02) — Matthew Shepard will finally have a resting place nearly two decades after a hate crime took his life. (51:23) — When are government officials (including teachers) allowed to wear religious symbols? (55:42)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.