Freethought Radio

After announcing upcoming freethought events in DC, New York City, and Central America, Dan and Annie Laurie talk with staff attorney Liz Cavell about the FFRF amicus brief she drafted for the Supreme Court Masterpiece Bakery case that questions whether business owners, because of their religious beliefs, can refuse to serve gays. Then we hear part of the hilarious speech that actress, comedian, and author Julia Sweeney delivered before FFRF's annual convention where she told us about the many atheist-bashing Christian movies she watched this year.

This Halloween weekend, Bill O'Reilly is "mad at God!," and a Texas high-school is mad at FFRF. The "Nones" are growing even faster, according to Scientific American. We announce FFRF's new "Unabashed" and "Out of the Closet" virtual billboards. After hearing the first-ever "Atheist Town Hall," moderated by Cara Santa Maria, we listen to New York Times op-ed columnist Michelle Goldberg describe the scary rise of "Christian nationalism" during the Trump era.

Another victory! FFRF prevailed in its federal lawsuit against Texas governor Greg Abbott, who violated our free-speech rights when he ordered our Bill of Rights display removed from the state capitol. We dissect President Trump's remarks at the Values Voters Summit, and then challenge the nomination of theocrat Jeff Mateer to the Texas federal court. After hearing Dan's song "Freedom From Religion," we talk with Frances Kissling, former president of Catholics for Choice, about the Vatican's war against women.

Housing Allowance Victory! Dan and Annie Laurie discuss the recent FFRF federal lawsuit, in which they were plaintiffs, declaring the IRS clergy housing allowance exclusion unconstitutional. Then they talk about the bad decision in Barker vs. Conroy that bars nonbelievers from opening Congress with a secular invocation. Winners of FFRF's grad-student essay contest are announced. Then we hear an excerpt of Katha Pollitt's speech about Trump and the religious right, delivered at FFRFs annual convention last month.

We mourn the death of freethinking singer/songwriter Tom Petty ("music is my religion") by playing "I Won't Back Down," appropriate for a week of state/church victories. Staff attorney Patrick Elliott tells us about last week's federal decision declaring a Christian cross on the Lehigh County (PA) seal unconstitutional. Attorneys Sam Grover and Andrew Seidel compare the First Amendment with the Second Amendment as they are both being inappropriately "expanded" into absolute rights. Then we talk with David Williamson, president of FFRF's chapter, the Central Florida Freethought Community, about our victory (in which he was lead plaintiff) declaring unconstitutional the exclusion of atheists from Brevard County council invocations.

We memorialize the life and achievements of the late Barbara Blaine, founder of SNAP, survivor of priest abuse and advocate for other survivors. FFRF Director of Communications Amit Pal will talk about "Emancipation Day" for Saudi women. Special guest Marianne Arini will explain how she overcame a Christian fundamentalist education based on Bob Jones University workbooks. Today a nonbeliever, she teaches critical thinking skills. We give a musical nod to Sting, born in early October, a self-described agnostic.

FFRF's 40th annual convention was a great success! Nonbelief Relief announces $100,000+ in charity to victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. We discuss FFRF's amended complaint in our lawsuit challenging President Trump's unconstitutional Executive Order that he claims now allows churches to engage in political activity. Then we hear from FFRF's Honorary President Steven Pinker, the Harvard professor of psychology and prolific author, who gave FFRF his first speech and interview about his new book, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress.

For a change of pace while Annie Laurie and Dan are busy with FFRF's 40th annual convention, FFRF's Director of First Impressions Lisa Treu hosts this week's show featuring music by strong women. Marlene Dietrich, Shelley Segal, Joan Baez, Peggy Seeger, Malvina Reynolds, Kristin Lems, Lena Horne, Ani DiFranco, and more, singing about evolution, equality, the (non)afterlife, peace, Eve, and life as a freethinking woman.

This week Annie Laurie, Dan and Andrew answer questions from listeners, such as "How can you be sure there is no supreme being?", "How does the bible compare to Game of Thrones?", "Are you afraid to die?", "How do you reply to 'God bless you'?", and so on. During the second half of the show, we talk with well-known satirical and irreverent singer/songwriter Roy Zimmerman, who will be performing at FFRF's annual convention next week. During the show, we hear a preview of Roy's songs "Ted Haggard is Completely Heterosexual" and "Religious Freedom," which covers the history of America's religious liberty in four minutes.

FFRF's Non-Belief Relief announces a $10,000 gift for Houston hurricane relief. We complain about missionaries preying on Alabama students and Rev. Franklin Graham advising coaches to break the law. FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel describes FFRF's complaint about Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeting bible verses. Then we talk with Barbara Blaine, founder of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), about her decades-long effort to hold the Catholic Church responsible for the crimes against children committed by priests who are shielded by bishops.