Freethought Radio

We file another lawsuit in federal court this week, challenging censorship of freethought literature in Orange County, Florida high schools. FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel gives us the details. Then we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic 1963 Abington v. Schempp decision by the U.S. Supreme Court by talking with Ellery Schempp, who was the high-schooler in 1956 who took his complaint to the highest court.

There is no reason to keep hating. Women's rights, Roe v. Wade, and the current "marriage equality" cases before the U.S. Supreme Court are this week's topics. We hear Roy Zimmerman's hilarious song "Defense of Marriage" and Dan Barker's "No Gods, No Masters" (about Margaret Sanger). Then we talk with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Linda Greenhouse, who has covered the Supreme Court for 3 decades for the New York Times, author of the books Becoming Justice Blackmun and Before Roe Against Wade.

Happy Birthday to composers Edward Elgar and Charles Strouse! This week we hear an update on the Ball State professor who is preaching creationism in the classroom. Then we talk with Victor Stenger about his new book, God and the Atom.

Nonbelievers in the news! Tornado victim interviewed on CNN says she is an atheist, while Ricky Gervais sends money, not prayers, to Oklahoma relief. An Arizona representative delivers a secular humanist invocation before the assembly, and an Australian TV host delivers an "Aussie" version of the Ten Commandments. Then we talk with high-school activist Gage Pulliam, whose complaint to FFRF resulted in the Muldrow, Oklahoma, schools removing hundreds of Ten Commandments plaques from the walls of public classrooms.

Today we celebrate Bertrand Russell's birthday by listening to his own voice commenting on Christianity and the afterlife. Hear Annie Laurie read Russell's "Ten Thoughts" alternative to the Ten Commandments, and Dan's song "Reincarnation" about the after-life. Then we talk with FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott about the successful removal of Ten Commandments posters in Oklahoma and Kentucky schools, and (it's that time of year) the ongoing problem with the distribution of Gideo bibles in public schools.

It's Irving Berlin's 125th Birthday, and we celebrate the life of the nonbelieving songwriter by playing some of his famous music. Listen to George Carlin rail about religion, hear about FFRF's graduation prayer victory in Georgia, and learn about FFRF's May 2 full-page Washington Post ad challenging the National Day of Prayer. Then we talk with high-school senior Daniel Koster, who distributed freethought literature at Wekiva High School, Florida, protesting Bible distribution in 11 Orange County schools.

There is hope after faith! We listen to former pentecostal minister Jerry DeWitt "preach" his story of conversion to atheism before 900 nonbelievers at FFRF's 2012 Convention. Then we talk with another former preacher, Robert Price—scholar, author, Jesus Seminar fellow, and professor of theology—who tells us why many scholars doubt not only the resurrection, but also the very existence of Jesus.

Actress, comedian, author and atheist Julia Sweeney discusses her new book, If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother. Her hilarious yet poignant writings -- from one intriguing month of her life -- cover marriage, motherhood, adoption, Santa Claus, abortion, and the death of her brother, all in her uniquely humanistic and comedic way. We also hear the Malvina Reynolds song "The Judge Said," about the successful recall of a sexist Wisconsin judge (and hear about Annie Laurie dressed as a nun in 1977).

Breaking (and taking down) the Ten Commandments! Hear about FFRF's victory in Kentucky schools that are now removing the Ten Commandments after complaints from students and FFRF attorneys. Then we talk with Australian singer/songwriter Shelley Segal -- the new poster girl for the international atheism movement -- and play some of the songs from her CD, An Atheist Album.

This week we celebrate the April 13 birthdays of two great freethinkers: Christopher Hitchens and Thomas Jefferson. Listen to a hilarious excerpt of Hitchens' 2007 talk to the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Then hear Dawn Brittain talk about her efforts to defend Jefferson's wall of separation between church and state, by trying to remove a cross from a war memorial in Coos Bay, Oregon. Bonus music: "Thank You, God," by Tim Minchin.