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American Iconoclast Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

After honoring "Champions of the First Amendment" Roy Torcaso (1961, Torcaso vs. Watkins) and Ed and Ellery Schempp (1963 Abington vs. Schempp), we talk about atheist rock climber Alex Honnold, who this month made history by ascending Yosemite's El Capitan free-style with no rope. We hear Roy Zimmerman's hilarious song "Creation Science 101," and then talk about the 1925 Scopes Trial with historian Andrew Kersten, author of the book Clarence Darrow: American Iconoclast.

Ask an Atheist Jun 09, 2017

Show notes

Freethought Radio bonus! This is the audio of the debut of FFRF's new Facebook Live video "Ask An Atheist," which aired June 7 at 12:00 noon Central. Hosts Annie Laurie Gaylor, Dan Barker, and Andrew Seidel discuss each of the Ten Commandments and how they relate to morality and law. Then they take questions from the audience.

Heretics! Jun 08, 2017

Show notes

We announce FFRF's new "Ask an Atheist" Facebook Live show. Is the Kentucky Governor right to fight crime with prayer? Should religious hospitals be exempt from pension-plan regulations? FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott tells us about the recent Supreme Court ERISA decision that privileges religious companies and thereby endangers their employees. After hearing the irreverent song "Experiment," by the non-religious songwriter Cole Porter, we talk with professor Steven Nadler, author of the new book Heretics! (illustrated by his son Ben Nadler), about the 17th-century scientists and thinkers who brought philosophy into the modern world.

Freethought in the Arts Jun 01, 2017

Show notes

FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel tells us how we know George Washington did not say "So help me, God" at his inauguration. Dan Barker performs the song "Poor Little Me" that he co-wrote with Broadway composer Charles Strouse, whose birthday is this week. Then we talk with internationally acclaimed sculptor and atheist Zenos Frudakis about the bronze statue of Clarence Darrow he is making, which will be unveiled in July at the courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, where the 1925 Scopes Trial took place.

A None's Story May 25, 2017

Show notes

We announce our full-page ad in the New York Times: "Mr. President, we are not a nation of believers." A Virginia sheriff removed a bible verse from police vehicles after hearing from FFRF. Staff attorney Patrick Elliott explains why Trump's budget is a disaster for education, and FFRF's thoughtful Communications Director, Amit Pal, discusses the religiously motivated bombing in Manchester, England. After hearing Mike Tramp's irreverent song "Trust in Yourself," we talk with former nun Maureen Hart, currently on the board of the Clergy Project, about her journey to kick the habit.

License To Think May 18, 2017

Show notes

We celebrate the birthday of Bertrand Russell by reading his secular Ten Commandments. Attorney Sam Grover, who is indeed messin' with Texas, updates us about FFRF's lawsuit over a judge who forces prayer on his courtroom that prompted the Attorney General to attempt to intervene on behalf of the Christian judge. Then we chat with Indiana freethinker and veteran Chris Bontrager, whose initial request for a personalized 'ATHE1ST' license plate was denied.

Blasphemy Is A Victimless Crime May 11, 2017

Show notes

FFRF stops bible classes in a Tennessee elementary school. After commenting on President Trump picking Teresa Manning, an avid antiabortionist who said "contraception doesn't work," to lead the nation's largest family-planning program, we talk with Michael Nugent of Atheists of Ireland about blasphemy laws, and hear actor Stephen Fry's comments that caused him to be investigated for blasphemy. Then we speak with Rice professor and prolific author Dr. Anthony Pinn about his new book, When Colorblindness Isn't the Answer: Humanism and the Challenge of Race.

See You In Court May 04, 2017

Show notes

The first Thursday of May, the National Day of Prayer, is actually the National Day of Reason. Today we announce FFRF's newest lawsuit challenging President Trump's Executive Order (signed on the National Day of Prayer in the Rose Garden) attempting to curtail the Johnson Amendment that limits politicking by churches. After hearing Dan Barker's song "Reason," we talk with a brave West Virginia mom who has joined FFRF's lawsuit challenging bible classes in her daughter's public school.

Spotlight on Freethought Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" on HULU is the freethought cultural event this week. We complain about the San Antonio mayor's remark that poverty stems from a broken "relationship with their Creator." After Michael Newdow's hilarious song "My God Is In My Soul," incorporating hate messages on his answering machine, we analyze what is wrong with the upcoming National Day of Prayer. Then we hear the "Spotlight on Freethought" segment that explains why the Constitution protects nonbelievers from the tyranny of the religious majority.

Authentic American Hero Apr 20, 2017

Show notes

President Trump says "we are a nation of believers," creationist Ken Ham calls FFRF "liars," and Bill O'Reilly (who has bashed FFRF) gets dumped from FOX News, oh my! FFRF staff attorney Andrew Seidel describes the escalating "war of words" between Ken Ham and FFRF over the Kentucky Ark Encounter. Then we talk with an authentic American hero, Ishmael Jaffree, FFRF's first "Freethinker of the Year" awardee, who won the 1985 Supreme Court Wallace v. Jaffree case stopping so-called "silent prayer" in public schools.

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