Freethought Radio

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Guests: Dr. Barry Kosmin, ARIS Principal Investigator & Author Susan Jacoby Mar 14, 2009

Show notes

Topics: U.S.'s Growing Secularism, & What's Wrong with Pres. Obama's Faith-Based Plans?Barry A. Kosmin, a principal researcher of the definitive American Religious Identification Survey, will talk about the newest ARIS results released this week showing that up to 1 in 5 adult Americans is nonreligious, and the continuing decline of religiosity in America. Author, journalist and freethinker Susan Jacoby will talk about her op-ed piece in The New York Times, "Keeping the Faith, Ignoring the History," detailing what's wrong with faith-based funding and offices in the federal government.

Guests: Sharron King, Tennessee Freethinker & Henry Steinberger of SMART Recovery Mar 07, 2009

Show notes

The show will feature 2 interviews: a short conversation with Tennessee freethinker Sharron King about being an unbeliever in the South, and with Henry Steinberger, of SMART Recovery, offering a secular alternative to 12-step and AA-based programs for alcohol and drug use recovery. Also featured: a teaser for Philip Appleman's newest book of freethinking poetry, "Karma, Dharma, Pudding & Pie," and the song, "Fleas," Phil Appleman's classic parody of the poem/song "Trees."

Guest: William Lobdell, Author of "Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America" Mar 01, 2009

Show notes

Also: The Current State of State/Church SeparationReporting on religion for the Los Angeles Times is eventually how journalist William Lobdell lost his religion. His new book, "Losing My Religion," just came out this week so tune in for this interview! The hosts will also comment on current freethought and state/church developments, and debut Brazilian vocalist Sharon Bele's version of the song, "Beware of Dogma."

Guest: Eric Maisel, author of The Atheist's Way: Living Well Without Gods Feb 21, 2009

Show notes

Also: What's Wrong with Pres. Obama's Faith-based Council?President Obama's executive order creating a White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will be analyzed and critiqued. The show will include audio clips of Obama's speech before the National Prayer Breakfast with host reactions. Author Eric Maisel will be interviewed about his new book: The Atheist's Way: Living Well Without Gods.

Guest: Matthew Chapman, Author, Filmmaker & Darwin's Great-great Grandson Feb 14, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Matthew Chapman, Author, Filmmaker & Darwin's Great-great Grandson& Updates on FFRF's "Praise Darwin" BillboardIn honor of Charles Darwin's bicentennial birthday this past week, the hosts will interview Darwin's great-great grandson Matthew Chapman, author of Forty Days and Forty Nights, and Trials of the Monkey. Also featured: Susan Hofer singing the jazz love song and ode to science, "It's Only Natural." The hosts will update the Foundation's campaign to take pro-Darwin billboards to sites where the Dogma Versus Darwin debate still rages! Listen for an entertaining clip of local coverage of the "Praise Darwin: Evolve Beyond Belief" billboard in Dover, Penn. (site of the intelligent design controversy).

Author Lauri Lebo, The Devil in Dover: An Insider's Story of Dogma v. Darwin in Small-town America Feb 09, 2009

Show notes

Announcing FFRF's New Darwin Billboard CampaignIn honor of Charles Darwin's bicentennial birthday on Feb. 12, the hosts will interview reporter Lauri Lebo, author of The Devil in Dover: An Insider's Story of Dogma v. Darwin in Small-town America. Lauri covered the Dover "intelligent design" trial for the York Dispatch. The hosts will also talk about the Foundation's new Darwin billboard campaign, and pay a little homage to "the birthday boy." The song, "Intelligent Design," by poet/Darwin scholar Philip Appleman, to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic, will also be featured.

Guest: State/Church Plaintiff Paul T. Rappel: Jan 31, 2009

Show notes

Topic: Religion Rules in Manitowoc County, Wis., & Why He Is Standing Up to ItAlso: FFRF's New Bus Sign Campaign Unveiled!The hosts unveil FFRF's new bus sign campaign, debuting in February in Madison, Wis.,(and going around the nation as funds permit), including memorable quotations by freethinkers, including Richard Dawkins. Interviewed will be Foundation member Paul T. Rappel, who will talk about why he decided to stand up and become a plaintiff in FFRF's new federal lawsuit challenging a 62-year nativity scene violation by Manitowoc County, Wis, an ultra-conservative spot.

Guest: Jason Torpy, Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers Jan 24, 2009

Show notes

Topics include Inaugural ReligionLively commentary and clips from the Presidential Inauguration, from the freethought point of view, and an update on the Newdow inaugural prayer lawsuit, will precede an interview with Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.

Guests: Ed Hensley, Plaintiff, Kentucky's Godly Homeland Security Law & Rebecca Kratz, FFRF Staff Attorney Jan 17, 2009

Show notes

Topic: State/Church Separation ActivismThe broadcast will include guest Ed Hensley, one of 10 plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed to challenge a Kentucky law requiring the state Department of Homeland Security to stress "dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth." Also interviewed will be the Foundation's new staff attorney, Rebecca Kratz, who will report on ending several major state/church violations this month, including Christian proselytization of service men and women in Iraq, as well as religious violations in public schools in California and Florida.

Guest: Filmmaker Jessica Gerstle Jan 10, 2009

Show notes

Topics: Stem-Cell Research: The Future, and Update on Inaugural Prayer ChallengeThe featured guest will be filmmaker Jessica Gerstle, whose movie, "The Accidental Advocate," chronicles the moving quest of her surgeon father, Claude Gerstle, who was recently paralyzed, to seek answers on stem-cell research and what is holding it up. Jessica will address the complex barriers to full stem-cell research, thanks to religious-right incursions into the federal bureaucracy. The hosts will also update the new inaugural prayer challenge and discuss the dangers of politicians, such as Roland W. Burris, believing they are "anointed by God."

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