Friendly Atheist Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 501 - Oklahoma Education Leader Decries "State-Sponsored Atheism" Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Hemant launched a Kickstarter to go through the Book of Revelation on YouTube. Please consider supporting him here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/friendlyatheist/everything-wrong-with-revelation-in-the-bible

— Oklahoma education leader claims church/state separation is "state-sponsored atheism." (0:40)

— Judge rules (again) that teaching Islam in school doesn't violate the Constitution. (19:57)

— Pennsylvania lawmaker cites Genesis 8 as proof that climate change is fake. (33:25)

— A Pennsylvania police chief told a tarot card reader they could be jailed under the law. (40:55)

— Atheist reminds Democratic leaders: We "are the party of religious freedom." (49:49)

— Girl Defined had the worst possible guest to discuss women's bodies. (58:09)

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Ep. 500 - Footloose at a Louisiana High School Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Citing the Bible, a Louisiana principal punished a student for dancing inappropriately‚Ä¶ then came the backlash. (5:42)

— A new Arkansas voucher program gives millions of public dollars to private Christian schools. (29:40)

— When it comes to climate change, white evangelical Christians are least likely to accept reality. (39:22)

— A candidate for public office is suing New Jersey over the phrase "So help me God" in its oath. (55:10)

— Poland's census just revealed a massive drop in Catholicism. (1:03:10)

— Asian Americans are drifting away from organized religion. (1:11:20)

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Ep. 499 - Project 2025, a Christian Nationalist Fantasy Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— We're having a 500th episode party in Aurora, Illinois on Saturday, October 7. Details are here!

— "Project 2025" is a Christian Nationalist fever dream that would destroy American democracy. (1:39)

— "Savior Complex" explores the dark side of an infamous Christian missionary in Uganda. (19:37)

— A new federal report says Liberty University isn't keeping its students safe. (37:50)

— North Dakota GOP lawmaker Brandon Prichard went on a theocratic, homophobic tirade. (49:15)

— With more abuse lawsuits on the horizon, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has declared bankruptcy. (1:01:59)

— SPONSOR: ButcherBox is offering our listeners turkey FREE in your first box plus $20 off your first order. Sign up at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code FRIENDLY.

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BONUS - Interview with Kate Cohen, author of "We of Little Faith" Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Hemant spoke with Kate Cohen, author of the new book "We of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (And Maybe You Should Too)."

https://amzn.to/46wxEmO (Affiliate link)

Cohen is a Washington Post contributing columnist who has written many beautiful essays about atheism for an audience that isn't necessarily seeking it out. We spoke about why she's not an "angry atheist," the importance of secular holidays, whether there's a nice way to tell religious people they're lying to themselves, and more.

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Ep. 498 - Most GOP Voters Think Trump is a Man of Faith Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Hemant is speaking in Denver on Saturday, Sep. 30. Details are here!

— We're having a 500th episode party in Aurora, Illinois on Saturday, October 7. Details are here! t

— A former Southern Baptist leader says his sexual misconduct is "nobody else's business." (1:30)

— Republicans think Donald Trump is more of a "person of faith" than Mike Pence and Mitt Romney. (24:42)

— Kevin Sorbo doesn't want anyone to say his anti-trans children's book is anti-trans. (37:34)

— NASA's new policy chief took her oath on a copy of Carl Sagan's "Contact." (51:25)

— The Transformed Wife doesn't know how public schools work. (54:50)

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BONUS - Interview with Andrew Pledger, host of "Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult" Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Hemant spoke with Andrew Pledger, a former student at Bob Jones University, a fundamentalist Christian school with a long and not-so-great history. Andrew is the host of a new podcast called "Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult."

The stories in that podcast are depressing as all hell but they're so important to hear if you want to get a real sense of what schools like these do to people.

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Ep. 497 - The Mormon Church Condemns Tim Ballard Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Hemant is speaking in Denver on Saturday, Sep. 30. Details are here!

— We're having a 500th episode party in Aurora, Illinois on Saturday, October 7. Details are here! t

— Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke has a massive bill coming his way. (1:30)

— Even the Mormon Church wants nothing to do with Tim Ballard. (10:30)

— A new lawsuit says Louisiana students were tricked into going to church instead of a college fair. (25:05)

— Letter suggests Pope Pius XII knew about Nazi atrocities but remained on the sidelines. (40:40)

— After a teen's petition, a Minnesota school district will stop holding graduation in a megachurch. (52:40)

— A professional singer was fired for criticizing the Cleveland Diocese's anti-LGBTQ policies. (1:04:03)

— A Christian hate-preacher rationalized slavery in the worst way. (1:20:20)

— For State House, Louisiana GOP endorses Christian pastor charged with child cruelty. (1:28:16)

— A former American Family Association VP sued AFA for same-sex sexual harassment. (1:35:13)

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Ep. 496 - A Baptist Pastor Trashed Kids with Autism Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis owes $100,000 to a gay couple she discriminated against. (1:28)

— A Baptist pastor falsely claimed autism is demonic: "My God doesn't make junk." (12:45)

— A misleading survey suggests Christians are more tolerant of free speech than atheists. (30:00)

— Florida continues to promote a Christian-approved alternative to the SAT. (41:54)

— Christian pastors are struggling to find their successors. (1:00:05)

— Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke has a warning about demonic owls. (1:13:48)

— An Idaho library board chair demanded Sunday closures to "keep the Sabbath day holy." (1:19:58)

— SPONSOR: Head to factormeals.com/friendly50 and use code friendly50 to get 50% off!

— SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/FRIENDLY and use code FRIENDLY to get $20 off your first order.

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Ep. 495 - Bremerton's Praying Football Coach Quit Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Bremerton's praying football coach got what he wanted, so he quit. (1:25)

— A California megachurch took over Chino Valley public schools, creating chaos once again. (32:33)

— A dinosaur denier interviewed a dinosaur liar. Now my head hurts. (47:13)

— A Christian group is blocking access to a Jersey Shore beach on Sunday mornings. (1:00:18)

— Christian liar David Barton says Democrats aren't "God-fearing," so they cheat in elections. (1:10:15)

— The Transformed Wife has no clue what happens in public schools or workplaces. (1:17:58)

— SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/FRIENDLY and use code FRIENDLY to get $20 off your first order.‚Äã

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Ep. 494 - These Chaplains Don't Want Schools to Hire Chaplains Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

Please support the show at https://www.patreon.com/friendlyatheistpodcast. Donors now get access to a new BONUS episode.

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— Religious chaplains are begging Texas schools not to hire religious chaplains. (1:48)

— A California public school board leader was condemned over calls for "Christ centered" parents on committees. (21:15)

— A Christian boarding school that abused dozens of kids settled its lawsuits for $100 million. (34:12)

— Christian hate-preacher Jonathan Shelley has thoughts about me. (49:02)

— Denmark may criminalize burning holy books in public spaces. (56:10)

— The Transformed Wife has thoughts about divorce. (1:06:00)

— What words could you not say when you were Christian? (1:11:30)

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