The Thinking Atheist Podcast

Seth Andrews does a (largely spontaneous) commentary about Cardinal George Pell, gluten-free communion wafers, the Flat Earth Society, and...guacamole!Support Seth on Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/sethandrews

No...these aren't the stories you're used to hearing at Sunday Sermon. These are stories that are often skipped over, ignored, or excused, lest they send Christians into a fit of head-scratching, guffaws and gasps. Let us explore The Good Book. (And if you can, share this episode with your Christian family and friends. They'll love it!)Support our sponsor:  http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/seth

How do those with disabilities feel when religious people declare them sinners, a life lesson, or a miracle just waiting to happen?  We explore this subject, and the stories of various listeners who have been labeled, named, claimed, prayed over, and in some cases, ignored.Link to Washington Post editorial: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/04/24/a-powerful-reddit-thread-reveals-what-its-like-to-be-disabled/?utm_term=.fbf5514598d5Blog "What Christians Have Taught Me About My Disability: https://profoundmetamorphosis.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/what-christians-have-taught-me-about-my-disabilitySupport our sponsor:  http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/seth

What's it like to emerge from a religious belief, and to navigate the complex, difficult and wonderous world beyond?  Seth Andrews has a candid conversation with a young apostate who is currently walking this path. Her name is Sara.  Her story is challenging, occasionally heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring.Support Seth Andrews on patreon: http://www.patreon.com/sethandrews

Seth Andrews speaks with two secular legal experts about several recent court decisions that reflect (or betray) the United States Constitution's Establishment Clause.  Andrew Seidel is a Constitutional attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Monica Miller is Senior legal Counsel for the American Humanist Association.Video of the Monica Miller interview: https://youtu.be/7kIjDPGOgiAHemant Mehta's article on the Pensacola backlash against Monica Miller: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/06/21/christians-are-harassing-the-atheist-lawyer-who-won-the-pensacola-cross-case/Support Seth Andrews on Patreon:  http://www.patreon.com/sethandrews 

Is Islam the most dangerous religion on the planet today? Is "Islamophobia" legitimate? What's an Atheist Muslim? How do we address the challenges that come with the world's fastest growing religion?Lots of contributors to this show, including:Ali Rizvi: author of "The Atheist Muslim"Muhammad Syed & Sarah Haider: Ex-Muslims of North AmericaArmin Navabi: Founder of AtheistRepublicYasmine Mohammed: Founder of "Confessions of an Ex-Muslim"Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar: Founder of "Global Secular Humanist Movement"Support our sponsor:  www.stamps.com (promo code: sethandrews) 

Seth Andrews gave this speech June 3, 2017 in Toronto at the Imagine 7 conference.  It's a humorous (and perhaps therapeutic) romp through Seth's religious past...and the often bizarre words and attitudes that reflected his Christian faith.VIDEO of this presentation: https://youtu.be/URr0O9aHW38Support Seth Andrews on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/sethandrews

Religious cultures are often distrustful of science and scientists. They're also often bound to debunked mythologies and bad information. We explore mis-education and the celebration of ignorance in the name of God.Support Our Sponsor:http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethLinks to Jonny Scaramanga's articles on ACE:http://www.patheos.com/blogs/leavingfundamentalism/2014/09/01/revelations-from-a-former-ace-insiderhttp://www.patheos.com/blogs/leavingfundamentalism/2016/09/13/out-among-the-stars-defeating-the-legacy-of-religious-indoctrinationhttp://www.patheos.com/blogs/leavingfundamentalism/2014/08/18/a-readymade-toolkit-for-institutionalised-oppression

Seth Andrews (apparently) lives in a house infected with dark, demonic power.  In this 30-minute broadcast, the host explains how he came to reside in the Devil's Domain.

Theoretical physicist Dr. Lawrence Krauss has written a new book about "The Greatest Story Ever Told...So Far," which examines and celebrates the human exploration of our universe.He discusses his book, and his perspective on the religious ideas of a "Greatest Story," with Seth Andrews in this short conversation.SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethDr. Krauss' book is available at http://a.co/9GQP0SHVIDEO of this interview:  https://youtu.be/rTtf1mzjOW8   

A former Christian informs his wife that he's now an atheist. She threatens to divorce him. Seth Andrews has a short message for her, and for anyone who finds himself or herself "unequally yoked" with a non-believer.VIDEO "Letter to a Christian Spouse:" https://youtu.be/FQUA9Rh2MCY

Andrea Garatshun is a former Christian fundamentalist.  Now an atheist, she has spent the past decade as a Bible researcher, with a focus on biblical Hebrew, and understanding the gods of the Old Testament – the Tanakh.Garatshun asserts that Christian tradition’s archetypes of Satan are completely missing from the Old Testament, and that an exploration into the Hebrew reveals how Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub and Devil have been completely misinterpreted and misunderstood by cultural Christianity.This is a conversation about “The Devil You Don’t Know.”VIDEO of this conversation is on YouTube:  (coming soon)SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/seth

On this 2nd part of a two-part podcast, we discuss the controversial subject of physical violence as a response to hate speech.  Support our sponsor:  Stamps.com http://www.stamps.com (promo code: sethandrews)Part 1 of this discussion can be heard here:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thethinkingatheist/2017/05/16/when-to-punch-a-nazi-a-conversation-about-free-speech-part-1-of-2

Recent headlines have seen violent responses toward the culture's more distasteful voices. White supremacist Richard Spencer is punched during an interview. Milo Yiannopoulos' Berkley speech prompts riots.  Ann Coulter cancels her own Berkley appearance over security concerns.  Justifiable outrage against outrageous people and ideas seems to spill over into fists, fires, calamity and chaos.  But are these responses appropriate and/or helpful?  Is it ever appropriate to respond to words and ideas with a physical blow?On this two-part episode, we discuss this controversial subject.  Your calls and emails: podcast@thethinkingatheist.comSupport our sponsor:  The Great Courses Plus http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/sethPart 2 of this discussion releases May 17th, 2017 at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thethinkingatheist/2017/05/17/when-to-punch-a-nazi-a-conversation-about-free-speech-part-2-of-2 

It's an impromptu show where our listeners pick the topics.  Dial in and sound off!