The Thinking Atheist Podcast

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.naturebox.com/thinkingatheistThis podcast is a digression from our usual subject matter...a romp through the interesting explanations of random sayings, occurrences, facts and traditions.  What makes a cat purr?  Why do weddings have a "best man?"  Why do tennis scores use "love" instead of "zero?"  Why do people choose chopsticks over the fork?  Why is it "soccer" in America and "football" in Europe?  Can a human live for any length of time exposed in space?  Etc.We won't change the world with this show, but as seekers of knowledge (even trivial knowledge), we'll learn some interesting stuff, and we'll have some fun together.  EnjoyOATMEAL article "Who VS Whom:"  http://theoatmeal.com/comics/who_vs_whom 

Another year closes its doors, and we look forward to 2016.  In advance of the New Year holiday, we take a look back at many of the people and events that defined the past twelve months. 

David Silverman is a self-proclaimed "atheist billboard" and "firebrand atheist."  As President of American Atheists, he has been at the point position on many controversial issues (and the occasional lawsuit), and he has just released a new book called, "Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World."David spoke with Seth Andrews about the book, the lightning rod of David's particular brand of activism, and the rise of non-belief in America.  This conversation can also be seen on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/9aSyjQjC2yo

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.harrys.com (promo code: thinkingatheist)This will be the last radio podcast until the Christmas holiday.  It's a romp around the globe, as we explore some Christmas traditions beyond Santa, Frosty the Snowman, holiday ham, and the baby Jesus. Get ready for Christmas witches, fried chicken feasts, Festivus ("for the rest of us"), the Spanish pooper, and of course, the Krampus.Seth writes about the Krampus (and many other things) in his book, "Sacred Cows: a Lighthearted Look at Belief and Tradition Around the World."

This is a 30-minute conversation between Seth Andrews and YouTube activist Steve Shives, recorded recently at the Pennsylvania Atheist/Humanist Conference in Harrisburg, PA.  Video of this conversation can be seen here:  https://youtu.be/2Q4Yv3rgv-0

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.evolvefish.com"War On Christmas" has been used so much in the media, it has become a parody of itself.  And yet many still hold to the belief that the baby Jesus is under attack by atheists and secular humanists, and the protests sound at full volume every December.In this broadcast, we talk about some of the noise out there, and we speak to Andrew Seidel of the Freedom From Religion Foundation about the holiday, church/state separation, lawsuits over nativity scenes, atheist holiday celebrations and more.Andrew Siedel onFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Andrew-L-Seidel-750945458347916/?fref=tsTwitter:  @AndrewLSeidelCHRISTMAS: BEHIND THE CURTAIN:YouTube:  https://youtu.be/kenbgMjRvlYFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/seth.andrews.31/videos/vb.100001992705053/931270510282697/?type=2&theater

From time to time, we do an unscripted broadcast where the listeners provide the theme and content.  This is one of those shows.  Lots of random stuff in here.  Enjoy.

This podcast features the audio from Seth Andrews' presentation at FreeFlo 2015, the Freethought Florida Conference in Orlando.  The speech is an often lighthearted (but occasionally alarming) exploration of "sacred" ideas and practices in the 21st century, and it explores the merits of retiring damaging rituals in favor of better ones.SPEECH VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/biBULlkmBFEVIDEO WITH NATHAN PHELPS "Something Beautiful":  https://youtu.be/L6IPFyHEv3o  

Religious parents and institutions know the importance of a child's developmental years, and how difficult it is to tell/sell supernatural claims once the child reaches his or her teen years.  In this podcast, Seth Andrews explores the "programming" of young minds, and explores the difference between education and indoctrination.  Capping the show is the personal story of a young woman named Kaitlyn, whose apostasy prompted her devout Mormon parents to kick her out of her home.The Tiny Thinkers project:  https://www.gofundme.com/tinythinkers

Steve Hill, Maryellen Hooper and Keith Lowell Jensen are professional comedians.  They are also atheists.In this roundtable discussion, Seth Andrews asks them about life on the road (and the stage), how their non-belief in the supernatural influences their material, facing the hecklers, and their desires to make people laugh while, perhaps, also making them think.Steve Hill:   http://www.stevehillcomic.comMaryellen Hooper:  http://www.maryellenhooper.comKeith Lowell Jensen:  http://www.rockass.netVideo link to "Evolution: What the Fossils Say" from Seth's monologue:  https://youtu.be/DjFgcOId-ZY

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR:  http://www.harrys.com (promo code: thinkingatheist)Is it possible to "talk someone out of their faith?"  Is it even appropriate or worthwhile to make an attempt?  If so, how might atheists best approach those with deep-seated (and often lifelong) religious convictions to foster real discourse and encourage critical thinking?Dr. Peter Boghossian is author of the book, "A Manual for Creating Atheists."  Anthony Magnabosco is a YouTube activist and advocate of "street epistemology."  Both men join Seth Andrews for this interesting discussion.Miguel Video  https://youtu.be/D8LYTy4DmEsJamil Video  https://youtu.be/_99dy6doEqsMakayla Video  http://youtu.be/F_3ys05tReU

Halloween is almost upon us, which means it's time again to turn down the lights, crank up the podcast, and share some ghost stories.Yes, skeptics can enjoy ghost stories, and this annual tradition has become hugely popular with the TTA audience.  So prepare to enter a world of ghosts, ghouls, footsteps in the dark, whispers from under the bed, and things that go bump in the night.Happy Halloween!

Why do we become afraid?  Is it rational or irrational to fear the dark, spiders, the boogeyman, the things that go bump in the night?It's October, the month of frights. So, a week in advance of our Ghost Stories episode, we expore the concept of fear, and we talk about the things that keep us awake in the still of the night (or in the light of the day).  Special thanks to our special guest: Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez of Stanford University.  

Christianity.  Where did it come from?  Who wrote the books of the Bible?  Is there any evidence for a god or man named Jesus?  Why has Christianity remained so popular over the ages?  This podcast features two interviews, conducted by Seth Andrews, with historians and researchers who speak about the origins the New Testament Gospels, the ever-changing face of Christianity, history versus myth, and the Jesus storyIn separate interviews, David Fitzgerald and Dr. Robert Carrier each tackle the Bible and its deity.  VIDEO VERSIONS ON YouTube:DR. CARRIER:  https://youtu.be/WXou9IcH2BE  FITZGERALD:  https://youtu.be/DgPrKHsRpJ8  

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.audiblepodcast.com/thinkingatheistMuhammad Syed is the executive director and Sarah Haider is director of development of Ex-Muslims of North America.  Both are former Muslims.  Armin Navabi is a former Muslim from Iran and the founder of Atheist Republic.In this broadcast, the panel speaks with Seth Andrews about Islam, radical Islamism, cultural Muslims, "The Religion of Peace," the widely conflicting perspectives on Islam, and the difficult and often dangerous road faced by the apostate.Ex-Muslims of North America:  http://www.exmna.orgAtheist Republic:  http://www.atheistrepublic.com