Thank God I'm Atheist

The J-Dubs are coming to a front door near you, LDS clergy abuse reporting, Florida judge loses election, street preachers vs pagan festival, Singapore decriminalizes gay sex, Christians burn a very surprising book, and BYU goes back on their word and trashes pamphlet that provided LGBTQ resources.

Baylor students mock mormonism ahead of game with BYU, Southern Baptists lose leaders, Bangladesh reverting to secular constitution, Texas considers constitutional amendment to protect religious observance, Saudi Arabia welcomes bikini-clad sunbathers, a Baptist group judges fashion, and a chat about religious conservatives choosing to live in their own version of reality.

Mormon 'American Idol' star comes out as LGBTQIA+, news from the Southern Baptist Convention, Michigan governor ends government funding of 'conversion therapy,' a new rug for the forgetful Muslim, Florida now requires daily moment of silence in schools, a mysterious donation to hate preacher, and the very strange ideas people have about god.

In a calculated hedge against hell, Dilbert creator Scott Adams announces a death-bed conversion to Christianity, explicitly framing it as Pascal's Wager—a cynical, calculated play for the afterlife. Christians celebrate, atheists groan, and we unpack why this story is catnip for religious propaganda, why the logic collapses instantly, and why deathbed conversions remain one of Christianity's favorite—and flimsiest—victory laps. (Adams passed away at age 68 from prostate cancer after we recorded the show.) Then: the Pope condemns medical aid in dying after Illinois legalizes it, a lawyer is fined $400,000 for warning a school about an accused priest, the U.S. Defense Secretary pushes Christianity deeper into the military, China cracks down on underground Christian churches, Israel prepares to relocate a so-called "lost tribe" from India, and the LDS Church quietly dismantles its all-female Temple Square mission. Support the show: www.thankgodimatheist.com/donate

What happens when Trump desecrates a painting of Jesus? Billionaires line up to buy it. At a Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve party, Trump signs a painting of Christ—offering a very public glimpse at how faith, money, and power now intersect. From there, it's a week of religion doing what it does best: embarrassing itself in public. A failed doomsday prophet in Ghana finds out there are consequences when the apocalypse doesn't show up, Iran's theocratic regime faces mass protests fueled by hunger and economic collapse, and conservatives melt down after New York City's new mayor commits the ultimate sin—taking his oath of office on the "wrong" holy book. Plus, Marjorie Taylor Greene stumbles into a moment of clarity about Trump's faith, Chick-fil-A makes things awkward again, and we ask—once more—what any of this is actually doing to the country.

A University of Oklahoma instructor gave a student a failing grade — and lost their job over it. The reason? Religion entered the chat. We unpack how a routine college assignment turned into a culture-war flashpoint, why academic standards suddenly became optional, and how religious grievance keeps getting rewarded when it collides with higher education. Also this week: Trump administration officials decide government social media accounts are a fine place to preach Christianity, Sarah Huckabee Sanders issues a Christmas proclamation that sounds more like a sermon, and a Colorado megachurch leans hard into child-trafficking panic to push anti-trans ballot initiatives. Plus new Pew numbers on religion in America, a rare LDS feel-good story, listener mail, and yet another reminder that moral panic never really goes away — it just finds new targets.

What happens when a man decides an airplane cabin is the perfect place to hold church? This week, we discuss the now-viral moment of a passenger pulling out his guitar mid-flight to serenade a captive audience with praise songs. Some travelers joined in while everyone else stared ahead in silent fury. We talk about public space, consent, religious entitlement, and why "sharing the Good News" at 30,000 feet feels less like ministry and more like an in-flight nightmare. Also on the show: Franklin Graham preaching about God's love and God's hatred at a Christmas service hosted at the Pentagon; an Arizona lawmaker pushing to force "intelligent design" into public school science classes; the Catholic Archdiocese of New York selling off prime real estate to pay clergy abuse settlements after its insurer refuses coverage; an Anglican bishop cleared after allegedly mishandling multiple abuse cases; a self-styled prophet predicting a Christmas flood and building multiple arks to survive it; and a surprisingly hopeful look at how AI is helping scholars translate ancient religious texts—possibly demystifying scripture faster than ever before. 💙 Support the show: https://www.thankgodimatheist.com/donate

What happens when a custody dispute turns into a fight over whether a child is being harmed by religion—and the courts are forced to weigh in? This week, we dig into a disturbing custody case that forces an uncomfortable question into the open: should religion get special protection when kids are the ones paying the price? We also cover the Mormon Church's latest branding hypocrisy as it pressures independent podcasts to stop using the word "Mormon," a Utah high school administrator delivering a religiously loaded pep talk that shames struggling students, and a World Cup Pride match in Seattle that sends Iran and Egypt into predictable outrage. Plus: Florida and Texas label a Muslim civil rights group a "terrorist organization," the Catholic Church is forced into a $230 million abuse settlement, and new Pew data reveals that religion's long decline in the U.S. may have temporarily stalled.

It's that time of year again: the War on Christmas is back—and wilder than ever. This week, Dan and Kate dive into the bizarre conservative outrage over a nativity scene depicting the Holy Family as migrants detained by ICE. Right-wing commentators are furious, churches are divided, and somehow this one small display has become a national symbol of everything they think is wrong with America. We unpack the theology, the politics, and the truly unhinged reactions. Then we get into a whole slate of religious weirdness from around the country: A Florida attorney general tries to shut down a Drag Queen Christmas performance Christian rock band Skillet is accused of releasing "demonic" holiday music West Virginia courts weaken vaccine mandates in the name of religious liberty BYU football players quietly scale back their missionary service A Tennessee woman stages a fake kidnapping "lesson" for kids that backfires spectacularly And for our final segment, Dan dives into research on how former members of insular religious communities talk about forgiveness—and how that differs from what their traditions demand.

Nothing says "holiday spirit" quite like Christian leaders panicking over a goth-themed Christmas market, and their dramatic meltdown is far more entertaining than anything on the vendor tables. From there, we look at an Oklahoma student stunned that her Bible-based gender essay didn't pass a psychology assignment, the Vatican's latest attempt to police monogamy, and a disturbing story out of South Africa where a pastor's self-appointed authority went far beyond anything resembling justice. Back in Utah, Sweet Salt—an LDS modest-fashion clothing store—is shutting down, and in Austria, three elderly nuns have staged a bold return to their abbey with the help of an unexpectedly large Instagram following. In our closing segment, Dan shares a thoughtful and deeply personal reflection on the recent passing of his mother—an honest conversation about compassion, autonomy, and the realities families face.

The Epstein files have finally started to drip out, and the early reactions are already something to behold. This week, Frank and Dan wade into the bizarre rhetorical contortions spilling out of the right-wing media sphere—from Megyn Kelly's head-scratching attempt to "reframe" things to the Catholic League charging in with one of the most offensive defenses imaginable. We also look at Catholic clergy in Chicago suing ICE for blocking access to detained migrants, and the Vatican's "generous" decision to return 62 Indigenous artifacts to First Nations communities in Canada. Meanwhile, Ken Paxton is threatening schools that won't put the Ten Commandments in every classroom, and the UK Supreme Court finally calls out mandatory religious education in Northern Ireland schools for what it is: Christian indoctrination. To close things out, we talk about gratitude and how atheists can navigate Thanksgiving without a divine recipient of their thankfulness. And if you want to support the work we do, visit: thankgodimatheist.com/donate

SCOTUS just delivered a win for marriage equality. After nearly a decade of appeals, lawsuits, and national drama, the Supreme Court has officially declined to hear Kim Davis' case challenging gay marriage… leaving the original ruling in place and the former county clerk on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars. What does this mean for gay marriage going forward? We break it all down. This week's episode dives into the biggest religion-and-politics stories making headlines: SCOTUS rejects Kim Davis • Marriage equality remains intact  U.S. Catholic Bishops elect a far-right "culture warrior" to lead the conference Transgender Air Force veterans sue the military after losing retirement benefits HVAC tech sues employer for forcing him to work with women (Billy Graham Rule meltdown) Pastors running as Democrats in 2026 races The UK is building a 168-foot monument to "answered prayers" (and it's… actually cool?) Plus, this year's Holiday Survival Guide for atheists navigating religious family gatherings. 💰Support the show on Patreon: thankgodimatheist.com/donate

A Catholic school in Pennsylvania put the words "Arbeit Macht Frei"—the infamous phrase from the Auschwitz gate—on the back of its Halloween float. Frank and Dan try to understand how something this shocking made it through so many adults without anyone realizing what it meant, and what it says about religious education and historical ignorance. Also this week: a "family values" lawmaker caught up in the Ashley Madison data leak, ICE detains an Episcopal priest who's legally in the U.S., and the Pope shuts down the "Mary as co-redemptrix" movement. Plus, Bangladesh clerics push to ban music in schools, and churches fail a TikTok test on helping hungry families. Finally, the guys talk about the outrage over New York City's new Muslim mayor, why so many people equate "Muslim" with "terrorist," and what that says about the fear that still drives American religion. 👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes of "Thank God I'm Atheist" 💰Support the show! www.patreon.com/tgiatheist

Christian nationalism, hypocrisy, and pepper-sprayed pastors—oh my! Frank and Dan start in Oklahoma, where LGBTQ+ kids are literally breathing easier now that hateful school superintendent Ryan Walters is gone. Then it's on to a Pentecostal whistleblower who got fired for exposing his bishop's embezzlement, Trump's latest delusional threat to invade Nigeria, and Texas judges who just got the green light to refuse gay weddings. We also check in on America's most eyeliner-forward vice-president, J.D. Vance, and learn how Florida's school-voucher crusade is accidentally funding Muslim schools (cue the outrage!). Finally, Frank and Dan dig into an unexpected question: why do clergy still carry moral weight in public protests—and could atheists ever have an equivalent? Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/tgiatheist  

Dan welcomes guest host Kate while Frank escapes to paradise (again!). Together they discuss new revelations about creep-o Warren Jeffs and how he forced his wives to satisfy his kinks... but you know: for the lord. This week: Gen Z "Revival" – Overhyped college baptisms; mostly young men clinging to old-school patriarchy. Pew Poll – More Americans think religion's power is rising; hosts say it's just the fringe. Kenya Wine Scandal – Communion wine sold in bars, church locks down supply. Ted Cruz & Nigeria – Cruz invents a "Christian genocide" for political points. King Charles & the Pope – First joint prayer in 400 years; royal-religious absurdity ensues. Megachurch Wealth – Pastors justify riches as God's favor, expose on greed and guilt-shaming. And of course, God's secret commandment to Warren Jeffs.  😇 Love what we do? Support the show and get bonus content at patreon.com/tgiatheist

Trump's been thinking about eternity, and apparently he's not so sure he's getting into heaven. This week, Frank and Dan unpack the world's most unexpected crisis of conscience as Trump ponders his afterlife prospects and MAGA faithful insist he's still God's chosen one. Also this week: an atheist in South Carolina is barred from working the polls for refusing to say "so help me God," Oklahoma schools finally ditch their Bible mandate after Ryan Walters' departure, and a Massachusetts town drops plans for $1.7 million worth of angel statues for police and firefighters. Across the pond, a British court rules that burning a Quran is protected free speech, and the Anglican Communion faces a potential schism over appointing a woman as Archbishop. Then, in the final segment, the guys dive into a new "children's Bible" project, and the question of whether any version of the Bible is fit for kids. (Spoiler: probably not.) 😇 Love what we do? Support the show and get bonus content at patreon.com/tgiatheist

A Texas pastor has a divine recruitment strategy—he's telling Christians to "Join ICE for Jesus." We unpack his unholy mix of nationalism, cruelty, and theology while trying to keep their blood pressure in check. Also in this episode: • A preacher blames the wrong calendar for the rapture's no-show • Mormons raise nearly $400K for a shooter's family • Catholic preschools lose their anti-LGBTQ discrimination case • Florida high school gets "Witchy Wednesday" backlash • The ELCA names its first Black presiding bishop Then, we face off over a big question: Should atheists be anti-theists—or can religion still have a place in a secular world? 💸 Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/tgiatheist 📺 Watch and subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/tgiatheist

Trump's latest executive memo takes aim at "anti-Christian" Americans—and somehow that includes us and most of our listeners! Yep, under his new NSPM-7 directive, atheists officially make the terrorist watchlist. This week, Frank and Dan dig into what the memo actually says, why it's terrifying (and absurd), and what it means for anyone who's not worshipping at the altar of Trump. Plus: The death of LDS prophet Russell M. Nelson at 101, a new female Archbishop of Canterbury, Malaysia says you can't quit Islam once you've joined, a Texas megachurch pastor gets a shockingly light sentence, a Nepal crowns a two-year-old living goddess, and the Vatican's Swiss Guard loses its beloved clown suits. 💬 Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/tgiatheist 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/tgiatheist

Oklahoma's "Trump Bibles" have landed in public schools (special editions stuffed with the Constitution and other patriotic texts), but they're conspicuously lacking the amendments that abolished slavery, secured women's suffrage, and guaranteed civil rights. Frank and Dan unpack the scandal and what it means for education and politics. Plus: the "Jesus Take the Wheel" songwriter dies in a plane crash, Portuguese bikers get their helmets blessed, Peter Thiel ties AI regulation to the Antichrist, churches resurrect Charlie Kirk with AI generated deepfakes, Ryan Walters quits as state superintendent of schools to join an anti-union crusade, and TikTok Christians brace for a rapture that never came. 💖 Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/tgiatheist

What happens when faith and bigotry collide? A Texas preacher made headlines after telling white Christian parents they need to give their kids "the talk" about the supposed dangers of Black people. This week on Thank God I'm Atheist: Trump's "patriotic education" plan turns the nation's 250th birthday into Christian nationalist indoctrination. Kash Patel sends Charlie Kirk to Valhalla (yes, really). The Taliban bans books by women and cuts more subjects from universities. A Colorado pastor's crypto scam crashes and burns. A Texas pastor goes full racist with his so-called "talk." U.S. military academies start accepting the Christian nationalist CLT exam. And for the big topic: Frank and Dan debate the promise (and horror) of human immortality—would we even want to live forever? 👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share to support the show!  🙏 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/tgiatheist