Friendly Atheist Podcast

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — What I'll remember about Daniel Dennett. (0:28) — Catholic priest resigns after backlash involving his criticism of a gay author. (8:43) — Christian lawmaker says teachers should be allowed to hit special needs students. (24:38) — A Christian ministry urged the Supreme Court to criminalize homelessness. (46:03) — Māori atheists say Christian colonization helped push them away from the faith. (1:01:59) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Christian Men's Conference descends into chaos over sword-swallowing acrobat. (1:02)  — Wisconsin official blames homelessness on "sin," then votes against aid for the poor. (25:15) — Christian Nationalist falsely claims Satanist chaplains "don't qualify" to work in schools. (39:27) — Tennessee declares Aitken Bible one of its "official state books." (53:37) — North Dakota GOP endorses Christian theocrat to run the state's public schools. (1:07:06) — Louisiana High Court: Priests have a "right" not to be sued over decades-old abuse. (1:20:15) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Arizona GOP lawmaker lashes out at "god-haters" who criticized abortion ban prayer. (4:21) — Christian school's pastor cancels Autism Awareness Week, calling it "demonic." (19:40) — New Testament scholar Richard Hays now says God's cool with gay people. (35:53) — The Vatican, a threat to human dignity, calls gender-affirming surgery a threat to human dignity. (45:57) — Wisconsin public school district seeks new leader with "conservative, christian values." (1:01:09) — Christian woman admits she was fired from Starbucks for being an anti-LGBTQ bigot. (1:11:24) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — This pastor's wedding night "joke" epitomizes Christian sexism. (0:40) — Richard Dawkins says Christianity is "fundamentally decent," but Islam "is not." (18:42) SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. — Prominent Christians falsely claim Biden chose Easter to honor trans people. (34:13) — Donald Trump is now selling a Bible that a Christian publisher walked away from in 2021. (41:13) — New York prisoners, led by atheist, sue state in order to see solar eclipse. (48:28) — Christians erect (another) $240,000 cross in Mississippi. (1:03:18) — After ruining a school district, Christians in Colorado want to "take over" a city council. (1:09:40) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! In this interview, I spoke with Jess Piper. Jess was an American Literature teacher for 16 years before deciding to take the plunge and run for office. She ran for the Missouri State House in a deeply red district. And while she didn't win, she continues her activism as Executive Director of Blue Missouri and hosts a weekly podcast called “Dirt Road Democrat.” I've been reading her essays at "The View from Rural Missouri" for a while now, but I was amazed by how much one of her recent pieces, about the "Fundie Baby Voice," really resonated with so many people. SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Satanists sue Tennessee district for trying to thwart After School Satan Club. (1:09) SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. — Evangelicals are using a data-harvesting app to target new potential converts. (22:24) — FOX & Friends promotes Catholic app Hallow with on-air (paid) prayer segment. (34:07) — Wisconsin Supreme Court: Catholic-aligned charities don't get an automatic religious tax break. (41:27) — Despite the threat of Christian Nationalism, 80% of Americans say religion is "losing influence." (55:25) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Texas State Rep. Matt Schaefer: Every elected official in America is required "to worship God." (0:40) — Preacher John MacArthur faces backlash after saying Martin Luther King, Jr. was "not a Christian at all." (7:52) — SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. — Researchers say Christian leaders will embezzle an estimated $86 billion in 2024. (21:27) — "God & Country" highlights the growing threat of Christian Nationalism. (32:32) — Indian state criminalizes "magical healing" in move widely seen as anti-Christian. (52:47) — Wyoming Supreme Court dismisses atheist's $24M lawsuit over religious invocations. (1:06:29) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Christian Nationalists are furious at reporter Heidi Przybyla for accurately reporting on them. (1:45) SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. — Why Liberty University's $14 million fine from the Dept. of Education is well-deserved. (25:42) — Norwegian court upholds ban on state funding for Jehovah's Witnesses. (59:46) — Owners of Lighthouse Christian Academy arrested for alleged kidnapping. (1:13:26)  — President Biden restored protections for anyone getting help from faith-based, taxpayer-funded groups. (1:26:42) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — GOP lawmaker pushes anti-abortion propaganda bill with scientific, antisemitic lies. (1:45) — After non-binary teen's death, lawmaker says Christians don't "want that filth" in Oklahoma. (19:15) SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. — Violating IRS rules, hate-preacher Jack Hibbs endorses candidate from pulpit… again. (36:07) — California school board member claims Satanists are worse than literal Nazis. (59:04) — Christian Nationalist Sean Feucht threatens Spokane officials for condemning mayor's appearance at prayer event. (1:11:29) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Alabama Supreme Court cites "wrath of a holy God" while claiming frozen embryos are "children." (0:43) SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/atheist today to get 10% off your first month. — Sam Alito is big mad that anti-gay Christians were struck from the jury in a case about a lesbian. (29:57) — Former Hillsong leader Brian Houston insists he wasn't searching for "ladies and girls" online. (47:42) — Texas school board trustees snuck an evangelical film crew into a public school. (1:01:18) — Congress members call out "ill-qualified hate preacher" who gave invocation. (1:09:07) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Telling the truth about modern evangelical Christianity means admitting it's harmful. (1:12) — Christian Nationalist Jason Rapert thwarted in attempt to block funds for public libraries. (40:24) — After atheist’s invocation, Tavares (FL) City Council lets Christian give replacement prayer. (53:28) — Christian hate group leader claims fellow hate group isn't hate group. (59:50) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Two students may have prevented a school board from saying Christian prayers at meetings. (0:49) — Arizona bill would ban Satanic displays on public property. (11:18) — Iowa Republican files bill to ban "Satanism on state property." (21:00) — Are pastors ethical? Survey shows their reputation for honesty is at an all-time low. (35:22) — Texas lawmaker: I want Christian chaplains in schools to "put God back in government." (44:36) — Iowa Republicans want public schools to hire untrained Christian chaplains. (49:35) — Florida lawmakers are trying to shove untrained religious chaplains in public schools. (54:08) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Oregon lawmaker tries to walk back comment that atheists are unfit for public office. (0:42) — A proposed Satanic school helped derail a vote to repeal Idaho's Blaine Amendment. (21:29) — Christian radio host punished after advising grandma to attend transgender wedding. (33:45) — An Oklahoma GOP lawmaker wants to ban single people from sexting each other. (53:20) — Did a public school in Texas figure out how to legally hoist a Christian flag? (1:10:40) SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to choose your free offer and get $20 off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Christian pastor and wife sued over alleged cryptocurrency fraud scheme. (1:30) — An Ohio pastor was punished for opening his church to the homeless. He deserves it. (23:50) — Conservatives are falsely claiming NBC censored Jesus in an interview with C.J. Stroud. (48:30) — A Mississippi school rightly reprimanded a kid who said "Jesus Christ" out of frustration. (58:00) — Have the “Nones” finally peaked? (1:07:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — An AI-generated "George Carlin" tackles God in a new comedy special. Does it hold up? (1:10) — A natural disaster destroyed hate-preacher Greg Locke's tent church (again). (36:10) — WV Republicans refile bill to get "Intelligent Design" in classrooms. (46:24) — A detailed compilation of Mike Johnson's ties to Christian Nationalism. (1:00:55) — Christian Nationalist Sen. Josh Hawley: We need more Christian Nationalism! (Somewhere near the end) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Lil Nas X has perfected the art of trolling Christians to market his music. (1:17) — In Iowa, white evangelicals are embracing Donald Trump, not Jesus. (18:20) — "God gave us Trump," says lie-filled propaganda video spread by Trump. (39:36) — Michigan GOP lawmaker: My bill will revoke tax exemptions from "non-theistic churches." (47:30) — Despite abuse problems, The Meeting House church isn't doing enough to help victims. (55:27) — GOP congresswoman Mary Miller: God-believers "are the best people" to serve in elected office. (1:09:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Kim Davis, the infamous Christian clerk from Kentucky, has to pay another $260,000 in her case against a same-sex couple. (1:46) — Mormons are no longer in the majority in Utah, researchers say. (12:50)  — Christians are mad that a Christian magazine (correctly) said Jesus was Asian. (33:10) — Lying Republican says New York bill would force Chick-fil-A to stay open on Sundays. (49:20) — Oklahoma GOP lawmaker files bill forcing Ten Commandments in every classroom. (57:27) — After the Covenant shooting, why do Christians think GOP lawmakers will listen to them? (1:09:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! On this (extra-long) podcast, Jessica and I discussed the past year in news! We covered a whole variety of topics, going month by month, so feel free to jump around and listen in at any point! — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — The Catholic Church, which is still anti-LGBTQ, will let priests bless same-sex couples. (0:50) — Here's why Speaker Mike Johnson's attendance at a "Purity Ball" is so damn disturbing. (21:25) — Conservatives can't handle the existence of an After School Satan Club in Tennessee. (34:58) — A Kansas teen launched the first high school Satan Club in the country. (46:33) — A Nativity scene returned outside the Toledo, Iowa fire department... with two new additions. (53:00) — An Iowa school district rejected a ministry's offer to buy a vacant building and launch a Christian school. (1:02:25) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show! Join our private Facebook group and Discord server! Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. — Conservatives can't handle The Satanic Temple's harmless display in Iowa's Capitol. (0.37) — Officials in Toledo, Iowa think their public Nativity display is legal. They're wrong. (24:55) — The ACLU made a critical error in defending Christian pseudo-historian David Barton. (32:20) — The Mormon Church is buying up acre after acre of Nebraska. (49:36) — Preacher defends criminally charged colleague, saying critics will be "sniped and taken out." (58:15) — Denmark reinstates blasphemy law, criminalizing the burning of holy books. (1:11:15) — SPONSOR: Sign up today at butcherbox.com/friendly and use code friendly to get free chicken wings for a year.  — SPONSOR: Paint Your Life. Text FRIENDLY to 87204 to get 20% off your painting! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices