Skeptic Generation

It might seem easy to see the flaws in other people's thinking when it comes to religion, but what happens when we don't apply that logic elsewhere? If you've found yourself deconstructing other belief structures in your life, give us a call! Whether you believe in a supernatural world, believe in exceptional metaphysics, or just want to tell me that I'm wrong... Give us a call at 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro  04:31 - Jim (He/Him) OH - How did life begin?14:48 - Trent (He/Him) MO - Staying a mormon after deconstruction52:04 - Ashley (she/they) MN - Conscientious Satanism1:02:25 - Sarah (she/her) WA - I saw a ghost!1:17:22 - Chelsea (she/her) NC - Meeting in the middle1:28:06 - Pete (He/Him) CA - Deconversion tactics1:42:15 - Superchats04:31Jim feels like a hypocrite when he thinks about life in the universe, since he doesnt have sufficient evidence. They both talk about possible beginnings of life on earth and conspiracies. Ultimately, apportioning our acceptance of a claim should be tied to how much evidence we have.14:48Trent has been wrestling with the idea of holding on to religious concepts even though he knows that the supernatural pieces aren’t true. More to the point, he has found that “othering” things like anxiety and genius gives him a leg up in working through things for both him and his kids. Eric does his best to address the topics before losing his train of thought!52:04As a satanist, Ashley uses ritual in their day to day life. The problem is, they really want to make sure they’re not inadvertently appropriating other people’s culture. It’s a strange line that we need to walk when we find ways to embrace rituals as a humanist. From fetishizing others, to alt-right pipelines, the path to a “secular spirituality” is full of pitfalls.1:02:25Sarah has done the work to deconstruct her religion, but theres a problem that has been in the back of their head. When she was a kid, she distinctly remembers seeing a ghost, but how does that work?!1:17:22Chelsea wants to sort out how to really meet people where they’re at when it comes to conversations around religion. 1:28:06Pete has thoughts about it as well! From epically owning our family members, to making strangers extremely uncomfortable, an enormous amount of cringe can be had if we’re not careful. Cheers for wanting to read the room, listen actively, and not just waiting for your turn to talk!_________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Here's a thought: Does asking for proof beg the question that only a naturalistic worldview can answer? If so, is that unreasonable? If not, can we assume that naturalism is the de facto assumption except when it isnt?Whether you believe in a supernatural world, believe in exceptional metaphysics, or just want to tell me that I'm wrong... Give us a call at 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro  04:23 - Michael (He/Him) NY - Cosmic Justice36:48 - Evan (He/They) WA - Challenging Christians on the street54:39 - Jon (He/Him) CAN - How did Eric lose his faith?1:07:42 - John (He/Him) TX - Thanks for the advice!1:18:04 - Philo-Sophistry (He/Him) USA - Atheist Atrocities fallacy?1:30:41 - Superchats04:23Michael suffered as the target of a false allegation and he’s struggling with the lack of accountability for people who acted maliciously toward him while people who believe in god can say “they’ll get what’s coming to them” and be okay with it.By the way, here’s that Madea clip Eric was talking about!-https://youtu.be/CTPzXwNVc9g?si=0fBp2hQwt5Isek8Y36:48Evan wants to talk about two Discworld characters who are witches, one of whom chooses to be good and one of whom chooses to be evil, and how these characters impacted his faith and his family. He goes on to talk about how atheists saying “I don’t believe god exists” forces people to challenge their own self worth.54:39Jon wants to talk to Eric about his journey away from faith. Eric talks to him about his journey away from faith and people from other religions he spoke to, including some key advice given to him by a rabbi.1:07:42John wants to thank Eric for advice he gave him on setting boundaries with his theist family. At first they didn’t react well, but then they realized they still love him.1:18:04Philo-Sophistry wants to know if it’s really a fallacy when theists bring up atheist atrocities? Should he push back against believers who bring this up? Eric explains that evolution is not social Darwinism.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Is this a crossover episode?! This week Eric will be joined by long time friend of the show and all around sweet guy Secular Rarity! This is (surprisingly!) the FIRST time we've hosted a show together and we're really excited!As always, if you would like to talk about what you believe and why, please call 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Introducing Secular Rarity!07:12 - Sarah (She/Her) WA - Can I pull ideals from religions into my secular life?26:59 - Nick (He/Him) UT - Supporting public figures that tithe to harmful churches.38:30 - Red (They/Them) TX - Atheists, Pagans, and Imaginary Friends55:46 - Jesse (He/Him) WA - Should we use labels that most people can’t define?1:12:16 - Chas (He/Him) AZ - Putting the Atheo in Atheopagan1:37:58 - Steve (He/Him) NY - Antitheism VS Pluralism2:07:23 - Outro, superchats, final discussion07:12Sarah wants to know if it’s okay to find good things from religion and bring them into her secular life. Secular Rarity and her talk about buddhism and some of its practices, then SR, Eric, and Sarah talk about collecting rocks. Eric asks some questions about Buddhism and supernatural claims.26:59Nick wants to talk about Brandon Sanderson, and other public figures, being religious and whether or not it’s okay to support them by purchasing their products if we know they are tithing to organizations that lobby for harmful political policies. SR and Eric talk to him about perfect morality and ethical consumption.38:30Red wants to follow up with Eric about a previous conversation they had with him. Eric had previously recommended to them a pagan community in TX. Red checked it out and learned about atheopaganism. They want to know if they are still considered an atheist if they are talking to “gods” which are imaginary friends, and they don’t believe they are necessarily real but also don’t know they aren’t real.55:46Jesse wants to do a friendly nitpick about labels. He heard Secular Rarity identify as a theological non-cognitivist and he has a small bone to pick about using the label without actually telling people what the labels mean. Eric and Secular Rarity have a conversation with him about how the labels can be helpful. After the caller hangs up, Eric and SR have a friendly conversation where Eric is challenging theological non-cognitivism.1:12:16Chas thanks Eric for being there during a dark time. He has a different perspective of atheopaganism than Red, the previous caller, and he elucidates his perspective and how he came to this place in his religion.1:37:58Steve was the first atheopagan caller. He wants to talk about anti-theism vs pluralism, he advocates for pluralism and provides some opinions about supremacist religions and gives details about a pagan group that is run by a white nationalist.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric is making some big changes in his life, we're gonna find out just what that means for the show!As always, if you would like to talk about what you believe and why, please call 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro and patreon update10:02 - Steve (He/Him) - OH - How do I talk to my child about going to church?23:40 - Raphael (He/They) - Hungary - Are anti-zionists racists? (bad audio)49:59 - Chase (He/Him) - ID - How confident are you that god isn’t real?1:15:59 - Sober (He/Him) - CA - How do we find out what’s true and what do we do after?1:29:00 - Will (He/Him) - TN - What are the teleological and ontological arguments? 1:40:22 - Christopher (He/Him) - SCT - Are the gods in the Torah, Bible, and Quran the same god?10:02Steve and Eric discuss a previous phone call where Steve got some advice from Eric regarding the topic of death. Steve had to have the same conversation again. Today, he wants to talk about his child going to church and becoming absorbed into it. They go on to discuss various facets of Steve’s child going to church.23:40Raphael only hears people talk about zionism when they’re using racially motivated speech. Him and Eric discuss how he identifies with the state of Israel, whether it’s irrevocably linked to his faith, and how he feels about anti-zionism. Eric advises him to meet people where they are when talking to them.49:59Chase wants to talk about Street Epistemology and his confidence level in the god of Christianity being not true. He asks Eric how confident he is that the god of the bible doesn’t exist and does a Street Epistemology session with Eric, who returns some epistemological inquiry to Chase.1:15:59Sober wants to follow up about the earlier caller with the Israel caller and determining the truth of reports of current affairs and hard choices that someone has to make after they have the truth. Eric and the Sober talk about how people put spin on things and how everything is colored by the people telling the story and this is why it’s good to apply skepticism to things and find different viewpoints to get a well rounded understanding of things.1:29:00Will wants to know more about the teleological and ontological arguments and Eric falls on his face. The teleological argument is the watchmaker argument. The ontological argument is that a being that necessarily exists is greater than a being that doesn’t necessarily exist.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

-AUDIO WARNING-The first few minutes of the call with Drew includes an echo. We are able to resolve the echo within a few minutes, but feel free to skip to 3:30 if the echo is unbearable.Personal friend and fellow YouTuber Drew aka Genetically Modified Skeptic joins the show today! Before we take calls, he shares how he has taken a scholarly approach to trans issues and has been going to bat for the community in responses to seriously bad arguments made by the religious right. Here is a link to the videos that Drew is referring to during the intro. If you haven’t seen them, check them out! They’re fantastic!https://youtu.be/ABojJ2rW6vA?si=GEOcTJ75tss5FfIAhttps://youtu.be/22W7I3yV-NY?si=BTwBYfP9wSxUN2VBAs always, getting the show started came with its technical setbacks, but we were able to get up and rolling for a fantastic show. Here are the timestamps if you’d like to skip to specific calls.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro  03:30 - Drew’s Echo is fixed!14:58 - Why are there so many denominations? | Ronan (He/Him) - NY30:33 - How to build interfaith community | Isaiah (He/Him) - South Korea45:41 - Where do morals come from? | Tug (He/Him) - CAN55:48 -  Reliability of the Gospels | Phil-oginy (He/Him) - USA1:06:56 - Atheists shouldn’t cohabitate | Andrew (He/Him) - FL1:22:48 - Atheism has a branding problem | Brian (He/Him) - CA1:38:46 - Faith, Community, and Smart Recovery | David1:56:07 - Understanding our religious neighbors | Connor (He/Him) - VA2:03:38 - Community building and smart recovery | David (He/Him) - NC2:10:57 - Superchats14:58Ronan was raised in a non-religious household and is really wondering why there are so many denominations even if they are all reading the same bible.For more resources, we recommend resources like:Dan McCclellan - https://www.youtube.com/@maklelanReligion for Breakfast- https://www.youtube.com/@ReligionForBreakfastDigital Hammurabi- https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalHammurabiAndEsoterica- https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannel32:03As a believer, Isaiah is finding it harder and harder to connect with fellow religious friends and family. He wants to know, how can a Christian like himself both connect with more hardcore family members as well as find common ground to engage with nonbelievers? Speaking for the show, this is the exact kind of conversation we hope to have and applaud anyone making the effort!45:41I don’t think we’re ever going to get away from questions like what is morality, but at least we can do it serving Kant! In this call, Tug wants to know just how we develop morals and why. We ask ourselves, do we need a transcendent lawgiver to ground our morality? Does objective morality exist? Let us know what you think in the comments!55:48Stepping back from the narrative, how much can actually be taken from biblical scholarship? What about secondary sources? Lets talk about what we have, what we want, and what we can hope for!1:06:56Andrew thinks that atheists should still wait until marriage to live together. We talk about taboos against divorce, the positives of living together, and what that means with data from religious sources.1:22:48Brian sees a shift in the way atheists have talked about themselves in the last 20 years, and thinks a new label would be helpful. Drew has wondered about how useful it could be, and Eric shares the shameful history of atheist rebranding.1:38:46John has been on the path to deconstruction for a few months now, and has a few questions. Eric and Drew chime in on reading the room, setting boundaries, and atheist evangelism.1:56:07Connor wants to talk about the nature of discourse with religious folks. Drew talks about how our history informs our approach and how former believers have an easier time understanding the other side. Eric talks about respecting people vs respecting ideas.2:03:38David follows up to John’s call about secular community building and resources for recovery that don't rely on a higher power. You can learn more by going to smartrecovery.org___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

It has been a helluva week! At least we get to have some awesome conversations. Let's do this!If you'd like to help us secure the licenses to stream, feel free to buy us a coffee! It gets delivered immediately and allows us to purchase time in callinstudio & pay for the program fees.If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 0:00 - Eric announces a special guest next week and does some housekeeping. 5:08 -  Mitch - Skepticism is RUINING society! (Troll Call)14:38 - Amanuel - Atheism doesn’t work31:02 - Ameet - Being an Indian Atheist43:29 - Tug - How to disagree effectively50:58 - Isaac - The paradox of tolerance1:02:01 - Alda - What are YOU reading?1:12:10 - Eric reads superchats5:08Mitch calls in to talk about how society has progressed DESPITE skepticism. Has industrialization been a tool of non skeptics? Is our world polluted because of the socratic method? Or is Mitch gonna troll the show yet again?14:38Banned on all other shows, Amanuel calls in. This caller says that all things come from the supernatural. Eric and Amanuel wind up talking about what Atheism means and how we ought to interact with each other.31:02Ameet calls in to talk about how the Indian atheist community is so very different from the American one! As an Indian ex christian, Ameet is wondering how he should interact in ex hindu spaces. If you have experience with other non-believing communities, tell us about it in the comments!43:29Watching call in shows and getting active means figuring out how to be heard. Eric shares some tips and tricks of the trade!50:58Isaac thinks that human experience removes the paradox of tolerance. Eric has made a video in the past about this subject, but has shifted opinions since then. What do you think of this apparent paradox?1:02:01Alda wants recommendations for philosophers to learn about.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436) Love the show? Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

It's been a LONG year! It's time for Eric to shake off those cobwebs and get back into the show! Please feel free to call and say hi! This episode probably won't have a bunch of callers, so this is the weekend to call up uncle Joe and get them to call in!If you'd like to help us secure the licenses to stream, feel free to buy us a coffee! It's gets delivered immediately and allows us to purchase time in callinstudio & pay for the program fees.If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro09:35 - Javier - Walking Away From the Discussion22:27 - Bree - Welcome Back!28:49 - Vi - Good Luck, and What’s Next?36:51 - Steve - Life Without Meaning?47:50 - Dan - When Will It Stop?!1:00:17 - Maria - Can Objective Morals REALLY Exist?1:17:57 - Roy - Finding your footing. (22 year old trans person)1:33:24 - Red - Can a non believer celebrate religious holidays?1:48:33 - Christian - How Do You Get The Pronouns Right?Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436) Love the show? Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

No, you read that correctly. This is the last live show of 2022, and we will be going on hiatus after that to figure out what's next for us and for SkepGen. This episode is a 2.5-hour long extravaganza, with many familiar voices calling in to say hi. We also lifted all previous bans on topics and callers, which makes for some interesting (and heated) conversations before we say goodbye. If you would like to provide $1/month to support the show as we are on hiatus, please make sure to become a Lifelong Skeptic on our Patreon: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Check out our official “SG Hosts DESTROY Callers!” playlist by visiting our YouTube home page or following this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgAFtcRCck1woYD2zC8z4DePc7m6Q4aH6 ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish! 11:07 - Should You Sacrifice Yourself for the Greater Good? - Javier (he/him) - SC20:45 - Thanks For All You’ve Done! - Steven (he/him) - AZ 26:22 - Should We Be Skeptical of Whiteness? - Steve (N/A) - NY 41:25 - This Vegan Caller Says He’d Eat People! - Chase (he/him) - ID1:04:54 - Merriam-Webster Is LYING About Christmas?? - Sunny (she/they) - IN 1:12:41 - Would You Ever Eat Engineered Meat? - Chris (he/him) - CA 1:22:19 - Repeat Theist Caller Tries ONE MORE TIME… - Connor (he/him) - TX 1:31:26 - “God Is The Answer!” - Xeno (he/him) - SK 1:54:30 - Secular De-Colonization and Spirituality - Rosy (she/they/it) - CAN 2:05:06 - Another Thank You for the Show - Jim (he/him) - OH2:09:12 - Should We Start a Santa Claus Religion? - Chris (he/him) - SCT2:13:11 - What Would Convince You of Miracles? - Dean (he/him) - VA 00:00 Eric and Vi discuss the hiatus, address concerns, and talk through what happens next. 11:07Repeat caller Javier returns to discuss altruism and self-sacrifice. Are they overrated? Are they actually selfish? Why would someone ever sacrifice themselves for the greater good if we only have one life to live? 20:45 Steven calls in to wish us well and tell the hosts how much the show meant to him. We appreciate it, Steven! 26:22 Repeat atheopagan caller Steve asks about how to approach the social construct of whiteness, especially if you enjoy discovering your own cultural heritage as a white person. Vi points out the validity of the concerns around neo-Pagan use of ancient cultures to promote white supremacy, but insists there is a healthy way to learn about yourself while using that knowledge to help others. 41:25 We lifted the subject ban, and we have our first vegan caller! This conversation gets heated and contains a lot of loaded language and appeals to emotion. The hosts call this out, attempting to steer clear of strawmen while getting to the heart of the issue: are honeybees people too? 1:04:54 A dictionary has a really shocking entry and this caller wants to talk about it! Vi says this call both made and ruined their day at the same time. 1:12:41 Another vegan caller appears, and this time the hosts are asked what their thoughts are on lab-grown meat. Eric and Vi are both down with some test tube chicken, and offer their understanding of why some vegans might still be against it. 1:22:19 Repeat theist caller Connor tries one more time to talk about how he came to his Baha’i faith. Eric points out the difference between “faith” and “trust,” and Vi says that a testimony might be riveting but doesn’t hold the evidence they’re looking for. 1:31:26 Yes, we let him back on. Xeno wants to make sure the hosts have the correct takeaway from their multiple calls with him: “God is the Answer!” To what? Everything, of course! The question remains: will we miss Xeno? Well, if we’re being totally honest… God? 1:54:30Why do so many people use religion and spirituality as a way to “connect to their culture”? Are there other ways of reaching into the past that are more secular? This caller discusses their own experiences trying to reconnect with their Indigenous culture as a secular person. 2:05:06 Jim calls in to thank the hosts for their time on the show and to offer some suggestions about where they might go next. Thanks, Jim! 2:09:12 Repeat caller Chris from Scotland is wondering if we should ditch Christianity and make a Santa Claus religion instead. He seems nicer than God, anyway. Eric advocates for a non-omniscient deity instead. Vi suggests Hermey the Dentist Elf. Hail Hermey? 2:13:11Finally, we end on a classic: the argument for God from the existence of miracles. Repeat apologist caller Dean is wondering what would make us believe in miracles, and if those hypothetical miracles would then be good evidence for God? Vi points out that if miracles were proven, they’d no longer be called miracles. Eric gets Dean to admit he hates babies.___________________Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We are talking about New Year's resolutions this week, since it's officially December! Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Vi leads this show solo and reads from their old Christian journal from nine years ago. What was their deconversion process like? Is it similar to yours? Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to share your story or just vent about the holiday season. ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Is Solo This Week02:23 - Can People Choose Their Beliefs? - Javier (he/him) - SC18:13 - Vi Reads from An Old Deconversion Journal 25:44 - My Family Doesn’t Believe I’m An Atheist - Cameron (he/him) - MN38:16 - What Kind of Culture Should Atheists Build? - Mark (he/him) - CA 55:53 - Why Is It So Easy to Believe In God? - Steven (he/him) - AZ 1:07:04 - My Friend Thinks God Is Punishing Her… HELP? - Caleb (he/him) - MD1:15:30 - Jesus Wants Us To Be Mean to Atheists - Jim (he/him) - OH1:22:16 - How Do I Deal with Street Preachers? - Chris (he/him) - SCT 02:23Can people choose their beliefs? Vi says that answering “Yes” or “No” are both wrong: this is a “yes, and” situation. People both have the ability to choose what beliefs they strengthen, and are ultimately not in charge of the moment one belief wins out against others. That’s why it’s always dangerous to hold harmful beliefs, even if you don’t act on them. 18:13 Vi has brought an old journal that they wrote almost a decade ago. “The Quest for God” laid out how 20-year-old Vi was struggling with belief, parsing apart what was true and untrue about what they’d been told, and trying to figure out what next steps were. A raw, real moment that hopefully resonated with others. 25:44 This caller is having trouble with his family after coming out as an atheist. They are telling him he’s broken, they are unfollowing him on social media, and generally making him feel unwelcome. They also happen to be in an MLM, which makes things even worse! Vi gives this caller permission to kick these folks out on their ear: “Jesus said to avoid you.” 38:16Now that atheists are growing as a demographic in the US, what should we be focusing on to make sure we aren’t repeating the problems we are seeing with a Christian majority? Repeat caller Mark is wondering what next steps are, and Vi says something shocking: We need to stop talking about religion. 55:53This caller points out that God is easy to believe in because the idea of God is so baked into our culture. Vi agrees: this is why apologetics work. You have to believe in God already in order to be convinced by any of the major arguments for God. We need to eradicate the idea of a maximally great God before we can truly be free. 1:07:04What do you say to someone who is convinced that God is punishing them? Vi points out that it’s actually scarier to imagine that things happen for no reason than to imagine a god is punishing you. At least you’re still kind of the main character, and not just an incidental casualty of the universe. Also, landlords suck. 1:15:30 We talked about some atheists having trouble with their families this episode, but isn’t that exactly what Jesus said to do? Didn’t he tell Christians to desert their families, even end things violently, in order to follow him? Vi once again says “Yes” and “No.” If we’re looking at the historical context of Jesus’s words, he’s actually talking about a political rebellion! 1:22:16 Repeat caller Chris asks how to deal with the street preachers that he’s seeing everywhere. He’s tried reasoning with them and he never makes any progress! Vi says it’s a lost cause to try and debate with them, but what this caller CAN do is make them seem utterly ridiculous. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

That's right! Vi has endured, healed up, and is ready to take your calls! We'd love to talk about what you believe and why, you can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. We're ready to listen.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Technical Difficulties! 09:48 - Is Voting Skeptical? - Mark (he/him) - OH16:58 - Can Atheists Experience Wonder & Awe? - Mark (he/him) - CA 32:03 - Is Humanism Logical? - Jason (he/him) - TX49:18 - Did God Defeat My Depression? - Sour Fruit (she/her) - CAN56:10 - How Should I Weaponize My Atheism? - Mozzie (he/they) - GA 1:17:30 - superchats09:51 Can you be a skeptic and think that voting works? What is the role of skepticism when it comes to how our country is run and our ability to change things at the ballot box? This caller asks huge (and important) questions but the hosts might be a bit out of their depth… 17:02Repeat atheopagan caller Mark dials in to ask whether atheists can experience wonder and awe, and why so many atheists seem to be averse to pursuing those feelings intentionally? This conversation touches on the definition of spirituality, the importance of ritual, and whether or not all the tools used by the Church are inherently bad. 32:09Is it logical to be a humanist in a world full of terrible humans? How do you reconcile with all the bad structural things you’re forced to take part in, if your goal is to be a good person? Can someone who hunts, drives a big truck, and owns an iphone be considered moral by harm reduction standards? Vi provides some practical advice: the four circles of activism. 49:27This repeat atheist caller is coming out of depression and realizing that, if she had been a less skeptical person, she’d attribute all her progress to God. Why is she thinking more about God now that she’s feeling more hopeful? And what causes people to gravitate towards narratives of supernatural salvation so consistently? 56:09 A great way to end out Vi’s first episode back, this caller is a conversion therapy survivor and ex-Christian who is looking for ways to help the LGBTQ+ folks stuck in abusive religious environments. How should they go to war for their community while prioritizing their own mental health and optimizing impact? The hosts have some ideas! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Reading the comments last week, it sounds like people have had a LOT to say! What is a ritual? Does a ritual need to have a supernatural component? If it doesn't, does the word become meaningless? And then there's the topic of violence. When is violence called for when facing oppression? This call last week sparked a hot debate about whether or not it can EVER be the correct answer. What do you think?If you disagree with the host or callers, we want to hear about it. You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen.________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

With Halloween just around the corner, let's talk about what it means to celebrate a holiday. As Christians Vi and Eric were told that celebrating Halloween was tantamount to pagan idolatry. As atheists, they still hear many nonbelievers spouting the same lines! Does celebrating a holiday require one to believe in the supernatural? If you think so, or have an argument against holidays like Christmas and Halloween, we want to hear why! You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Are atheists still harboring religious prejudices?05:24 - Well that was anticlimactic - Kendall (he/him) GA07:59 - What is EVIL anyway? Sajid (he/him) CAN19:15 - “I’ve change my mind” - Jim (he/him) OH 25:16 - God ‘s got some ‘splaining to do! Sajid (he/him) CAN - Part 248:43 - When is violence justified? - Austin (he/him/they/them) MD01:01:10 - It’s too many holidays! - Steven (he/him) AZ01:15:54 - You should be a sexy cat - Sakura (she/they) NY01:23:44 - The supernatural solution - John (he/him) PA 00:00With Halloween a day away, Eric wants to hear what objections non believers have to celebrating holidays. 5:24It isn’t every day we get such an eager troll! Unlike most other trolls, Kendall shot off just a little too prematurely and got dropped before introductions could even be finished… How embarrassing for him! We at Skepgen have often found enlightening discussions with even dishonest interlocutors, but callers like Kendall can’t help but leave their conversation partners … disappointed. 07:59Frequent caller Sajid shares with us how he as a Muslim enjoys Halloween too! Eric and Sajid quickly find their way down a rabbit hole when Sajid mentions that he believes in evil, but what is evil? If we should believe that evil comes from a place or person, we should first seek to understand if that concept even makes sense! Unfortunately due to a poor connection, they need to cut their conversation short.19:15Jim has watched his last call and realized that he doesn’t want to be the kind of person to wish others suffering, no matter how bad they are. Eric shares that he’s also on a similar journey of self discovery, and that it’s admirable for someone like Jim to change their mind after re-watching the show. To see Jim’s first call, here’s a link!https://youtu.be/6B5aeAyAuf4?t=180525:16Sajid is back with a good connection! This time we’re facing the problem of evil directly! Sajid recognizes that abuse isn’t undone by reward afterward, and that a loving god still needs to answer for the suffering in the world. He also concedes just how scary it is if there’s no divine purpose, and that is seriously admirable. Even though these conversations are uncomfortable, we seriously respect the mental and emotional labor Sajid is putting in.48:43Austin hits Eric with an impossible question right out the gate: When is violent resistance justified? Given current events in the US, it feels ever more prudent to ask! Eric does his best to summarize his understanding of violent resistance, but concedes that he can’t nor shouldn’t be the arbiter of when it is called for. We must listen to the needs of the marginalized, and recognize the context that surrounds political violence.As an aside, if supporting LGBTQ rights and safety is a problem for you as a viewer, we encourage you to find another channel, because it isn’t changing here.01:01:10Do federal holidays tacitly endorse one religion over another? Steven calls in to ask if the government should really be in the business of mandating holidays. This might be a little extreme until we take into account the massive amount of cultural holidays celebrated around the world! Can we as a society walk this tightrope?01:15:54Holidays don’t just evolve through generations. Over the course of a lifetime, the same holiday can change exactly what and who we celebrate. Eric and Sakura agree that whether it’s food, presents, or the chance to be a sexy cat, any excuse you can make to live your best life is worth it.01:23:44Does AA have a problem with cognitive dissonance? If Alcoholics Anonymous views alcoholism as an illness, should a supernatural solution be the first place we go for a cure? Eric points out that for those who believe in the supernatural, it’s understandable. Even though it can seem rational to a believer, rationality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi is back and Eric should be held accountable for his actions... Where is the limit for free speech, civil suits, and how long should we wait to celebrate the downfall of shitty people?From conspiracies and conspiracy mongers to the existence of God and the supernatural, we want to know if you believe any of it is true and why! You can join the conversation toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Explains Himself 12:52 - Is Less Religion Better? - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 30:02 - Vi Dumbfounds Eric with Logic - Jim (he/him) - OH37:22 - Can You Have Autonomy and Free Will? - Nick (he/him) - TN56:09 - Should I Stay a Christian? - John (he/him) - LA1:08:02 - Is It Better to Be Happy or Right? - David (he/him) - NC1:21:56 - Will My Halloween Ritual Hurt Me? - Sakura (she/they) - NY00:00Is Eric a sadist for enjoying watching Alex Jones and his family suffer? Or worse, is he being illogical? Some of you have said so, but how does he defend himself against these accusations? 12:52Repeat Muslim caller Sajid wants to draw attention to the violent patriarchal systems being done in the name of Islam. The hosts discuss the Iranian hijab protests and how they got started, and commend Sajid for calling out members of his own religion for doing harm. Watch our last conversation with Sajid here: https://youtu.be/MSo2bia_HCw Book recommendations from Sajid’s conversation: The Trouble with Islam by Irshad Manji: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429906937/thetroublewithislam Red, White, and Muslim by Asma Gull Hasan: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/red-white-and-muslim-asma-gull-hasan?variant=32205450084386 30:02This caller agrees with Eric’s statements about the Alex Jones case, but takes it even farther. If Hell existed, he’d be happy to send Alex Jones there. Eric is uncomfortable with this position. Vi nails a point that leaves Eric reeling for the next several calls. 37:22Is free will necessary for autonomy to be valuable? Vi defends their position that a deterministic universe would not negate the value of autonomy as a moral good. They also come up with the term “spicy determinism” that you can be sure will make future appearances in this broadcast. 56:09This theist caller still believes in God and Jesus, but is debating whether or not to keep calling himself a Christian. The term, he says, has been hijacked by political extremists and he doesn’t want to be associated with them. Vi and Eric disagree on what next steps for this caller would look like. 1:08:02Eric lays down some hard truths when it comes to the question about whether it’s better to be happy or to be right. The answer? Healthy boundaries! Meanwhile Vi comes for Boomer comedy. If you are curious about secular alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous, please follow the caller’s advice and check out SMART Recovery: ​​https://www.smartrecovery.org/ 1:21:56Repeat pagan caller Sakura is about to do their first Samhain (Halloween) ritual, and is a little scared. What advice (if any) do the hosts have for them as they start exploring this new process? Vi describes their own approach to rituals and reassures the caller that they are not in any spiritual danger, no matter what happens. You can listen to our last conversation with Sakura here: https://youtu.be/6A0Adt_9qsU ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

In the modern day, we don't often see punishments so strict that they could be passed down to their children. This week however, we got to see one!Do you have any examples of supernatural curses in your life? Do you believe any group in particular has been singled out divinely for protection or punishment? If so, this is the weekend to tell us! You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric got a vasectomy and Alex Jones got emasculated!06:34 - Nick (he/him) - TN - What about Christians who don’t believe in hell?20:35 - Sphinx (he/him) - TN - This might be uncomfortable to listen to.29:53 - Steven (he/him) - AZ - Our society is set up for secular curses37:53 - Kay (he/him) - Nowhere - Is identity politics empowering prejudice?01:01:00 - Seb (they/them) - CAN - Abusing empathy01:13:23 - Chris (he/him) - SCT - Does ableism empower treating people as less than human?01:23:45 - End of show00:00 - Intro - Eric got a vasectomy and Alex Jones got emasculated!What does it mean for society when a jury finds someone liable for nearly a BILLION dollars? Eric has some opinions!06:34 - Nick (he/him) - TN - What about Christians who don’t believe in hell?Nick was blindsided during a conversation with a Christian friend who doesn’t believe in hell! Eric takes a moment to point out that not all denominations believe in hell, which makes listening so very important. But now down to brass tacks, could a god me morally palatable if hell is off the table?20:35 - Sphinx (he/him) - TN - This might be uncomfortable to listen to.Sphinx took the opportunity to talk about a very painful subject for Eric today… literally! In the wake of the supreme court’s decisions, getting a vasectomy is a good option for those who can get them! Eric answers some questions about his experience in the hopes of making it a little less scary for others.29:53 - Steven (he/him) - AZ - Our society is set up for secular cursesSteven points out that a curse doesn’t need to be supernatural. From the legal system to one’s own family, the impact of a person’s decisions can have lasting repercussions even after their death. That said, we shouldn’t view the children as guilty, but the punishments of their parents being carried out.37:53 - Kay (he/him) - Nowhere - Is identity politics empowering prejudice?Kay wanted to ask some pretty tough questions today about Eric’s ethnicity. What are the costs and benefits of embracing your ethnicity? What about your beliefs? Would abandoning them get the world closer to peace, or would it simply empower bigotry?01:01:00 - Seb (they/them) - CAN - Abusing empathySeb hit close to home today with Eric. Churches often depend on other people to be the bigger person, in order to control them. This isn’t just a religious problem though. Those who have endured this kind of abuse often are left with learned trauma responses that need to be unlearned as adults. We need to remember that we deserve our boundaries, and that it isn’t selfish to let people own their own bad behavior.01:13:23 - Chris (he/him) - SCT - Does ableism empower treating people as less than human?Chris wants to talk about the way ableism is still a big conversation that we as a society have to engage in! They both discuss the importance of education and normalization to break down the “othering” that happens around neurodivergence, mobility, and more.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric is getting a WHAT?! | Skeptic Generation | Episode 41 Season 2It's one thing to see fundamentalist religious zealots on the news, it's another to live in the line of fire. Here in Austin Texas, we've realized that we need to take action!Religion has NO place in government, prove us wrong. If there's a good argument for why religion should motivate law, give us a call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - TMI, Eric! 06:49 - Are the Polys OK? - Steven (N/A) - NY 22:08 - Repeat Muslim Caller Admits He Has Doubts - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 36:52 - Theist Caller Makes Vi Call For a Timeout - Connor (he/him) - TX55:37 - Can Theists Be Skeptics? - Mike (he/him) - MA 1:09:56 - Balancing Skepticism and Open Mindedness - Nathan (he/him) - AUS 1:20:30 - A Perfect Ending To This Episode - Steven (he/him) - AZ 1:26:01 - Superchats00:00 Eric is getting snipped this upcoming week and will be sharing all the gorey (or not so gorey) details next Sunday. In the meantime, consider this your motivation to be proactive about protecting the reproductive rights of those around you… whatever that looks like for you! 06:49Why does a secular society still judge polyamory as being wrong or icky? Even as new legislation makes it safer to pursue poly relationships, it is important that we dig deep and ask ourselves: “What about this is making me uncomfortable, and is there a good reason for it?” Check out the ruling discussed on this call here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/10/new-york-judge-rules-favor-polyamorous-relationships/ 22:08Our repeat Muslim caller Sajid calls in with what Christians would call a “crisis of faith.” Some things just aren’t adding up about his religion, and he is finding it harder and harder to ignore these incongruencies. Eric and Vi listen and affirm the discomfort he finds himself in, and encourage him to be gentle with himself and call back as he has questions. If you or a loved one is struggling with leaving a religion, you don’t have to do so by yourself! Contact Recovering from Religion by visiting this link: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 36:52Our repeat theist caller Connor is back, this time with a seemingly innocuous conversation starter… that seems to completely contradict his statements on previous calls. Vi calls a timeout and confronts this discrepancy, getting increasingly irritated as Connor fails to sufficiently explain his position. Perhaps next week? Do you think Connor was contradicting himself? Watch his previous calls to determine for yourself: - Theist Contradicts Himself Over and Over: https://youtu.be/k-nPFWve510 - Theist Defends Contradictions in Holy Texts: https://youtu.be/7ZSYLuGNbw8 55:37What happens when two skeptics reach different conclusions? What if one of them believes that praying for rain will help a drought? This caller is concerned that maybe he is doing skepticism wrong because he has failed to be convinced of God’s existence. Eric and Vi reassure him and give him pointers to talk to skeptical theist friends and family members.1:09:56We’re going to be honest, this one baffled us just a bit. This caller wants to discuss the convergence of skepticism and open mindedness: how do the two intersect? Should we be more worried about being one than the other? Eric encourages him to call back with specific examples in order to get to the meat of the problem. If you’re interested in checking out Andrew Newberg and his work in the field of neurotheology, you can find his books here: http://www.andrewnewberg.com/all-books 1:20:30 A warm note to end the episode on, a returning caller thanks Eric and Vi for modeling skepticism and how to have compassionate and effective conversations with others. It was, it turns out, exactly what the hosts needed to hear this week. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Seriously, is there a single situation where faith is preferred over evidence? If you have a case for faith, we want to hear it! You can contact us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - What Is Faith Good For? 05:34 - Losing My Trust In God’s Plan - Lisa (she/her) - CO22:07 - Theist Claims We All Have Faith - JB (he/him) - CO 1:09:33 - Muslim Caller Has Subjective Evidence for God - Sajid (he/him) - CAN05:34 This caller is trying to figure out what is stopping her from deconverting. Where does her fear lie? At first she thought it was the fear of Hell, but more and more she is realizing: it’s the realization that there may not be a Plan or a Purpose for everything. What advice do the hosts have for someone grappling with this feeling of insecurity? 22:07We may have a new pre-sup theist caller! At least, that’s where this argument seems to be going. Do we all have faith? Is there such a thing as a truly evidence-based worldview? Are all of Eric’s arguments inescapably circular? Eric gets riled up and calls BS. 1:09:33 Repeat Muslim caller Sajid wants to dive into evidence for unseen beings and miracles. He appeals to both subjective and objective evidence. Vi breaks down the difference between the two. Can subjective experiences become stronger through corroboration? What happens when two people’s subjective experiences contradict each other? How about contradictory experiences of God? ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

While Vi took calls last week, Eric was sick in bed, cheering them on; but this week he's back in the saddle and ready to talk! Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis? Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Is A Smarmy A$$hole? 12:24 - Finding Belonging as a Black Atheist - Sourfruit (she/her) - CAN 30:58 - Are Trans Teachers Appropriate? - Joe (he/him) - KS47:25 - Should “LGBTQIA+” Include Straight People? - Kay (he/him) - N/A1:05:23 - How Should I Address Subtle Transphobia? - Ameet (he/him) - NY 1:18:34 - Superchats00:00Eric is back after a mental health break… to a damning email from a not-so-fan. We are called out for being cheeseballs, as cringey as the Kardashians, and generally awful, self-absorbed hosts. What a great way to kick off our Sunday. 12:24This caller is experiencing some isolation at the intersection of being Black and atheist. Eric empathizes with her feelings of disconnectedness, and Vi provides their understanding of the unique loss of community faced by Black atheists in North America. If you are struggling with similar feelings, check out the resources below: Black Nonbelievers: https://blacknonbelievers.org/ The Hotline Project: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 30:58Repeat theist caller Joe has a question about a recent “scandal” about a trans teacher. What do the hosts think about the issue? Vi lays out the problem as they see it, explaining transmisogyny and how women’s bodies are subjected to scrutiny regularly, especially teachers. 47:25Why do we need to focus on minority groups? Why do we put people into separate categories? Why can’t straight people get included in the category of GRSM? This caller seems confused about what value communal identities have for oppressed people, so Vi does their best to explain. Note for those with a post-101 understanding of this stuff: We use the term “straight” on this call as a shorthand for “cishetero allosexual.” Heterosexual trans people, for example, still fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. 1:05:23How do you address someone’s subtle transphobia in a way that is effective but doesn’t overstep or speak for others? This is a great question, and Vi and Eric have differing opinions about it. Vi explains their willingness to believe the best about their interlocutor, but Eric fully supports being an asshole to make a point! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Did you know Dennis Prager also has a call-in show? Where he disses kids? It looks lonely, maybe we should try calling him sometime. In the meantime, we'd love to talk to you! Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to share why you believe what you believe.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Goes Solo 07:31 - Should the Government Exist? - Steven (N/A) - NY 22:06 - A Step-by-Step Guide To Building A Moral Argument Against Christians - Nick (he/him) - TN54:28 - Would You Trust A Theist Scientist? - Joe (he/him) - KS1:13:02 - A Little Story with a Twist at the End - Alias (he/him) - WY1:22:08 - Superchats00:00Vi is hosting solo today, and has a little rant about Dennis Prager prepared. The founder of PragerU dislikes motivational quotes for kids, and claims that children don’t make the world a better place. An odd stance, especially for such an extreme anti-choice advocate! 07:31A social democrat and an anarchist walk into a bar… is the punchline for a very tedious joke full of words that mean nothing to the general population. Vi discusses their preference for anarchism and debates with a social democrat about the pros and cons of government, unions, and democracy. 22:06How do you convince a Christian that you’re moral? Repeat caller Nick wants help constructing an argument defending atheistic morals to Christians in his life. Vi and the caller walk step by step through an argument for a moral system based on autonomy, consent, and harm reduction rather than a religiously-based moral structure. If you’ve ever had a conversation with a theist friend, family member, or co-worker about where morals come from, this is a good primer to get you on the right track! 54:28Theist caller Joe asks if it’s fair to call Christians wilfully ignorant or stupid? What about the very many real scientists who also believe God created everything? Would you consider them stupid? Vi points out the nuance in this conversation, and explains how to approach experts with different theological frameworks than your own. 1:13:02Should this caller have left his ex’s boyfriend in the dark about whether or not the kid is his? Join Vi and the caller for a rather odd little storytime session to end the show as they ask themselves: “Should you let someone live a happy lie or tell the truth and ruin things?” ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Today is a good day to remember what religious extremism can do to people. Watch this instead of war propaganda reruns. Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to talk with us. Also, Moco makes an extended appearance on this episode, so you will see lots of cute fluffy cat butt. ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - 3000 Deaths 02:54 - Can You Consent to Exist? - Ian (he/him) - NC17:39 - Bodily Autonomy vs Harm Reduction - Ale (she/her) - WA35:22 - Islam and Social Justice - Sajid (he/him) - CAN47:28 - Should We Tolerate Bad Beliefs? - Chris (he/him) - SCT1:06:30 - What Is Religious Extremism? - Rich (he/him) - WA 1:19:52 - Superchats 02:54 Did Vi contradict themself in their anti-natalist argument? This caller thinks they might have. Vi and Eric mess around with the philosophy of their positions versus the practical, day-to-day approach. Can both coexist? Did Vi, in fact, get it wrong? 17:39Can you hold both bodily autonomy and harm reduction as moral values? What happens when they contradict each other? This ex-Catholic caller is wondering if there’s a silver bullet, or if it’s always going to be this complicated to figure out? Vi has some bad news for her. 35:22A Muslim caller speaks against Islamic extremism and represents a Sufi perspective. Eric challenges him on his beliefs, and why his perspective is the correct one. Vi gets excited about their experiences with Sufi mystic poetry. If you are interested in checking out some of this poetry, visit this website: https://www.rumi.org.uk/poetry/ 47:28Repeat caller Chris returns to ask if we should tolerate people with bad beliefs in society. Vi emphasizes the difference between tolerating people versus tolerating their beliefs, and Eric says that mockery and making fun of bad ideas will always be a valuable tool. Chris agrees, after all, mockery got him out of his own bad beliefs. 1:06:30 What is religious extremism, and how do we identify the beginnings of it in others? Vi offers a broad-scale cultural perspective, while Eric gets right down to brass tacks and talks about the day-to-day political and social identifiers of religious extremism. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.