In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Objectively Dan, sort through calls of AI, logical fallacies, and apocalyptic dream interpretations. No circular arguments made today!Chidumebi in PA asks how to combat religious students that insist on AI reliance to justify the Bible. It is important to teach children how to search and explain why there is bias behind some of the input. These models are designed for good output, not accuracy. Be sure they understand what material they will need to know as a requirement, regardless of their personal beliefs or use of AI language models. What is the student supposed to do if they end up in a career they do not know how to do as a result of their reliance on AI?Mike in SC, thinks that AI can replace atheists but not theists because it can do anything atheists can do by using less resources. What is your understanding of the massive centers needed to support AI? If the soul is a factor, how do you explain an AI video that turns people to Christ? It is odd that you believe the actions of human beings that are atheists can be reduced down to a chat box. If dogs don’t have souls, is it cool that we just replace all dogs with AI? Our lives are more than just a sum of our labor and we find this conclusion dehumanizing. Herman in Canada has massive observations of “things begotting things” so therefore there must be a creator. It is important to point out that energy has not been created. What created the actual creator of the universe? How do you know that the reality of physics was exactly the same just before the big bang? If everything is contingent on something, what would a world that was not created look like?Luc, a Catholic in Canada, explains his different perception in the prime mover argument and that is that rules need rulemakers. Why are the rules of nature excluded from this argument? We do not need to provide evidence for not believing in something. What evidence do you have that everything needs a rule maker? Of these two things, which is the more reliable pathway to truth; evidence or faith? Why is it good enough for you when the Catholic Church says something? We are not expected to just believe a thing because a teacher told us to; we must do the work/tests, and experiments to learn this stuff.Prophet Daniel from Australia, believes there is one god for the entirety of existence and the interpretation of dreams made in the Book of Daniel prove his existence. How do you think this story has been adapted to meet the events that actually transpired? Why would this book be a reliable source when Daniel speaks with a dragon?Jamie the Blind Limey, our backup host joins to close out the show and offer some post thoughts on some of the calls. Thank you for joining us this week and we will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Forrest Valkai and Doctor Ben tackle several fun issues. Jack in Canada asks the hosts about the problem of evil. If god made the rules, why would he choose to cause suffering when he is powerful enough not to? Why did god choose something that causes suffering? If your god is in charge of everything, why does he not fix childhood poverty? You are more moral than your god. Max in Russia wants to help but is unable to donate. Every action helps no matter how small and we appreciate you. Doctors without Borders must work legal negotiations before being able to enter a country. Mike in SC has a perception that atheists and theists are doing the same thing because atheists say god is evil, and theists say god is good. Is a bi-sexual trans man better off in hell? Why is it okay that someone is sent to Hell for being gay? What if another god says it is a sin to be heterosexual? Why is it okay for Christians to kick people out of their family for being queer? Imagine what it feels like to be told that because of this monster in the sky who treats you differently for being gay, you deserve to be tortured forever. How is the lesson someone learns from the loss of the baby worth the baby’s life? Is freewill more important to god than protecting children? Kelvin in FL asks if the existence of transgender people goes against the societal push of deconstructing gender norms. Dr. Ben explains that the trans community is not about adapting femininity or masculinity, and how the trans community leans into gender abolitionism. There is societal pressure put on trans people to perform to those stereotypes. Forrest discusses how sex and gender are different, and how things in the 1400s that were considered manly are not manly today. Vic in TX believes in a creator, but does not believe in the New Testament or Jesus. How is the Bible considered to be morally good? Is it morally good to stone your children if they disobey? Why should this be accepted as an instruction manual when it instructs how to own and beat slaves? Jackie in MS wants us to dig into a bunch of philosophers to promote Christian values. What do you have to say about these values being carcinogenic to human minds? How does the function of an idea speak to the morality of an idea? What is one example where consciousness is independent of matter?Nate in NY discusses his deconstruction before the last caller, Kevin in MA, brings the hosts into a discussion about sexual dimorphism. Thank you for calling in this week! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
SHOW NOTESHello and welcome to Talk Heathen! This week, Doctor Ben and Jimmy Jr. are here to do Satan’s work!Solomon from CA, a former Jehova’s witness, has seen the recent decline of religion by younger generations and wants to know where our hosts see religion going in the future.Felix from GA is calling to argue that Christianity is actually a progressive religion. While it's nice that certain denominations or churches are adopting progressive messaging and stances, Christianity as a whole isn’t pushing the boundaries of progressive values. Is it really progressive, or just a means to survival?Cam from MI wants to know if pride month really is necessary outside of a historical remembrance context. As long as there is someone who thinks the world would be a better place if we went back to a time when queer people’s voices and needs in society were out of sight out of mind, then pride is absolutely necessary.Kathy from IL wants to discuss their experience visiting a Unitarian Universalist church and how different it is from every other more traditional church.Zabi from MI is a former theist and wants to discuss how their deconversion altered how friends and family view them.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
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In this episode of Talk Heathen, Jimmy Jr. and Godless Engineer dissect another failed rapture prediction before diving deep into calls about humanism, historical syncretism, and whether a historical Jesus can even be found!Chloe in MD questions if God’s existence matters, exploring post-theism. As a Norse pagan whose faith is based on “vibes,” she wonders if she is any different from rapture believers. The hosts challenge this reasoning, suggesting that while introspection is healthy, beliefs based on feelings rather than evidence can be problematic. Where does this path of deconstruction lead?Anton in WV asks if Christianity copied Mithraism. Godless Engineer explains it’s not copying but **syncretism**, where different belief systems merge, clarifying Mithraism came first. Anton then pivots to simulation theory, but how does that philosophical dead-end impact our investigation of reality? Does it matter if we are in a simulation?Josh in GA argues that figures named Jesus in Josephus’s work support a historical Jesus. The hosts agree the name was common but contest the biblical version, highlighting that the earliest sources like Paul rely on revelation, not history. The gospels only add more supernatural claims over time. So what's left of the original man?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!00:00 Intro04:20 Chloe-MD | Perspectives On Transtheim 40:09 Anton-WV | Who Copied Who?01:11:14 Josh-GA | A Historical Jesus ExistedDo you believe in God? Call and tell us why!Call the show on Sundays 1:00pm-2:30pm CDT, tell us what you believe and why!-Use your ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242-Or use your 💻 and click https://tiny.cc/callthWHAT IS TALK HEATHEN?Talk Heathen is a weekly call-in internet show in Austin, Texas geared toward long-form and on-going dialogue with theists & atheists about religion, theism, & secularism. Talk Heathen is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.We request pronouns as part of the call screening process on our shows, and we display the pronouns our callers provide. If you see a caller with no pronouns indicated, this is because they chose not to provide us with any, and we respect that decision.Don't like commercials? Become a patron & get ad-free episodes & more:https://www.patreon.com/talkheathentomeThe podcast may be found at:http://tiny.cc/podcastth-------The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop & support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing & friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of government-religion separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists & to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkheathenfgreddit.com/r/talkheathenNOTESThe views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, or callers are their own and not necessarily representative of the Atheist Community of Austin.https://www.youtube.com/TalkHeathen is the official channel of Talk Heathen. "Talk Heathen" is a trademark of the ACA.Copyright © 2025 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
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In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Christy Powell and Sydney Davis Jr. Jr. delve into the terrifying realities of the "end of days," the mindset of believers, and the persistent impact of religious fear. They explore how people grapple with existential dread, question the origins of unusual phenomena, and find community outside traditional faith, all while dissecting the societal harms of religiously-driven shame and prescriptive morality.Benji in AL calls to question why God doesn't reveal himself, asserting that society is destroying itself and God is "somewhat evil." The hosts press on Benji's Gnostic, polytheistic views and use of the Bible, highlighting inconsistencies in his argument that the Bible is inaccurate yet useful for understanding God. How does one selectively believe parts of a text while rejecting its overall veracity? Josh in IN shares his experiences with "spirit lights" during sober Native American ceremonies, seeking naturalistic explanations for these repeatable visual phenomena. The hosts suggest human physiological responses to light deprivation as a likely cause, challenging Josh to consider why he's reluctant to accept well-established scientific explanations for perceived mass hallucinations. What constitutes acceptable evidence when seeking truth in such experiences? Sean, interested in organized atheism, inquires about the Atheist Community of Austin's (ACA) mission and its community-building efforts. The hosts explain how the ACA provides a platform for critical thinking, secular humanism, and the separation of religion and government, addressing the harms of religious fear, identity shame, and prescriptive sexuality. How can secular communities best counter the pervasive influence of religious dogma in society? Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! and don't forget to add your answer to this week's Talk Heathen To Me question: Complete this sentence, The rarely talked about fifth horsemen of the apocalypse is... 00:00 Intro 00:27:05 Benji-AL | Why God Does Not Reveal Himself 00:50:21 Josh-IN | Questioning Sweat Lodge Claims Of Green Lights 01:18:05S Sean-CA | ACA Purpose And Christianity's Biggest Offense Do you believe in God? Call and tell us why! Call the show on Sundays 1:00pm-2:30pm CDT, tell us what you believe and why! -Use your ☎ and call 1-512-991-9242 -Or use your 💻 and click https://tiny.cc/callthBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
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Show notes will be posted upon receipt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
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Show notes upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
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In this Father’s Day edition of Talk Heathen, Christy Powell is joined by co-host Scott Dickie for a thoughtful episode focused on the balance between reason and empathy. The hosts open with a discussion on hyper-rationality within skeptic communities and the importance of making space for vulnerability and emotional honesty. From there, they take a few deep calls exploring belief, truth, and the boundaries of skeptical inquiry.Benji in Alabama attempts to discuss secular morality, but technical issues delay his participation. The hosts use this time to reflect on the interplay between logic and emotion in how we engage with others, particularly in conversations about religion, science, and belief.Tucker in Iowa shares that he still holds some spiritual or supernatural beliefs despite identifying with the skeptic community. He speaks about personal experiences, such as perceived communication from his deceased father and a belief in a friend’s psychic abilities. The conversation explores definitions of “supernatural,” the tension between personal conviction and external skepticism, and the challenges of maintaining authenticity within a sometimes rigid atheist framework.Nick in Massachusetts brings a densely abstract discussion involving truth paradigms, mechanistic reasoning, and epistemology. The conversation struggles to find clarity, with the hosts encouraging Nick to refine and simplify his ideas for better communication. While the points raised touch on government, religion, and logic, the lack of a clear thesis leaves the hosts and audience searching for firmer ground.Despite some technical hiccups, Christy and Scott deliver a show rich in reflection and mutual curiosity. Viewers are encouraged to think deeply about the ways we balance emotion and logic—not only in belief, but in how we talk to one another. Thanks for joining us, and talk heathen to us: How do you balance reason and empathy in difficult conversations?00:00 Intro08:18 Benji – AL | Secular morality (connection issues)25:06 Tucker – IA | Spiritual beliefs and skepticism49:29 Nick – MA | Mechanistic truth and epistemologyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.
Misplaced New Yawker
These hosts suck. when you get these idiots with the creator crap , point out special pleading.
David C
As soon as the guys says no evidence, they should hang up.
unhumen 1
if i become a patron can you guys guarantee i will be moistened?
unhumen 1
Listen to Dave. The perspectives he has need to be out there. Religion is the number one game of death denial and it causes problems top to bottom for people when they realize everyone dies and there might not be a shiny happy place to go after death where you get to see gram gram and your favorite pet from when you were a kid again.
Daniel Lima
RNA alsois able to carry instructions it's just not as efficient as DNA in doing so.