American Freethought Podcast
629 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago - ★★★★★ - 61 ratingsAn atheist podcast hosted by John C. Snider.
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Episodes
357 - Ryan Cragun (Beyond Doubt)
May 29, 2023 19:27 - 54 minutes - 46.7 MBI interview Ryan Cragun, co-author of Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society, a new book that makes a compelling argument that secularization has indeed been happening, both in the United States and around the world. You can buy a copy of Beyond Doubt for yourself. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/ Libsyn Classi...
356 - Matt Johnson (How Hitchens Can Save the Left)
March 25, 2023 18:18 - 1 hour - 74.8 MBI interview Matt Johnson, whose new book How Hitchens Can Save the Left argues that the late Christopher Hitchens's staunch defense of classical liberalism is still useful, even 11 years after his death, in helping the American Left to resist some of its more illiberal tendencies. Buy a copy of How Hitchens Can Save the Left for yourself! Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT ...
355 - Joseph Monninger (Goodbye to Clocks Ticking)
February 27, 2023 00:28 - 36 minutes - 31 MBI interview Joseph Monninger, a college professor and novelist who discovered, only three days after his retirement, that he had terminal lung cancer and likely only months to live. His memoir Goodbye to Clocks Ticking is a heartfelt, humanistic account of facing death and processing an unexpected reprieve. Buy a copy of Goodbye to Clocks Ticking for yourself, and be sure to check out Joe's other books. Reading/listening recommendations: Nonverts by Stephen Bullivant. "The Defiance o...
354 - Bradley Onishi (Preparing for War)
January 02, 2023 23:27 - 53 minutes - 94.9 MBI interview Bradley Onishi, cohost of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, and author of the new book Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism—And What Comes Next. It's a terrifying look at the recent history of Christian nationalism and evangelical support for anti-democratic ideas. For more about Bradley and his work visit BradOnishi.com. Listen to his podcast StraightWhiteAmericanJesus.com. Buy a copy of Preparing for War here. Also mentioned in ...
353 - Daniel Sokatch (Can We Talk about Israel?)
December 18, 2022 19:27 - 58 minutes - 107 MBI interview Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the New Israel Fund and author of Can We Talk about Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted. Buy a copy of Can We Talk about Israel? for yourself. For more about the New Israel Fund, visit NIF.org. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/ Libsyn Classic Feed: https://am...
352 - Emily Dreyfuss (Meme Wars)
December 07, 2022 00:05 - 1 hour - 111 MBI interview Emily Dreyfuss, co-author (with Dr. Joan Donovan and Brian Friedberg) of Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America. Buy a copy of Meme Wars for yourself. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/ Libsyn Classic Feed: https://americanfreethought.libsyn.com/rss Contact: john@...
351 - David Hollinger (Christianity's American Fate)
October 27, 2022 01:16 - 51 minutes - 85.9 MBWith less than two weeks to go before the midterms, I talk with David A. Hollinger, history professor at the University of California, Berkley, and author of Christianity's American Fate: How Religion Became More Conservative and Society More Secular. This timely new book explores how, while American culture remains overwhelmingly secular, evangelical Christianity has outperformed its more liberal American counterparts and gained control of the Republican Party. Buy a copy of Christianity'...
350 - David Driscoll on SCOTUS rulings, Jan 6th, and more!
July 03, 2022 01:58 - 1 hour - 181 MBFor this special episode, I'm joined by podcast co-founder and co-host emeritus David Driscoll. We talk about the recent disastrous Supreme Court rulings (Carson v Makin, Kennedy v Bremerton, and Dobbs v Jackson); the ramifications of the House Select Committee on the events of January 6, 2021; and possible Constitutional crises and other terrifying scenarios that might play out over the next couple of years. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertub...
349 - Nadya Dutchin (Exec Dir, American Humanist Association)
May 30, 2022 13:37 - 52 minutes - 98.6 MBI interview Nadya Dutchin, the new Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. Our wide-ranging discussion includes her plans and hopes for the AHA; reaction to the gun massacres in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX; raising secular kids in the current social and political climate; the effect of the newly conservative Supreme Court on litigation; and the future of secularism and humanism in America. For more information about the American Humanist Association, visit americanhumanist....
348 - Association of Secular Elected Officials
May 11, 2022 21:13 - 1 hour - 139 MBI speak to two members of the leadership of the Association of Secular Elected Officials (ASEO), a new organization devoted to helping elected officials be authentic about their beliefs and ethics, and providing a forum for elected officials to connect with each other for education, support and fellowship. Leonard Pressberg is the founder and president of the Association, and serves on the Board of Education in Fayette County, Georgia. Kristiana de Leon is on the Board of Directors of th...
347 - Christopher M. Finan (How Free Speech Saved Democracy)
April 29, 2022 19:24 - 52 minutes - 59.6 MBI interview Christopher M. Finan, Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship, and author of the new book How Free Speech Saved Democracy: The Untold History of How the First Amendment Became an Essential Tool for Securing Liberty and Social Justice. Buy a copy of How Free Speech Saved Democracy for yourself! For more about Chris Finan, visit ChrisFinan.com. For more about the National Coalition Against Censorship, visit ncac.org. Theme music courtesy of Body Fou...
346 - Kevin Bolling (Exec. Dir., Secular Student Alliance)
April 01, 2022 00:25 - 38 minutes - 47.3 MBI interview Kevin Bolling, Executive Director of the Secular Student Alliance, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to educate high school and college students about the value of scientific reason and the intellectual basis of secularism in its atheistic and humanistic manifestations. We talk about how SSA was affected by the pandemic, about the organization's plans in a post-pandemic world, and what today's young people's religious and social attitudes mean for the future of America. ...
345 - Andrew Fiala (Tyranny from Plato to Trump)
March 15, 2022 02:18 - 58 minutes - 67.7 MBI interview Andrew Fiala about his new book Tyranny from Plato to Trump: Fools, Sycophants, and Citizens. It's an exploration of the psychological and social dynamics involving tyrants and would-be tyrants, their enablers, and the mobs who cheer them on. For more about Andrew visit AndrewFiala.com. Buy a copy of Tyranny from Plato to Trump here. Also, check out my review/essay about the book at SnideShow.com (my new online project featuring book and movie reviews, essays, and commentar...
344 - Crawford Gribben (The Rise and Fall of Christian Ireland)
December 28, 2021 10:02 - 1 hour - 92.3 MBI interview Crawford Gribben, author of The Rise and Fall of Christian Ireland, a fascinating history of the island from the late Roman Era through the rapid secularization of the 21st century. Buy a copy of The Rise and Fall of Christian Ireland for yourself! Follow Crawford on Twitter @GribbenC. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/group...
The Kentucky-Darwin Connection
December 26, 2021 15:44Here's a new essay I've written, posted on the new blog SnideShow.com, about the overlooked battle over creationism and evolution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. https://snideshow.com/the-kentucky-darwin-connection/ To keep track of new postings at SnideShow.com, follow me on Twitter @johncsnider. Thanks!
343 - Ben Burgis (10 Years without a Hitch)
December 14, 2021 10:02 - 1 hour - 78 MBOn the tenth anniversary of the death of Christopher Hitchens, I talk with philosophy professor and fellow podcaster Ben Burgis about his new book Christopher Hitchens: What He Got Right, How He Went Wrong, and Why He Still Matters. Buy a copy of Ben's book Christopher Hitchens for yourself. For more about Ben visit BenBurgis.com. Check out Ben's podcast Give Them An Argument. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFree...
342 - Let's Not Go Brandon
November 30, 2021 10:02 - 24 minutes - 38.5 MBFrom Pepe the Frog to the kidding-not-kidding white power hand sign, conservatives are increasingly using "humor" and weird "inside jokes" to spread hate-speech, bigotry, and violent threats. The latest tiresome fad is the phrase "Let's Go Brandon," which is a not-so-thinly-veiled substitute for the more blunt "Fuck Joe Biden." Republican congressmen repeat it in floor speeches, or wear face masks emblazoned with it, in the House chamber. On at least one occasion, a conservative crowd chante...
341 - Bruce Ledewitz (The Universe Is on Our Side)
November 16, 2021 10:02 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBI interview Duquesne law professor Bruce Ledewitz about his new book The Universe Is on Our Side: Restoring Faith in American Public Life. Bruce is a secularist who nonetheless proposes that the current societal crisis in America (and perhaps the entire Western world) is rooted in the aftermath of what Neitzsche called "the Death of God." It's a controversial proposition, as is his prescription for a way forward. For more about Bruce visit BruceLedewitz.com or follow him on Twitter @brucel...
340 - David G. McAfee (Hi, I'm an Atheist!)
November 02, 2021 09:02 - 46 minutes - 54.8 MBI interview David G. McAfee about his new book Hi, I'm an Atheist!: What That Means and How to Talk About It with Others. Buy a copy of Hi, I'm an Atheist! for yourself. For more about David, follow him on Facebook. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21523473365/ Libsyn Classic Feed: https://americanfreethought.libsyn.com/rss ...
339 - Leigh Eric Schmidt (The Church of Saint Thomas Paine)
October 19, 2021 09:02 - 1 hour - 78.1 MBI interview Leigh Eric Schmidt, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, and author of The Church of Saint Thomas Paine: A Religious History of American Secularism, which looks at the struggles of 19th century freethinkers to define themselves in contrast to traditional religion and traditional religious organizations. Buy a copy of The Church of Saint Thomas Paine for yourself! Learn more about Professor Schmidt and his fellow faculty members at the John C. Danforth Center on ...
338 - Thomas Cathcart (There Is No God and Mary Is His Mother)
October 05, 2021 09:02 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBI interview philosopher and author Thomas Cathcart about his new book There Is No God and Mary Is His Mother, a thought-provoking exploration aimed at ex-Christians and even atheists, which asks whether Christianity can be credible, meaningful, and practical absent the traditional theological formulas and doctrines. Buy a copy of There Is No God and Mary Is His Mother for yourself. Plus: Liberal Christians mourn the death of 90-year-old Bishop John Shelby Spong, the Episcopal Bishop wh...
337 - Mary Roach (Fuzz)
September 19, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 79.8 MBI interview award-winning popular science writer Mary Roach about her new book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law. It's a humorous look at the serious topic of human-animal conflict in an age of exploding population and global warming. Buy your very own copy of Fuzz. For more about Mary and her work visit MaryRoach.net. This was Mary's third appearance on American Freethought. Listen to her first two appearances here: 099 - Mary Roach (Packing for Mars) 250 - Mary Roach (Grunt) Plu...
336 - Jennifer Hochschild (Genomic Politics)
September 05, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 79.1 MBI interview Harvard Professor Jennifer Hochschild about her new book Genomic Politics: How the Revolution in Genomic Science Is Shaping American Society. To buy a copy of Genomic Politics, click here. Plus: America is finally out of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the chaotic end to US withdrawal will be an ongoing political controversy; and, of course, we'll have to watch helplessly as Afghanistan sinks into a new theocratic hinterland. The Supreme Court has allowed Texas' new ultra-res...
335 - Obery Hendricks (Christians Against Christianity)
August 22, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 69.9 MBI interview Dr. Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. about his new book Christians Against Christianity, a scathing rebuke from a progressive Christian perspective against how (white) conservative Christians pursue political power while ignoring the central teachings of Jesus regarding love, mercy, tolerance, and justice. Plus: It looks like America is getting out of Afghanistan for good, but our withdrawal will be disastrous in both the short term and long term. To buy a copy of Christians Against C...
334 - Rep. Jared Huffman (Congressional Freethought Caucus)
August 08, 2021 04:00 - 48 minutes - 61.5 MBI interview Representative Jared Huffman (Democrat representing California's 2nd District), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. We talk about the origins, purpose, and recent activity of the Freethought Caucus; about perennial issues (like the national motto, the Pledge of Allegiance, legislative prayer, etc.) of concern to freethinkers; public policy and public acceptance (or denial) of science; and the current "civil war" within the GOP between the traditionali...
333 - John V. Petrocelli (The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit)
July 25, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBI interview John V. Petrocelli, Professor of Psychology at Wake Forest University, about his new book The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit. What exactly is bullshit, and how does it differ from a lie? Why do people bullshit? And how can we become better at identifying and countering bullshit? These are all important questions given our current social and political environment. Buy a copy of the book for yourself right here. While you're at it, treat yourself to Harry Frankfurt...
332 - Muhammad Syed (President, Ex-Muslims of North America)
July 11, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 80 MBI interview Muhammad Syed, President of Ex-Muslims of North America. We discuss the critical mission of his organization, as well as their new Apostate Report, which analyzes the demographics of Muslims who live in the United States and Canada who leave the faith, and breaks down the reasons their decision and the challenges they face as a result. For more about Ex-Muslims of North America visit exmuslims.org. Download the Apostate Report. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow A...
331 - Benjamin Radford
June 27, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 105 MBI interview skeptical investigator, author, and podcaster Benjamin Radford. Our wide-ranging conversation covers various topics, including the Pentagon's pending release of a report on UFOs [latebreaking info: the nine-page report, titled "Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" was released on June 25, 2021 by the Director of National Intelligence, not the Pentagon], the "Havana Syndrome" (in which some allege that US embassy staff and others have been subjected to debilitati...
330 - Daniel A. Sjursen (A True History of the United States)
June 13, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 95.2 MBI interview Daniel A. Sjursen, retired combat veteran and former West Point history instructor, about his new book A True History of the United States, which tackles head-on the dark aspects of America's past: racism, genocide, conquest, and capitalist hegemony. For more about Danny and his work visit SkepticalVet.com. To buy a copy of his book click here. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter...
329 - Philip Jenkins (Climate, Catastrophe, and Faith)
May 30, 2021 04:00 - 53 minutes - 61.9 MBI interview historian Philip Jenkins about his new book Climate, Catastrophe, and Faith: How Changes in Climate Drive Religious Upheaval, in which he rewrites the familiar approaches to the history of religion, argues that climate is the missing dimension in religious history, and offers a timely discussion of future trends in religion during an era of climate crisis. To buy a copy of this book, click here. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertub...
328 - Roy Speckhardt (Justice-Centered Humanism)
May 16, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 115 MBI interview Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association and author of Justice-Centered Humanism: How (and Why) to Engage in Public Policy for Good. We talk about how Humanists can expand their concerns from separation of church and state to current issues like race, class, gender, and sexuality; his impending retirement from AHA after 16 years; and the controversial decisions by the AHA Board to withdraw the Humanist of the Year Awards from Richard Dawkins (1996...
327 - Heino Falcke (Light in the Darkness)
May 02, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 74.7 MBI interview German astrophysicist Dr. Heino Falcke, who led the international team of scientists and technicians that created the first image of a black hole. Heino's new book is Light in the Darkness: Black Holes, the Universe, and Us. For more about Heino and his work visit HeinoFalcke.org. To buy a copy of his book click here. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com Twitter: @AMERFREETHOUGHT Faceboo...
326 - Michael Gordin (On the Fringe)
April 18, 2021 04:00 - 56 minutes - 67.3 MBI interview Princeton's Dr. Michael Gordin about his new book On the Fringe: Where Science Meets Pseudoscience, an exploration of the "demarcation problem"; i.e., how to separate science from non-science. For more about Michael and his work visit MichaelGordin.com. To buy a copy of his book click here. (At the top of the show, a clip from Irish comedian Dara O'Briain's humorous takedown of pseudoscience and alternative medicine.) Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American ...
325 - Mustafa Akyol (Reopening Muslim Minds)
April 04, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 102 MBI interview journalist (and senior fellow at the Cato Institute's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity) Mustafa Akyol, author of Reopening Muslim Minds, in which he outlines how the Islamic world lost its way, and how it can move toward progress and modernity by leveraging traditions from its own past. For more about Mustafa and his work visit MustafaAkyol.org and Cato.org. To buy a copy of the book click here. Plus: Mississippi's Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is against Sunday voting...
324 - David Robert Grimes (Good Thinking)
March 21, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBI interview scientist and science advocate Dr. David Robert Grimes about his new book Good Thinking: Why Flawed Logic Puts Us All at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World. For more about David and his work visit DavidRobertGrimes.com. To buy a copy of the book for yourself click here. Plus: The 21-year-old man who murdered eight people at three massage parlors in metro Atlanta claims he was removing "temptation" for his sex addiction. Former high school classmates remembe...
323 - Emily Joy Allison (#ChurchToo)
March 07, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 80.8 MBI interview Emily Joy Allison, author of #ChurchToo: How Purity Culture Upholds Abuse and How to Find Healing, in which she shares her deeply personal story and offers a way forward for survivors of church-based indoctrination and mistreatment. To buy a copy of this book click here. For more about Emily and her work visit EmilyJoyPoetry.com. Plus: A report reveals the late Christian apologist and preacher Ravi Zacharias used his massage parlors and international travel as cover for s...
322 - Ian Rosenberg (The Fight for Free Speech)
February 21, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBI interview Ian Rosenberg, media lawyer, legal counsel for ABC News, and author of The Fight for Free Speech: Ten Cases that Define Our First Amendment Freedoms. For more about Ian and his book visit thefightforfreespeech.com. Plus: Donald Trump survived his second impeachment, and now the Republican Party continues the project of ejecting anyone who dared oppose him. The GOP is morphing from a political party into a religious cult centered around Trump. I discuss the deaths of two p...
321 - Randall Balmer (Solemn Reverence)
February 07, 2021 05:00 - 53 minutes - 58 MBI interview Dr. Randall Balmer, historian and Episcopal priest, about his new book Solemn Reverence: The Separation of Church and State in American Life. To buy this book click here. Plus: Kudos to the US House of Representatives for removing Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments, as punishment for promulgating dangerous and false conspiracy beliefs and for concurring with calls to assassinate fellow members of Congress. The Republican Party failed...
320 - Ben Friedman (Religion and the Rise of Capitalism)
January 24, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBI interview Harvard economist Dr. Benjamin M. Friedman about his new book Religion and the Rise of Capitalism. To buy this book click here. Plus: Donald Trump gets impeached. Again. For inciting the riot at the US Capitol. And his impeachment trial begins in the Senate on February 9th. The Justice Department should show no mercy to the rioters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6th, to send a message to their fellow travelers that the United States will not tolerate such violence...
319 - Chaos and Hope
January 10, 2021 05:00 - 31 minutes - 47.6 MBRioters overrun the US Capitol for four hours, disrupting the formal tally of electoral votes by a joint session of Congress. Trump and his surrogates (and a long line of conservative leaders) bear direct responsibility for inciting this violence and feeding dangerous misinformation to their followers. Plus: Democrats will control both Congress and the White House for the first time in years. What should they do with that power? A Pew Research study shows that the new Congress is far ...
318 - Michael Arthur (I, Pastafari)
December 27, 2020 05:00 - 52 minutes - 65.3 MBI interview Michael Arthur, writer, director, and producer of the documentary I, Pastafari: A Flying Spaghetti Monster Story. For more about the film visit ipastafaridoc.com. Plus: A COVID-19 patient in a California hospital uses an oxygen tank to murder a fellow patient--for praying. The Pope okays COVID-19 vaccines even if they were developed using fetal tissue. Theme music courtesy of Body Found. Follow American Freethought on the intertubes: Website: AmericanFreethought.com...
317 - John R. Hibbing (The Securitarian Personality)
December 13, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 84.5 MBI interview John R. Hibbing, author of The Securitarian Personality: What Really Motivates Trump's Base and Why It Matters for the Post-Trump Era. Buy a copy of the book for yourself here. Plus: Trump's running out of options in his fraudulent attempt to overturn his election loss. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic gets worse and worse, and Trump and the Republicans are doing nothing to bring it under control. On the bright side, vaccines will soon be available and Joe Biden will try to...
316 - Tim Ward (Pro Truth)
November 29, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 70.2 MBI interview Tim Ward, co-author (along with Gleb Tsipursky) of Pro Truth: A Practical Plan for Putting Truth Back Into Politics. We talk about the Pro-Truth Pledge, a tool to enable politicians, government officials, public personalities, and even regular citizens in sharing, honoring, and encouraging the truth as a central foundation for political discourse. For more about the Pro-Truth Movement, visit ProTruthPledge.org. For more about Tim and his work visit ChangemakersBooks.com. T...
315 - Ruining Thanksgiving
November 15, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBI interview historian David J. Silverman about his book This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving. Buy a copy of the book for yourself here. Plus: Looks like we're getting rid of Trump but not Trumpism. Joe Biden has won the presidency, but the Democrats lost ground in the House of Representatives, and the Republicans will almost surely retain control of the Senate. Meanwhile, Trump and the Republicans are denying he lost...
314 - Noah Lugeons (Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith)
November 01, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 89.6 MBI interview Noah Lugeons, author of Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith - How Religion Ruined Our Global Pandemic. Noah is also a co-host of The Scathing Atheist and God Awful Movies podcasts. To buy a copy of Outbreak, click here. Plus: The skeptical community mourns the loss of James "The Amazing" Randi. Humanist Mubarak Bala, held incommunicado for nearly six months on a charge of blasphemy by Nigerian authorities, is alive! He has finally been allowed to meet with legal representation. A...
313 - Richard Carrier (Jesus from Outer Space)
October 18, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 91.4 MBI interview Dr. Richard Carrier about his latest book, Jesus from Outer Space: What the Earliest Christians Really Believed about Christ, which asserts that the teachings of Jesus Christ began as cosmic revelations to a chosen few, and only later did Christian writers create a terrestrial biography for Jesus that borrowed heavily from similar death-and-resurrection mythologies of the ancient world. For more about Richard and his work visit RichardCarrier.info. To buy a copy of Jesus from...
312 - Craig A. Evans on the Historical Jesus
October 04, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 52.6 MBI interview theologian Dr. Craig A. Evans, co-author of Can We Trust the Bible on the Historical Jesus?, which is based on a debate Dr. Evans had some years ago with Dr. Bart Ehrman. (My apologies on the sound quality of the interview itself. We experienced technical difficulties.) For more about Craig Evans and his work visit craigaevans.com. Buy a copy of Can We Trust the Bible on the Historical Jesus? here. Listen to my previous conversations with Dr. Bart Erhman in episodes 51 (J...
311 - Jared Yates Sexton (American Rule)
September 20, 2020 04:00 - 59 minutes - 66.9 MBI interview Jared Yates Sexton, author of American Rule: How a Nation Conquered the World but Failed Its People, a dark history of the United States from colonial times to the present. Sexton came to national prominence during the 2016 presidential election, when his reporting from Trump rallies earned him death threats. He is also the co-host of The Muckrake Podcast, a twice-weekly political discussion from a decidedly progressive angle. For more about Sexton and his work visit jysexton.c...
310 - The Arrest of Nigerian Humanist Mubarak Bala
September 06, 2020 04:00 - 57 minutes - 65.6 MBMubarak Bala, president of the Nigerian Humanist Association, was arrested in April 2020, allegedly for a Facebook post that blasphemed against Islam. Since his arrest, no one--not even his lawyer--has seen or heard from Bala. His whereabouts are uncertain, and no one knows if he is alive or dead. I talk with Leo Igwe, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Humanist Association, about Bala's plight, and what secularists around the world can do to help. For more about Mubarak Bala's...
309 - Party Platforms 2020
August 23, 2020 04:00 - 52 minutes - 65.3 MBThe Democrats have a ticket! As expected, former Vice President Joe Biden has selected Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. If elected, Biden will be our second Catholic president, but Harris will make history as the first VP of African descent or of Asian descent. Some conservatives are already circulating a birther conspiracy about her (saying she is ineligible for office, having been born in California of parents who were--irrelevantly--not at the time citizens), but will they also ...