The IRS just made a quiet but explosive decision: it will no longer enforce the Johnson Amendment, effectively giving churches a tax-free license to play politics . Frank and Dan break down how this opens the floodgates for dark money, bribes disguised as “donations,” and full-blown corruption in America’s pulpits. Also this week: The bizarre satanic panic over viral Labubu dolls Baylor University rejects LGBTQ research funding after backlash A church publicly shames an abuse survivor Pope Leo X...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 708
Christian influencers are bringing fatphobia back in the name of Jesus—and Frank and Dan are not having it. This week, they dive into the toxic rise of Christian diet culture and how it ties into purity, control, and righteousness. Plus: Iran issues a fatwa targeting Trump and Netanyahu, Canterbury Cathedral starts handing out indulgences, Americans try to evangelize North Korea via plastic bottles, a Michigan teen sues her school over the Pledge of Allegiance, Utah's governor asks the state to ...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 707
The LDS Church just quietly published a long-suppressed 1886 letter from prophet John Taylor—declaring polygamy an eternal commandment. Frank and Dan dig into the implications for Mormon doctrine. Also in this episode: A Catholic diocese in the UK fires an atheist accountant after she adopts a child Pennsylvania considers declaring a “Day of the Bible” A Saudi journalist is executed for tweets criticizing the regime Pew Research shows disturbing levels of support for school prayer in US Rastafar...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 706
A failed preacher is arrested for the shocking murder of a Minnesota state senator. Frank and Dan dig into the disturbing religious and political motivations behind the crime—and the dangerous rhetoric fueling it. Also in this episode: • Jimmy Swaggart is somehow still alive • A surprising number of Christians are “cheating” on their churches • A UK town removes a Pride flag after bookstore complains • Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law hits a legal wall • Mike Huckabee sends a terrifying message ...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr
A shooting at a Salt Lake City protest. Two state legislators are shot in Minnesota. As political violence grabs headlines across the country, Frank and Dan reflect on a disturbing new reality—and explore the religious rhetoric fueling it. Also in this episode: Iran expands its ban on dog walking Arkansas and Illinois fight to post the Ten Commandments Southern Baptists target gay marriage A far-right Christian gets a top U.S. religious freedom post Faith-healing parents sentenced after their ne...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 704
This week on Thank God I’m Atheist : A Republican lawmaker freaks out over a Muslim prayer in Congress—except it turns out the man praying wasn’t Muslim at all. Frank and Dan break down the ignorance and bigotry on display. Plus, a new study explores what happens when clergy take psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms). The results? Surprisingly spiritual. Also in this episode: Denmark pushes stricter bans on burqas and niqabs in schools Christian nationalism is thriving in Moscow, I...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 703
Frank and Dan tackle a full slate of religious absurdities this week: a Halloween costume sparks Christian outrage in Arizona, Utah quietly buries its own study on gender-affirming care, and a UK teacher sues for the right to misgender students. Meanwhile, school cancels a student play for being too “controversial,” and Delaware legalizes medical aid in dying. In the second half of the show, the guys dig into why young men are turning to conservative religion—and what secular folks can offer ins...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 702
Frank is joined by guest host Rachel to unpack a week’s worth of religious overreach, political absurdity, and moral panic dressed up as righteousness. From Oklahoma’s conspiracy-laced curriculum changes to France’s proposed hijab ban for girls under 15, this episode explores how authority figures use “values” to mask control. Plus: the Pope’s childhood home might be seized, Rushdie’s attacker is sentenced, and new data reveals why more people are leaving belief behind. 👉 Don’t forget to subscr...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 701
It’s our 700th episode! Frank and Dan celebrate the milestone with some reflection—but first dive headfirst into the usual madness. Catholic bishops in Washington state refuse to comply with mandatory reporting laws for child abuse. Trump’s appeal to Jewish voters is falling flat. The Episcopal Church is cutting ties with the federal government over sham refugee policies. Plus, attacks on Catholic churches are on the rise, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are suing a whistleblower. There’s also listener ...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 700
Jim Bakker begs for $1M, NJ town wants to bulldoze church, Christian crowdfunding service defends racist woman's campaign, Texas give Christians an entire month, televangelist given 'gold-plated' AR-15, Southern Baptists continue to hemorrhage members, and the Catholics have a new pope.
May 13, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 699
Bibles exempted from Trump's tariffs, Trump health adviser cites "demonic forces" as source of childhood diseases, more bad news for Kim Davis, Sikhs shut down Pride parade in northern India, Mormons defeat Texas town, Utah governor says America should be more like Utah, and Donald J. Trump is a ridiculous buffoon who also wants to be pope.
May 06, 2025•55 min•Ep. 698
This easter egg roll has been brought to you by, Veteran Affairs Administration joins crusade against anti-Christian bias, Target boycott continues past lent, state resolutions declaring Christ is king, cardinal who oversaw child sex abuse oversees the closing of Pope Francis' coffin, a Mormon education building on school grounds in Arizona, and apparently there's going to be another pope.
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 697
Cholera outbreak linked to holy water, BYU grad student deported, a rundown of Mormon numbers, Washington state makes clergy mandatory reporters, architect Gaudí on path to sainthood, quite the Easter costume contest in San Francisco, and those Mormons win in court once again.
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 696
Vicar has a theory about why church attendance is down, IRS actually investigates church over Johnson amendment violations, Catholic hospital argues fetus isn't a person (wait, what?), Heritage Foundation drafts new law in Tennessee, US State Department encourages employees to rat each other out for anti-Christian bias, church rasslin', and we hold a vigorous debate about debating.
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 695
Most American Christians don't believe in the trinity, Oklahoma's Ryan Walters sues FFRF, Trump supporters just noticed who's getting deported, reverend sues for discrimination, Poland releases shocking numbers about child sex abuse, shadow Catholics in Ireland, and Frank and Dan have a problem with Easter.
Apr 08, 2025•57 min•Ep. 694
Preacher in hot water after asking congregation for $40k, tech CEO starts Christian services company, Mel Gibson's got a new Jesus movie, Japan shuts down dangerous church, Pete Hegseth's Islamophobic tattoos, a cracker miracle has been disproven, and why not let some woo in if you know it's woo (and it makes you feel better)?
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 693
Catholic Archbishop accuses Satanists of stealing consecrated host, Arizona jumps on school chaplain bandwagon, school board amends religious release policy, evangelicals don't believe in science (surprise!), federal judge in Utah sides with psychedelic sacrament group in freedom of religion case, LDS podcasters in trouble with church after being a little too honest on their show, and the terrifying stance of many conservative Christians against empathy.
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 692
Minneapolis cancels religious event on government property, Southern Baptist investigation update, pastor regrets money-back guarantee on tithes, Oklahoma bible update, Catholic Church faces setback in efforts to keep clergy sex abuse secret, water fraudsters held accountable, and what to do when someone starts telling you about a miracle.
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 691
Gay marriage denier Kim Davis faces another legal setback, airline attempts to serve non-Kosher food to Jewish passengers, Islam is the fastest growing religion in American prisons, Missouri tax break, legislative roundup, a new book, and our latest take on the measles outbreak in Texas.
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 690
'Cussing Pastor' is dead, a tale of two skizzes, the wedding cake strikes again, a congressman has a message for the soon to be unemployed, decline of US Christianity slows, some kind of good news from Oklahoma (for once), and the role of Christianity in America (and how we think we're fine without it).
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 689
Christians work to get a cross on the moon, mystic uses own blood for bleeding madonna statue, measles outbreak hits religious community hard, gay imam shot and killed, comparing religious nationalism around the world, renaming the West Bank, and the Mormon Church revises cartoons meant to teach children about polygamy.
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 688
Pope Franky gets cranky with JD Vance, states are suing to take away the rights of the disabled, a black church has fun with Proud Boys logo, U.S. schools are under attack by Jesus, Utah bill says you can fly the Nazi flag, but not the pride flag, a girl who was assaulted for not saying pledge of allegiance gets justice, and Kate fills in for Frank to discuss parenting in the new American theocracy.
Feb 18, 2025•50 min
Frank went out of town, and Dan forgot that means he's supposed to post the show. Now it's just a mad dash to get this out to you, so NO SHOW NOTES!
Feb 14, 2025•58 min
The Mormon cricket might be getting a new name (like all good Mormons [tee-hee]), faith healing follow-up, Oklahoma state senator proposes total ban on porn, priest gets fired after nazi salute, Quran burner shot dead, FFRF sues about tax exempt apartments, and the Mormon church issues statement about caring for the needy.
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 685
Churches are no longer off limits to US immigration officials, Freethought Caucus welcomes newest member, US Supreme Court takes up case to consider publicly funded religious schools, radical lawmakers attempt to change Oklahoma constitution, Iraq adopts law allowing child brides (as young as nine years old), a Russian tradition is threatened by global warming, and the entire political right is ticked off at an Episcopal bishop.
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 684
Spanish mayor in trouble for imitating the pope, some Christians actually are persecuted, Oklahomans answer poll about Ryan Walters, Mike Johnson offers another offensive prayer, update about the Mormon tithing lawsuit, how much did the Catholics spend on clergy abuse cases, and Christians waste no time fabricating miracles in the wake of the Los Angeles fires.
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 683
Special inauguration edition of the "God Bless the USA" bible, Mike Johnson recites fake Thomas Jefferson prayer, gay men allowed to become Catholic priests in Italy, televangelists mass resign from Daystar, Muslims convert to Christianity in Kosovo, West Virginia gives money to Ohio school, and how BYU's "loyalty oath" has finally ruined the school.
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 682
"Prophet" foresaw Jimmy Carter's death, Episcopal dustup and its resolution, Taliban announce two new policies affecting Afghan women, Christian "sociologist" links atheism to suicide and rape, the new congress' religious makeup, big trouble in little FFRF, and a new purity culture is sweeping the nation.
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 681
Christian realtor found guilty of hate speech, upheaval at Church of England, pay-to-pray scheme at Trump's inauguration, new guidelines for social studies education in Oklahoma, Malaysian man caned for violating Islamic law, Texas book ban leads school librarian to ban bible, and what's the deal with being "spiritual but not religious" and does the word "spiritual" have any use for atheists?
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 680
Christian porn use skyrockets, Christian university enslaves students, Vatican nears bankruptcy, Biden administration issues strategy to fight islamophobia, Catholic league posts billboard protesting atheists, Iowa says 'no' to Satan, and the Mormons get on board with the rent-a-Jesus family photo trend.
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 679
