Thank God I'm Atheist - podcast cover

Thank God I'm Atheist

Frank and Dan's off-the-cuff conversations focus on current events cast through the lens of their shared atheism. Episodes include a rundown of six news stories from the prior week, and the show occasionally features interviews with writers, thinkers, and leaders in the atheist community. As former Mormons, the hosts provide insight into the often misunderstood religious minority.
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Episodes

Seeking Transcendence #409

Iowa city causes crosswalk kerfuffle, cop abuses power in novel way, transphobic Christian doctor loses case, interesting theory about bicarbonate soda, crazy woman almost kills kids, how much woo can you do before you too have too much woo to do?

Oct 05, 20191 hr 10 min

Who Needs a Leader! #408

UAE builds a religious complex for Jews, Muslims, and Christians; New York Catholic Dioceses in trouble; Trump's holds a religious summit for himself; god owns stake in bus manufacturer; republican lawmakers in various states working to ban marriage equality; Saudi Arabia wants to build tourism industry; and a brief discussion about leadership of the atheist movement.

Sep 28, 20191 hr 6 min

Where's Your Moral Compass Pointing? #407

Praying (and punching) the gay away in Oklahoma, the price (literally) to avoid hearing 'thoughts and prayers,' feds threaten to defund program at Duke, artists in Arizona, Pakistani officials attempt to veil order, Indonesia outlaws sex outside of marriage, and why do atheists continue to do good in the world.

Sep 21, 20191 hr 22 min

Is Nothing Sacred Anymore? #406

Survey about belief and anxiety, man cuts phallus off statue, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Liberty University, ABC rejects FFRF ad, weeping Mary saves church, rapture index, a discussion about protecting sacred places. https://www.patreon.com/tgiatheist

Sep 14, 20191 hr 17 min

Making a Mockery #405

An argument between pastors’ wives, conservative groups confront Utah Board of Education over sex-ed, Swedish imam fined for hate speech, the Deaf Bible Society, Clemson football coach takes players to church, book banning, and a discussion about mockery.

Sep 07, 20191 hr 25 min

Why Are We Losing? #404

Mormons ban guns at church, women in Bangladesh no longer have to declare virginity on marriage certificates, straight pride fail, court okays ban on atheist prayers, Jerry Falwell Jr.’s boys, opposition to Pittsburg synagogue shooter receiving death penalty, and a discussion about how to promote secularism in America.

Aug 31, 20191 hr 16 min

Apocalypse Maybe? #403

Drag queen interrupted, shit gets real for white supremacist Texas marriage law, specialized citizen training, Wyoming investigation, and surviving the apocalypse isn’t for everyone.

Aug 24, 20191 hr 14 min

It's Probably Got Coffee In It #402

Nonreligious facing harassment in growing number of countries, scary group of young men being trained in “biblical warfare,” racist dog costs woman job, survey on abortion in America, Pennsylvania seal, a clever school district in Kentucky, and the LDS Church clarifies stance on coffee, tea, and tobacco.

Aug 17, 20191 hr 1 min

No, It's a Gun Problem #401

Male police trainer refuses to work with female recruit, pastor scams $631,000 from charities, El Paso shooter and hate crime charges, Mormon Church sued under racketeering laws, Josh Harris asks for forgiveness, Lutheran policy change, and a discussion about mass shootings and the right's attempts to cast it as a lack-of-prayer problem.

Aug 10, 201956 min

Trip to Temple Square #400

Frank and Dan celebrate their 400th episode of Thank God I'm Atheist with a visit Mormonism's most holy site... Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City. Watch the video... https://youtu.be/FVpxc6ZbTYo

Aug 03, 201926 min

Should Clergy Be Exempt?

Lebanese pop band offends believers, religious monument honors police officers, baby selling nun denied bail, US State Department tries to redefine human rights, church refuses to host funeral over gay son’s involvement in service, what Americans know about religion, and mandatory reporting and the clergy exemption.

Jul 27, 20191 hr 17 min

Nones and Nuns

Christian family forced to pay taxes after claiming religious exemption, Christian book company changes name to avoid confusion, Rusty Nelson is a strange man in a strange land, House Republicans pressure Amazon to sell gay conversion therapy books, Trump takes the “Lord’s name in vain” upsetting some Christians, Christians can be made to care about climate change if we use the right words, and “Nuns and Nones.”

Jul 20, 20191 hr 11 min

Mother Teresa Syndrome

HOA gets fussy about Pride flags, the Veterans Administration takes action to “protect” religious liberty, Atlanta church adds psychic medium to ministerial staff, Russian Orthodox Church questions the blessing of military weapons, Trump’s trade war may increase Bible prices threatening religious freedom, school principal pulls holocaust curriculum, and a discussion about judges giving lenient sentences to sex offender ministers.

Jul 13, 20191 hr 5 min

Exemptions

New York ends religious exemption for vaccinations, atheist banners rile up Fort Worth, man claims religious exemption for parking tickets, Rami Malek takes a stand about new Bond role, Haredi rabbi apposes ultrasounds, IKEA fires employee over violent religious comments, and a discussion about what sexual predators mean for the LDS Church.

Jul 06, 20191 hr 6 min

The Nudy Show

LGBTQ prom canceled over safety concerns after Christians threaten the event, PBS children's show airs gay wedding, nudists and burkini bathers face off over swimming pool dress code, straight pride parade scheduled for Boston, nudity abounds during German heatwave, UK woman lands in court after harassing neighbor for being a witch, and for our Pride Month wrap up we ask ourselves whether we feel more or less safe in recent years.

Jun 29, 20191 hr 4 min

Hatecrimed

Light rail opponent claims higher authority, tribunal releases details about China harvesting organs from religious detainees, drag bingo raises money and ire, church leaves school board in the lurch for fines and legal costs, Quebec bans religious clothing for government workers, hate website fined, and a discussion about homophobia and suggestions on how to respond when harassed in public.

Jun 22, 20191 hr 14 min

The Clergy

US Embassies defy Trump administration orders, restaurant closures in Tehran (I bet it’s not for health code violations), Christian florists want special rights, seminary represents Christianity poorly, Wiccan professor sues for discrimination, “post-Christian” cities, and a discussion about the clergy and sex abuse.

Jun 15, 20191 hr 8 min

Pride

Frank and Dan discuss the news of the day from an atheist perspective and worry about the current efforts to undermine LGBT rights in America.

Jun 08, 20191 hr 3 min

Civil War

Florida lawmaker follows God’s direct instruction, female singer in Iran charged for singing, anti-protest tactics in Tel Aviv, Catholic church makes bad landlord, Michigan Attorney General, a British nurse, and conservative Christians see second American civil war coming.

Jun 01, 20191 hr 5 min

The Christian Nation

Bleach “cure” spread by Christian pastor, sex-abuse victim attacked for claims, high school yearbook quote causes stir in Georgia, professor at university in Cairo faces undue pressure, America takes a stand about kosher meat in Europe, Ontario takes stand on abortion, and a discussion about Rick Wiles and the emboldened antisemitic voices in America.

May 26, 20191 hr 2 min

Anti-Vaxxers

Texas courthouse defiantly displays Christian crosses, the fall of Jerry Falwell Jr., new law at the Vatican, trends amongst American voters, Ramadan causes trouble for thirsty child in Abu Dhabi, anti-gay preacher banned from yet another nation, and our take on anti-vaxxers.

May 18, 20191 hr

Please Change the Station

LDS Church changes stance on temple marriages, city government in hot water over racist leaders, how far-right hate groups get funded, anti-science bills in Florida, Poland enforces blasphemy laws against artist, Massachusetts lawmakers try to take “so help me god” out of public oaths, and a discussion about how to ask taxi drivers to change the radio station.

May 11, 20191 hr 7 min

BYU and the Gay Valedictorian

Chris sits in for Dan and updates us on Saudi Arabia’s wife-tracking app and tells us about why predators are attracted to careers in the clergy. Other topics covered include: an elementary school in the UK suspends lessons on inclusion after parental outcry, Madison church offers marijuana as sacrament, Sri Lanka bans face veils in response to bombings, Iranian clerics issue fatwa over TV game shows, and a discussion about BYU’s gay valedictorian and what that means for the oppressive school.

May 04, 20191 hr 21 min

Sri Lanka

Anti-semitic ritual resurrected in Poland, Notre Dame cathedral fire god’s retribution for treatment of Jews, atheist invocations, a gun store and a muslim customer, woman threatens Easter service in San Diego, new theory about what “causes” homosexuality, and a discussion about Sri Lanka bombings.

Apr 27, 20191 hr

Pucker Up Popey

Pence causes stir at Christian university, case to open India’s mosques to women, Church of Sweden issues pamphlet for LGBTW children, Pope Benedict breaks his silence, new law in Missouri, no foot is safe in the presence of Pope Francis, and a chat about Notre Dame cathedral.

Apr 20, 20191 hr 6 min

The Easter Funny

Turns out yoga does not make inmates gay, Mormon General Conference winds up being total snoozefest, NYC faces measles outbreak due to one particular religious community, a legislature and a prayer, an Easter celebration, Texan and their executions, and why oh why is Easter still a thing?!

Apr 13, 201956 min

GenCon #383

Catholic priests burn Harry Potter books in Poland, one Iranian woman’s take on hijabs, Quebec’s National Assembly takes down cross, airport refreshments with a conscience, Utah legalizes sex, the pope and the women, and Mormon General Conference.

Apr 06, 20191 hr 11 min

God and Gender #382

Frank and Dan discuss the news of the week and tackle the topic of gender.

Mar 30, 20191 hr 10 min

New Zealand #381

Are you Jewish enough?, State Department phone call, abortion laws in Kentucky, Bible classes in school, Supreme Court rejects LGBTQ discrimination case, yoga in the schools, and our response to the shooting in New Zealand.

Mar 23, 20191 hr 8 min

Rational Actors #380

Iranian couple breaks cultural norms, churches closing in Canada, stats on humanist marriages in Scotland, a French Cardinal, Texas judge in hot water, China wants west's religious influence out, and strategies for combatting conspiracy theories.

Mar 16, 20191 hr 10 min
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