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

Holy Hypocrisy: Pope's Progeny Plea #648

City council in Australia bans same-sex parenting books, Southern Baptist membership numbers in decline, more 'nones' doesn't mean more atheists, college professor fired for not hating enough, school board in Texas edits text books, Boy Scouts rebrand doesn't mean they've gotten nicer to atheists, and in the face of population decline, Pope Francis calls on Catholics to have more babies.

May 14, 20241 hr 11 minEp. 648

Catholic Time Machine: Undoing Vatican II #647

Priest spends diocese money on Candy Crush, Mormon Church in trouble with investors again, United Methodists approve LGBTQ clergy, Catholics in Silicon Valley, bill to fight antisemitism faces backlash in Congress, Utah hate bill meets with trouble, and US Catholic Church pushes back against Vatican II reforms. And that link Dan wanted everyone to have: https://ut-sao-special-prod.web.app/sex_basis_complaint2.html...

May 07, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 647

Costly Underwear #646

Texas nuns fight back, Spain takes action against Catholics, university students in Iran protest, Oklahoma lawmakers have an interesting idea, polling about Mormons and gay marriage, priest retires after uproar, and Mormons react to their leaders insisting they wear their magic underwear all the time.

Apr 30, 20241 hr 14 minEp. 646

School Chaplains #645

Majority of Baltimore archdiocese parishes face closure, French court decision enrages Vatican, 'religious litter' gets cleaned up, Wisconsin politician identifies source of homelessness, New York State to enforce independent oversight of clergy sex abuse allegations in Brooklyn, Dublin priest barred from blessing planes, and the next big thing Republicans are pushing on America: chaplains in our public schools.

Apr 23, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 645

The Numbers Game #644

Chips commercial sparks outrage, Louisiana Supreme Court overturns victim amnesty law, Russians go after Ukrainian Christians, Arizona abortion law reveals rift among Republicans, Vatican misses opportunity for an easy win, Huntsman lawsuit against Mormon church, and should we even care about Mormon membership numbers (or any church's numbers for that matter)?

Apr 16, 20241 hr 10 minEp. 644

Terror in the Sky #643

Trump promises to create 'Christian Visibility Day,' Kenyan priest 'sentenced' in child-rape case, Mormon leaders admit they're old, trend in Catholic parish closures, Tennessee changes law to allow anti-LGBTQ bigots to adopt LGBTQ children, possible changes to Mormon underwear, and this week's eclipse brings out the religious/superstitious crazies.

Apr 09, 20241 hr 26 minEp. 643

Donnie's Bible #642

'Blasphemous' painting of Jesus slashed, anti-LGBTQ+ Christians stop traffic in New Zealand, an Easter tradition in the Philippines, Taliban resumes stoning women to death, French soccer federation ignores Ramadan, more Americans leave religion over anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry, and Trump's blasphemous entree into bible publishing.

Apr 02, 202454 minEp. 642

Mormon Women #641

Haiti and voodoo, church embezzlement, Supreme Court and parents of trans kid, female genital mutilation, House Speaker's Christianity hurts fundraising efforts, Hindus mad about yogurt, and Mormon women and authority.

Mar 26, 20241 hr 11 minEp. 641

Doubling Down #640

A museum closes, victims compensated in France, Islamic police arrest snackers, problematic new law in India, Franklin Graham warns France, Wisconsin Supreme Court issues ruling, and the Mormons double down on controversial speech at BYU.

Mar 19, 20241 hr 14 minEp. 640

Poop Birds #639

LDS Church buys important (to them) historical sites, right wing Catholic website is dying, Greek Orthodox Church responds to same-sex marriage vote, anti-semitism on the rise in Europe, Biden issues rule to prevent religious discrimination in social services, Liberty University is in trouble, and recent polling looking at who is leaving the Mormon Church.

Mar 12, 20241 hr 11 minEp. 639

Alito and Religious Bias #638

Bill banning Pride flags from Utah classrooms fails, Spanish priest scolded, vast majority of Iranians want a secular government, Florida law, secularism law in Quebec upheld, a West Virginia lawmaker's view on abortion, and Samual Alito opines about fake anti-Christian bias.

Mar 05, 20241 hr 17 minEp. 638

Embryo Personhood #637

France responds (overreacts?) to an Imam's criticism of the French flag, funeral at iconic New York church for trans woman, Arizona lawmakers reject bill banning Satanic displays, Georgia bill about christianity, Trump promises religious broadcasters he'll defend Christianity, revealing tweet from Hillsong pastor, and Alabama's Supreme Court declares embryos are people too.

Feb 28, 20241 hr 10 minEp. 637

Woo For You #636

Kate joins Dan because Frank's out of town. Greece OKs gay marriage, Israel and the Vatican in a spat, new animated series, Iowa wants to ban Satan, Christian Nationalist in Arkansas tries to de-fund libraries for Jesus, a survey asks if people trust pastors, and Dan and Kate discuss spoooooky woo!

Feb 23, 202452 min

Rumors of War #635

There's a war on men in this country (according to Christian pastor), Australian teen ordered to have cancer treated, an alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast, churches and solar panel rebates, Utah lawmaker wants to expand definition of lewdness, faith on display at the Super Bowl, and Christians fear civil war is coming (at the hand of liberals).

Feb 13, 20241 hr 7 minEp. 635

Mormon Swingers #634

Christian school bans mother from dropping off kids, CVS sued by former employee, Satanic Temple display vandal charged with hate crime, Idaho constitutional amendment attempt, 'Take Our Border Back' convoy is a total mess, a radio preacher gets in trouble, and we discuss the phenomenon Mormon swingers.

Feb 06, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 634

Religious But Not Spiritual #633

TurboTax ad ruffles feathers, new polling about 'nones', pastor admits to steeling from followers ("the Lord told us to"), gays are the new colonizers, "God's army" heads to the US/Mexico border, who gets to choose the chief rabbi, and the demographic group of the religious but not spiritual kinda blows our mind.

Jan 30, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 633

Disqualifying Churches #632

Mike Johnson admits Joe Biden's presidency is 'God's will', filmmakers hurt some feelings, Prince William told to back Christianity, new Utah bill, Community of Christ appoints woman as prophet, natural disaster hits Greg Locke (guess who didn't send it), and what should disqualify a church from being legally recognized.

Jan 24, 20241 hr 16 minEp. 632

Cultural Evangelicals #631

Iran's got some screwed up criminal punishments, Baptists selling insurance to Methodists, the pope reminds us he's Catholic, Buddha Boy, Martin Scorsese is making another film about Jesus, a really nutty tunnel in New York, and 'cultural evangelicals' might be crazier (and scarier) than the church going type.

Jan 16, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 631

Bracing for 2024 #630

Italian priest speaks schismatically and gets the boot, judge rules school not responsible for child conversion, Michigan state representative works for God, Southern Baptists settle law suit, Republicans are convinced Trump is a person of faith, Vivek Ramaswamy answers atheist question, and it's a US presidential election year and things are going to get rough. Here's our survival tips.

Jan 09, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 630

New Year, Old You #629

Christian university sued for false advertising, white Christians upset about Jesus art, Navajo Nation objects to NASA moon mission, wrestlers need snacks, Church of Scotland is selling off churches fast, surprising data about Mormon population in Utah, and getting preachy about New Years resolutions.

Jan 02, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 629

Joy Eludes Us #628

Atheists are nicer to Christians than the other way around, pope has words about decision to bless gay couples, Vatican holds cardinal accountable, Catholic college update, Lindsey Graham declares war on New York, Greek lawmakers vow to keep promise to allow gay marriage, and the Catholic League advises people to avoid joyless atheists.

Dec 26, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 628

Have a Holly Heathen Christmas! #627

This week, Kate fills in for Frank, who might be dying... but is actually just in Hawaii making Dan jealous. Stories: death penalty troubles in Alabama, Church of England is going too far, or not far enough, holy sexuality is a nonsense term, small towns STILL don't understand what's wrong with governments promoting Jesus in front of the firehouse, Satanic Temple statue bravely destroyed by Christian hero, and the Supreme Court makes the best decision they've made all year. In the final segment,...

Dec 19, 20231 hr 10 min

War on Christmas! (Songs Edition) #626

US Speaker of the House thinks he’s Moses, holiday tradition at Vatican turns 800 years old, Denmark officially outlaws burning the Quran, Pew study about our spiritual-but-not-religious comrades, school board member takes oath on stack of banned books, Catholic women’s college decides to admit trans women, and it turns out that all the fun Christmas songs were written by Jews and that pisses some Christians off.

Dec 12, 20231 hr 6 min

So Many Rules #625

Diplomas for sale, Pope Francis wants more women involved in church, the pope punishes another vocal critic, Oregon Christian group bad for foster kids, the Mormons keep buying up farmland, monsignor relieved of duties after music video causes stir, and what are all the religious rules for?

Dec 05, 20231 hr 11 minEp. 625

Lady Mormons #624

Catholic health system takes down crucifixes, Pope Francis is worried about how nice German Catholics are being, Pope Francis invites group of trans women to lunch, lawsuit over trans athlete, Baptist pastor apologizes for creationism seminar, Christian books in schools, and sorry for the sexist title... we're not sexist, but maybe the Mormon patriarchy is?

Nov 28, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 624

Atheists No More #623

Rio de Janeiro wants to honor Taylor Swift; Church of England agonizes over baby steps; Speaker Mike Johnson has some bad ideas about separation of church and state; a bad Wisconsin law; Pope Francis fires priest; imprisoned atheists win in court; and Ayaan Hirsi Ali leaves the atheist movement for Christianity, and we wonder what retirement could look like if we followed along (hint: $$$).

Nov 21, 20231 hr 7 minEp. 623

Covenant Eyes #622

Churches in Utah open as winter warming centers for the unhoused (guess who isn't participating!), court dismisses suit against Mormon Church, America passes major milestone in evolution acceptance, India bans protest, Vatican issues surprising guidance about trans community, preacher claims victory that isn't his, and the new US Speaker of the House has a strange relationship with his son.

Nov 14, 20231 hr 9 minEp. 622

Christian Takeover #621

Someone smashed some pumpkins in Czech Republic, Texas justice of the peace sues to not do gay marriages, Catholic priest hosts gay orgy, a crappy amicus brief, Italian priest causes liturgical horror, the Synod on Synodality, and a Christian nationalist officially takes over the US House of Representatives.

Nov 07, 20231 hr 19 minEp. 621

Awe Inspiring #620

School trustee posts truly offensive meme and uses the 'but the Holy Ghost told me to' defense, our favorite Catholic cardinal tasked with solving current conflict in 'Holy Land', new student housing at the University of Utah comes with strict code of conduct, another ruling on controversial teaching in school, Oklahoma attorney general sues to stop public funds from going to religious charter school, police chief uses archaic law to harass business owner, and how something truly awesome--like a...

Oct 24, 20231 hr 9 minEp. 620

Christians are the Worst #619

School board member banned from reading Bible verses during meetings, NJ political candidate, consequences for selling bleach as COVID-19 cure, poll about religion and well being, Northern Ireland's new abortion protest buffer zone law, an update about the Louisiana principal, and the Christian response to Hamas and Israel.

Oct 17, 20231 hr 1 minEp. 619
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