Unhinged election outcry reveals failed promise of secular salvation Fox News, By Jim Daly, on November 17, 2024 https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/unhinged-election-outcry-reveals-failed-promise-secular-salvation This discussion critiques Jim Daly's opinion piece in Fox News, where he accuses the political left of hysteria following electoral losses. The panel rebuts this, highlighting the right's own emotionally charged reactions, from election denial to performative outrage (e.g., destroying pro...
Dec 15, 2024•24 min•Season 23Ep. 4904
What delusions can tell us about the cognitive nature of belief The Conversation, By Michael Connors and Peter W Halligan, on November 19, 2024 http://theconversation.com/what-delusions-can-tell-us-about-the-cognitive-nature-of-belief-243627 This episode of The Non-Prophets explores the intricate relationship between belief, delusion, and religious convictions. Hosted by Eli Slack, the discussion is prompted by an article from The Conversation by Michael Connors and Peter Hallagan, examining whe...
Dec 14, 2024•19 min•Season 23Ep. 4903
Americans use the Book of Revelation to talk about immigration – and always have RNS, By Yii-Jan Lin, on October 24, 2024 https://religionnews.com/2024/10/24/americans-use-the-book-of-revelation-to-talk-about-immigration-and-always-have/ The discussion focuses on the historical and ongoing use of the Bible, particularly The Book of Revelation, to demonize marginalized groups, including immigrants. This practice leverages religious imagery and rhetoric to manipulate public perception, often paint...
Dec 12, 2024•24 min•Season 23Ep. 4902
Texas lawmaker threatens university budget cuts over LGBT studies Christian Post, By Ian M. Giatti, on November 27, 2024 https://www.christianpost.com/news/texas-lawmaker-threatens-university-budget-cuts-over-lgbt-studies.html Texas State Representative Brian Harrison and his conservative colleagues have vowed to cut funding for any Texas public university offering LGBTQ studies, as well as opposing tuition assistance for families earning under $100,000. However, their threats lack teeth since t...
Dec 10, 2024•21 min•Season 23Ep. 4901
Do you think that children born by IVF are human beings? Christian Post, By Carl R. Trueman, on November 20, 2024 https://www.christianpost.com/voices/do-you-think-that-children-born-by-ivf-are-human-beings.html In this conversation, the panelists discuss Dr. Carl R. Truman's controversial views on IVF and surrogacy, particularly his assertion that children born via these methods may not be fully human. Truman argues that because IVF involves discarding fertilized eggs, it commodifies human life...
Dec 08, 2024•22 min•Season 23Ep. 4804
5 things to know about Linda McMahon, Trump’s pick for Education secretary The Hill, By Lexi Lonas Cochran, on November 19, 2024 https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4999123-5-things-to-know-about-linda-mcmahon-trumps-pick-for-education-secretary/ Linda McMahon, best known as the former WWE CEO and head of the Small Business Administration under the Trump administration, has been nominated for the role of Secretary of Education. However, her nomination has sparked widespread criticism due to h...
Dec 07, 2024•18 min•Season 23Ep. 4803
Texas board advances plan to allow Bible material in elementary school lessons AP News, By NADIA LATHAN, on November 19, 2024 https://apnews.com/article/texas-public-school-religion-bible-curriculum-education-0585dc0a1ecb04b6cf426cce08af7543?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3REIwbmlXgDNlXTd2WxcHy75rw35yw30X-oCLJQNUKHhAEwG9CYrng9Lc_aem_liKM2LWPsYK_WvcyYSuFRQ This segment delves into the controversial approval of a textbook in Texas that heavily integrates Christian teachings into public school curricul...
Dec 05, 2024•24 min•Season 23Ep. 4802
Here’s Why I Decided To Buy ‘InfoWars’ The Onion, By Bryce P. Tetraeder, Global Tetrahedron CEO, on November 14, 2024 https://theonion.com/heres-why-i-decided-to-buy-infowars/ You Won’t Believe Who’s Trying to Stop The Onion Buying Infowars The New Republic by Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling on November 18, 2024 The panel discussed Alex Jones’s downfall as Infowars fell into the hands of The Onion. The irony of a satire site owning a platform infamous for conspiracy theories highlighted the comedic an...
Dec 03, 2024•20 min•Season 23Ep. 4801
Federal judge temporarily blocks Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display Ten Commandments CNN, By Lauren Mascarenhas and Isabel Rosales,, on November 12, 2024 https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/us/louisiana-ten-commandments-law-blocked?Date=20241112&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1731427724 A federal judge has temporarily blocked Louisiana's law mandating Ten Commandments displays in classrooms, citing constitutional concerns. The ACLU praised the decision as a defense of First Amendment righ...
Dec 01, 2024•23 min•Season 23Ep. 4704
A public school let a Christian illusionist trick kids into attending a religious rally The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on November 5, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-public-school-let-a-christian-illusionist In this segment, the panelists discuss the controversial and manipulative use of magic shows by certain religious groups to attract young people, especially teens, into religious programs. The discussion begins with the analysis of how these illusionists operate, blending en...
Nov 30, 2024•20 min•Season 23Ep. 4703
Easier for students to come out as gay than Christian, Evangelical group says Christian Post, By Anugrah Kumar, on November 11, 2024 https://www.christianpost.com/news/easier-for-students-to-come-out-as-gay-than-christian.html The panel discussed a growing cultural conflict in Northern Ireland surrounding Christian versus secular education, with a focus on sexuality and reproductive health. Jonathan highlighted concerns raised by a representative of the Evangelical Alliance, Mr. Smyth, about the...
Nov 28, 2024•22 min•Season 23Ep. 4702
Trump defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth was flagged as potential military 'insider threat' because of 'Deus Vult' tattoo ABC News, By Lucien Bruggeman and Nathan Luna, on November 18, 2024 https://abcnews.go.com/US/pete-hegseth-flagged-potential-insider-threat-tattoo/story?id=115979853 The discussion opens with Cindy Plaza introducing the controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, a nominee for Secretary of Defense under Trump’s presidency. Hegseth's military experience and history have come under ...
Nov 26, 2024•21 min•Season 23Ep. 4701
Ex-Satanist, Witch and Psychic Embroiled in Darkness Abandons It All After Jesus Appears to Him: ‘I Was in Shock’ Faithwire, By Billy Hallowell, on October 31, 2024 https://www.faithwire.com/2024/10/31/ex-satanist-witch-and-psychic-embroiled-in-darkness-abandons-it-all-after-jesus-appears-to-him-i-was-in-shock/ Battling Demonic Evil: Pastor Sounds Off on Possession, Oppression, and Generational Curses Faithwire by Billy Hallowell on October 31, 2024 This episode of The Non-Prophets dives into po...
Nov 24, 2024•21 min•Season 23Ep. 4604
How Archaeologists hunting Noah's Ark made discovery at boat-shaped mound The US Sun, By Juliana Cruz Lima, on October 19, 2024 https://www.the-sun.com/news/12709948/noahs-ark-bible-discovery-turkey-iran/ Scientists unlock secrets of 3,000-year-old tablet revealing path to Noah's Ark The Jerusalem Post by Jerusalem Post Staff on OCTOBER 30, 2024 This conversation delves into two significant claims linked to archaeological discoveries. First, the Durupinar site in Turkey, promoted by Andrew Jones...
Nov 23, 2024•18 min•Season 23Ep. 4603
After their son came out, this conservative Christian couple went into a closet of their own CNN, By John Blake, on November 3, 2024 https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/03/us/conservative-christian-coming-out-gay-cec/index.html The panelists delved into the McDonald family's journey, reflecting on the tensions within conservative Christian communities when grappling with LGBTQ+ acceptance. Initially, Greg Jr.’s parents reacted with a desire to "fix" him, resorting to harmful measures like conversion the...
Nov 21, 2024•19 min•Season 23Ep. 4602
An anti-abortion influencer insists she'll continue her high-risk ectopic pregnancy The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on October 28, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/an-anti-abortion-influencer-insists The panelists discussed Alex Gooding's decision to continue her pregnancy despite the life-threatening complications of cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSP). They critiqued her reliance on faith and ideology over medical advice, pointing out the dangers this decision poses to her life ...
Nov 19, 2024•21 min•Season 23Ep. 4601
Majority of Christians Confess to Using Porn — And Many Are Comfortable With It, Study Finds Faithwire, By Tré Goins-Phillips, on October 22, 2024 https://www.faithwire.com/2024/10/22/majority-of-christians-confess-to-using-porn-and-many-are-comfortable-with-it-study-finds/ This discussion explores the unexpected acceptance and prevalence of pornography use among churchgoing Christians, revealing that 40% of Christian women and 75% of Christian men admit to viewing it. The panel humorously criti...
Nov 17, 2024•19 min•Season 23Ep. 4504
A Woman Died After Being Told It Would Be a “Crime” to Intervene in Her Miscarriage at a Texas Hospital ProPublica, By Cassandra Jaramillo and Kavitha Surana, on Oct 30, 2024 https://www.propublica.org/article/josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage-texas-abortion-ban?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1Y0lGG-_K1AGP4xUGx4t80AgCOcvOFoRx1J59MSnGzO-_PCnysmJjk0xs_aem_LI_D0xI9zQdkz2MDkku8PQ In a moving discussion, the panel delves into the tragic death of a young mother in Houston, Texas, who succumbed to sepsis a...
Nov 16, 2024•17 min•Season 23Ep. 4503
“Not Medically Necessary”: Inside the Company Helping America’s Biggest Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Care Pro Publica, By T. Christian Miller, on Oct 23, 2024 https://www.propublica.org/article/evicore-health-insurance-denials-cigna-unitedhealthcare-aetna-prior-authorizations The panel delves into the complexities and pitfalls of the U.S. healthcare system, particularly the insurance industry's reliance on algorithms and outsourced decision-making to approve or deny pre-authorized medical c...
Nov 14, 2024•17 min•Season 23Ep. 4502
Right-wing Christian worship leader Zach Radcliff charged with child sex crimes The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on Oct 23, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/right-wing-christian-worship-leader The discussion highlights yet another scandal involving sexual abuse within a religious institution, this time focusing on Michigan's Liber University and its ties to a former student and church member, Zachary Radcliffe. Radcliffe, once celebrated as a successful Liberty University alumnus, is...
Nov 12, 2024•20 min•Season 23Ep. 4501
Scientists Have Observed Evidence of Evolution in Real Time Popular Mechanics, By Darren Orf, on October 11, 2024 https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/animals/a62570259/snail-evolution-real-time/ In the final segment of the discussion, the spotlight is on a fascinating and often overlooked subject: snails. Kelley, the resident scientist, delves into a long-term research project being conducted in Sweden that has been ongoing for decades. This extensive study has uncovered intriguing data abo...
Nov 10, 2024•21 min•Season 23Ep. 4404
Publicly execute a few women: Pastor calls for executing women who partook in #MeToo movement The Mary Sue, By Rachel Ulatowski, on October 21, 2024 https://www.themarysue.com/publicly-execute-a-few-women-pastor-calls-for-executing-women-who-partook-in-metoo-movement/ In a recent panel discussion, the topic centered around controversial remarks made by Pastor Joel Webon of Covenant Bible Church in Texas, who suggested that executing women accused of lying about sexual assault could end the #MeTo...
Nov 09, 2024•22 min•Season 23Ep. 4403
Florida Republican says opponent's Humanism 'should disqualify her' from office The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on October 16, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/florida-republican-says-opponents In Florida's District 38 State House race, the political landscape is heating up as Democrat Sarah Henry faces off against Republican incumbent David Smith in a highly anticipated rematch. This contest is particularly noteworthy due to the scrutiny surrounding Smith's campaign tactics, which ...
Nov 07, 2024•22 min•Season 23Ep. 4402
Louisiana teacher of the year sues to stop state's Ten Commandments law Newsweek, By Natalie Venegas, on October 23, 2024 https://www.newsweek.com/louisiana-teacher-year-sues-stop-states-ten-commandments-law-1973796 The panel discusses Louisiana's HB 71, a law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms. Christopher Diehr, the 2020 Louisiana Teacher of the Year, has filed a lawsuit against the statute, arguing it infringes on the separation of church and state. Panelists e...
Nov 05, 2024•24 min•Season 23Ep. 4401
Comb Jelly with Two Butts Is Actually Two Individuals Fused Together SCIAM, by Elizabeth Ann Brown, on October 7, 2024 In this episode, the hosts dive into a quirky yet significant scientific discovery about comb jellies, organisms known for their peculiar biology. The focus shifts to a recent finding where two comb jellies fused into a single body, leading to an odd scenario where each retained its own transient anus, yet shared digestive and nervous systems. This unique event challenges tradit...
Nov 02, 2024•17 min•Season 23Ep. 4304
Why people always think they’re right, according to science Fortune, By Ani Freedman, on October 9, 2024 The conversation starts with a humorous introduction about always being right, but quickly shifts to a discussion about a recent study on the "illusion of information adequacy." This study found that when given incomplete facts, people often believe they have enough information to make informed decisions. However, when presented with the full picture, they tend to change their opinions. This ...
Nov 01, 2024•16 min•Season 23Ep. 4303
Turned My Whole Life Upside Down’: South Carolina Woman Charged with Murder After Giving Birth to Baby Prematurely On Toilet Atlanta Black Star, By Jill Jordan Sieder , on September 24, 2024 The conversation focuses on the case of Mary Marsh, a young Black woman from South Carolina who was charged with murder after the loss of her pregnancy. This tragic event unfolded in March 2023, and Marsh, just 23 years old, was accused of failing to save her newborn after giving birth in a bathroom. This in...
Oct 30, 2024•20 min•Season 23Ep. 4302
Jerry Falwell Jr. is back and it's bad for everyone Religious News, By Karen Swallow Prior, on October 4, 2024 The story dives into Christian hypocrisy, particularly examining the scandal surrounding Jerry Falwell Jr., his fall from grace, and his eventual return to Liberty University during homecoming week. Falwell’s behavior highlights the deep contradictions within institutions like Liberty, which impose strict moral codes on students while their leaders, like Falwell, live by completely diff...
Oct 28, 2024•20 min•Season 23Ep. 4301
DeSantis Administration Threatens News Station With Criminal Charges for Airing Abortion Amendment Ad Truthout, By Chris Walker, on October 9, 2024 https://truthout.org/articles/desantis-administration-threatens-news-station-for-airing-abortion-amendment-ad/ The state government of Florida is attempting to suppress a news station, WFLA, by threatening to criminalize them for airing a pro-Amendment 4 ad that advocates for extending abortion rights up to 20-26 weeks. This intimidation comes as Gov...
Oct 26, 2024•22 min•Season 23Ep. 4204
War on wokeness: the year the right rallied around a made-up menace the Guardian, By Michael Harriot, on December 21, 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/20/anti-woke-race-america-history The discussion opens with a focus on the "war on woke," examining whether it's a real issue or just a political creation. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' rhetoric against the so-called "woke mob" is dissected, revealing how this term has been twisted into a tool for political gain, especially on th...
Oct 25, 2024•20 min•Season 23Ep. 4203
