TheThinkingAtheist - podcast cover

TheThinkingAtheist

The Thinking Atheistwww.spreaker.com
Seth Andrews, a former Christian broadcaster and believer for 30 years, ultimately escaped the bonds of superstitious thinking to embrace the more satisfying explanations that science provides.

A professional video producer and host of one of the most popular atheist communities on the internet, Seth Andrews brings a polished format, a relaxed environment and a rage-free challenge to the religious beliefs that defined his youth.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.

Episodes

Pokemon, the Devil, and Donald Trump

This show is a random romp through recent pop culture phenomenons (and whatever else pops into the host's mind). Plus some listener calls. Enjoy! New Yorker Article: "Donald Trump Ghostwriter Tells All" - http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support ....

Jul 28, 20161 hr 15 min

The Ark Encounter: A Less than Grand Opening

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.warbyparker.com/thethinkingatheist Ken Ham's "Ark Encounter" has been hyped - by some - as a tour de force of biblical truth, adventure, and potential tourism dollars. It officially opened on July 7th. Our four (atheist) panel guests were there for the occasion: David Silverman, Tracey Moody, Dan Broadbent and Aron Ra. They give us the report from the field. VIDEO of this interview: https://youtu.be/ZL2_q3sbdB4 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.sprea...

Jul 19, 201643 min

Spare The Rod: Corporal Punishment in the Name of God (PART 2 OF 2)

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.harrys.com (promo code: thinkingatheist) Proverbs 13:24 says, "Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them." Is this a healthy approach to child-rearing and the discipline of children? This is the second part of our 2-part broadcast on (often religiously-motivated) corporal discipline for children, where we hear more of our listeners' perspectives, examine more of the data supporting or refuting t...

Jul 12, 201654 min

Spare The Rod: Corporal Punishment in the Name of God (PART 1 OF 2)

SUPPORT THIS SHOW on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/sethandrews Proverbs 13:24 says, "Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them." Is this a healthy approach to child-rearing and the discipline of children? We explore many religious rules for parenting, and we share the perspectives of listeners who have firsthand experience with strict (and not-so-strict) homes, physical punishments, and the often lasting consequences. This i...

Jul 05, 20161 hr 14 min

The God of Cancer

The Bible says in John 14:13-14, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." Mark 11:24 assures the faithful, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Christians (and those of other religions) worldwide pray fervently for the cures to cancer, disease, and all manner of malady and misfortune. Are those prayers activating...

Jun 28, 201652 min

John W. Loftus: The Outsider Test for Faith

John W. Loftus is a former Church of Christ minister. Today, he's an atheist, author and activist. He joins Seth Andrews to talk about his journey. Video of this interview: https://youtu.be/C794qlswPzI Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support ....

Jun 21, 201640 min

A Tragedy in Orlando

In this short, unscheduled broadcast, Seth Andrews addresses the recent mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, as well as the responses peppering social media, the connection to radical Islam, the indoctrination of bigotry and hate, and a few reasons to remain vigilant and hold onto hope. Kaveh Mousavi's article "Orlando Shooter: The Sinful Executioner:" http://www.patheos.com/blogs/marginoferr/author/kmousavi/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--...

Jun 16, 201625 min

God Awful Movies

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.casper.com /sethandrews Eli Bosnick, Heath Enwright, and Noah Lugeons are hosts of a podcast called "God Awful Movies," which skewers the hideously bad (and unintentionally funny) religious films produced by God's public relations department here on earth. Seth Andrews joins the GAM team to examine - and skewer - three specific religious movies: 1) A Matter of Faith 2) If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? 3) International Guerrillas There is VIDEO of this pod...

Jun 14, 20161 hr 10 min

Stones of Tribulation: a short story by Ed Suominen

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.harrys.com (promo code: thinkingatheist) Ed Suominen is an engineer, inventor, recovering fundamentalist Christian, and author. His books include, "An Examination of the Pearl," and "Evolving out of Eden," which Ed co-wrote with Dr. Robert M. Price. Ed also writes "Ed Suominen's Shitty Little Blog," which can be found at http://blog.edsuom.com , and one year ago, his retelling of the biblical story of Abraham was read by Seth Andrews in a podcast titled, "Abraham'...

Jun 07, 201654 min

The Order of Elijah: No Longer a Christian Band

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.lootcrate.com/sethandrews (promo code sethandrews) "The Order of Elijah" is a metalcore band from Joplin, Missouri. Since their debut album "Accession" released in 2012, they have been identified as a Christian band. Yet lead singer Shannon Low recently declared that he - and the band - no longer held to the Christian faith. Low is an atheist, and he is being very public about it. Shannon Low joins Seth Andrews for a candid discussion about Christianity, the busin...

May 31, 201641 min

God is Messed Up: A Conversation with Tracie Harris

Sponsored by The Phil Ferguson Show: http://polarisfinancialplanning.com/polaris-blog/the-phil-ferguson-show-podcast Tracie Harris is one of the co-hosts of the Austin-based television show, "The Atheist Experience." She joins Seth Andrews for a conversation about religion, atheism, God, family, boundaries, and the reasons that someone who dislikes debate would host a debate broadcast. Plus, viewer comments and questions. The Atheist Experience website: http://www.atheist-experience.com WATCH th...

May 24, 20161 hr 12 min

The Liberal Redneck

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.lootcrate.com/sethandrews Watch this conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A_URlDunFD8 Trae Crowder is a Tennessee comedian (and definitely not a southern conservative). His recent video on transgender bathrooms went viral, and his redneck rants on social issues have made international news. Trae joined Seth Andrews for a brief yet entertaining conversation about his recent internet fame, the south, God, and the trials and joys of being a "Liberal Redneck. ON ...

May 21, 201636 min

Monster On Sunday

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.lootcrate.com/sethandrews In 2012, Steve and Tally Cass founded the atheist band, "Monster on Sunday." MoS's 2015 debut album (titled "Baby Eater") is an in-your-face wall of anti-religion rock, and a labor of love by this husband/wife team based in San Diego. In this departure from our usual "talk radio" format, Seth introduces the players and highlights some of the music. No doubt, this particular flavor of loud, firebrand activism won't be for everyone, but if ...

May 17, 201649 min

John de Lancie: a Rally for Reason

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.lootcrate.com/sethandrews Veteran actor John de Lancie is a featured speaker at the 2016 Reason Rally. He joins Seth Andrews to discuss his own views on reason, religion, the 2016 rally in Washington DC, and of course, his decades as film and television icon. John de Lancie's website: http://delancie.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support ....

May 10, 201639 min

Alix Jules: Religion & Race in the Year of Donald Trump

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.evolvefish.com Alix Jules is a secular activist, writer, and President of Black Nonbelievers of Dallas, Texas. He chairs the Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason's Diversity Council, is a founding member of the Fellowship of Freethought, and is an advisor to the Council for Secular Humanism's Africal Americans for Humanism Initiative. His atheism and activism have gained national attention. In this one-hour conversation with Seth Andrews (recorded in Dallas on Ap...

May 03, 20161 hr 3 min

Religion: The Mind Virus

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.casper.com /sethandrews (promo code: sethandrews) Is religion a virus of the mind? Three mental health experts join us. Dr. Andy Thomson is a psychiatrist, a trustee for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, on staff with the University of Virginia, and author of "Why We Believe in God(s): a Concise Guide to the Science of Faith." Dr. Valerie Tarico is a psychologist, columnnist for AlterNet, and author of "Trusting Doubt: A Former Evangelical Loo...

Apr 26, 20161 hr 4 min

The Dogma Debate Tandem Show: Seth Andrews & David Smalley

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.hellofresh.com (promo code thinkingatheist) Seth Andrews joins Dogma Debate host David Smalley in the DD studio for two hours of candid discussion about their shows, the guests, the fans and critics, and some of the opportunities, challenges and quirks of producing "heathen" radio. Obviously, they had no trouble finding things to talk about. Enjoy! DOGMA DEBATE: www.dogmadebate.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingath...

Apr 19, 20162 hr

Skeptical Money (with Phil Ferguson)

Phil Ferguson is a financial advisor and host of "The Phil Ferguson Show." In this bonus podcast, Phil speaks with Seth Andrews about the application of critical thinking to areas of our lives beyond religion, including the decisions we make with our money. With (occasionally thick) financial jargon relating to things like stocks, mutual funds, college savings, retirement planning, etc, this show won't be for everyone. But it may provide some useful information to those interested in investment-...

Apr 15, 201647 min

Homeschool Cults (Part 2 of 2)

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.lootcrate.com/sethandrews The U.S. Department of Education says that over 1.7 million children in the United States are homeschooled. But what happens when homeschooling stops being about education, and instead becomes insulation? Isolation? Inodctrination? This broadcast isn't a referendum on the concept of homeschooling. It's an exploration into some of the more extreme religious homeschool environments, and into the lives and personal stories of those who exper...

Apr 12, 20161 hr 4 min

Homeschool Cults (Part 1 of 2)

The U.S. Department of Education says that over 1.7 million children in the United States are homeschooled. But what happens when homeschooling stops being about education, and instead becomes insulation? Isolation? Inodctrination? This broadcast isn't a referendum on the concept of homeschooling. It's an exploration into some of the more extreme religious homeschool environments, and into the lives and personal stories of those who experienced them. This is part 1 of a two-part broadcast. Becom...

Apr 05, 20161 hr 10 min

God's Not Dead: The Christian Persecution Complex

"God's Not Dead" is a film produced by PureFlix which released in 2014. With a budget of only $2 million, GnD grossed over $60 million. It's not hard to see why a sequel film has just been introduced to theaters. The premises of both films are essentially the same. Christianity is under attack in the United States, and brave God Warriors must stand up against the evil atheists to defend their faith and their savior. Are these movies rooted in any shade of reality? And how do they speak to anothe...

Apr 02, 201627 min

Skeptical Youth

A November 2015 Pew Research Center survey revealed that the United States is becoming less religious overall, and "especially the youngest Millennials, who have entered adulthood since the first Landscape Study was conducted {a few months earlier} - are far less religious than their elders." Admittedly, these "nones" aren't necessarily atheists, and many may consider themselves "spiritual" on some level. But what's driving this exodus from the formal structures of religion, and what do these yo...

Mar 29, 201657 min

Billboards, Brainwashing, Justice and Jared Fogle

Watch the video of this podcast HERE: https://youtu.be/YxRdJGqTeXA Callers submit their own comments and questions for this show. We highlight the proposed "Genocide & Incest" counter-billboard to The Ark Encounter's grand opening. And we spend more than half of the show discussing the recent prison beating of convicted sex offender Jared Fogle and the proper response(s) to the violence carried out against him. An interview with Sarah Morehead caps the broadcast. Funraising page for Tri-State Th...

Mar 22, 20161 hr 12 min

Evil Western Medicine

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.hellofresh.com (promo code thinkingatheist) It's a topic we've addressed in various forms, but this is an entire show dedicated to medicine. Science-based medicine. Alternative medicine. The names and claims of many so-called "natural" cures. And the charge that medical science should be distrusted in favor of unlicensed "healers" who operate outside the checks and balances of regulatory agencies, and who - in so many cases - are making a pretty penny. Joining us ...

Mar 15, 20161 hr 3 min

You Pick the Topic - March 2016

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.naturebox.com/thinkingatheist No theme or topic. Just a full show of listener comments and questions. Enjoy. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support .

Mar 08, 20161 hr 12 min

Matt Dillahunty: We're Just Talking

Sponsored by The Phil Ferguson Show: http://polarisfinancialplanning.com/polaris-blog/the-phil-ferguson-show-podcast/ Matt Dillahunty is one of the hosts of The Atheist Experience television show, he is a frequent speaker and debater, and he hosts the Atheist Debates YouTube channel. Matt and Seth Andrews are friends who often enjoy long conversations on the freethought convention circuit. This time, they decided to record the conversation for the podcast audience, touching on topics ranging fro...

Mar 01, 20161 hr 25 min

Astronomy Saves the World!

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.evolvefish.com Science has proven the Big Bang. So why is it so difficult for the everyperson to communicate the how/why of that event? Perhaps, it's because the universe is a mind-bogglingly huge thing for us to grasp. Overwhelmed, we sometimes check out of necessary conversations about cosmology, our origins, and the observable, natural world. Dr. Dan Batcheldor has a Ph.D in astrophysics and is Head of Physics and Space Science at the Florida Institute of Techn...

Feb 24, 201657 min

God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction (with Dan Barker)

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.naturebox.com/thinkingatheist Dan Barker's new book (titled after the famous Richard Dawkins quote) doesn't exactly cast a flattering eye at the biblical god. Truth be told, the Bible itself doesn't flatter God, either. Not-so-hidden inside the pages of scripture is the profile of a deity so ugly, brutish, bloodthirsty and petty, he would be condemned by the faithful as a monster in another context. Join us, as we speak with Dan Barker about his own personal story...

Feb 17, 20161 hr 4 min

Noah's Lark: The Ark Encounter

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: The Phil Ferguson Show http://polarisfinancialplanning.com/polaris-blog/the-phil-ferguson-show-podcast/ Ken Ham (of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum) prepares to unleash his "Ark Encounter" upon the public. The road toward completion has been a rocky one, with controversies about tax incentives and discriminatory hiring practices often leading the heated discussions for and against its existence. In this broadcast, we speak with several people who have followed the...

Feb 10, 201643 min

Medical Neglect in the Name of God - PART 2 OF 2 (with Dr. Paul Offit)

SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR: http://www.naturebox.com/thinkingatheist Dr. Paul Offit is Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, as well as the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology, and a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perleman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He has received awards for his work from the University of Maryland, the Infectious Disease Society of America, the National Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Ped...

Feb 03, 201649 min