Atheist Roundtable

In a new format, the Atheist Roundtable is back!  Now, with more of a roundtable format.  Tonight, Kelsey joins me to discuss morals and ethics in atheism, and I bring a story about the separation of church and state. Join in the fun!  The awesome is overflowing!

I've talked about the evidence for god a lot.  And I've talked about how I don't find these arguments convincing.  Tonight, I'll talk about why I am not convinced and perhaps what it would take to convince me. I want to go over a few things I used to find convincing, and why I changed my mind.  How can something that once convinced me that god was real fail to do so now? Plus, your calls. It's just plain awesome.

Recently, I listened to an eposode of the Thinking Atheist podcast.  Seth was doing an interview with some Christian radio hosts.  More than once, the Christian hosts asked Seth what evidence would it take for him to be a believer again.  While I thought Seth handled the question well, this question comes up often, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Plus, I want to talk about some of the reasons why I find the evidence I've seen presented for the existence of god so unconvincing.   Plus your calls.  It's so awesome to be back!!

I got the idea for this show from my friend, Frank, who tweets at @Atheism_Tweets.  He told me to listen to the last caller on a recent episode of the Atheist Expirience.  The caller, Dana, told a heartbreaking story about her sister.  On her deathbed, Dana's sister calls to tell Dana she will go to hell for being an atheist. I talk a lot on this show about the atheist community.  The hosts of the show did a good job of trying to surround the caller with support and love.  I'm glad Dana was able to find some suport and help. But she shouldn't have to.  And so I want to talk about hell, the fear it causes, and why all superstitions about the afterlife are harmful. Plus your calls. We bring the awesome!!

I've changed my thinking since I was a believer.  Before, penance was something I did to make up for sin.  It was a way to show my desire to heal a broken relationship with the god I thought was real.  Now that I no longer believe, what does the concept of penance hold for me? I want to talk about how the idea of penance has evolved for me.  I think it's especially important in light of recent political events.  Now more than ever, we need more voices to be heard. Plus, your calls. Making the awesome saucy again.

I recently listened to the debate between Matt Slick and David Smalley.  The topic was the morality of the god of the Old Testament, but since the topic dealt with morality, I already knew what Matt Slick would say.  He's been saying it for years.  Perhaps you'll be surprised to find I agree with just as much of what Slick said as I do with what Smalley said.  I actually think they are both right, and also they are both wrong.  I think the difference is so subtle, it's hard to find.  I'll try to suss it out tonight. Plus your calls. The awesome is legion.

I've been a secular wedding officiant for a while now.  I've done a couple of weddings, even one for a christian couple.  Sometimes, people ask what the importance of getting married is for the atheist. I've been married for 18 years.  I'll tell you why I'm married, why I think the atheists I've married wanted it, and why it's important.   Plus I got a couple other things on my mind.   Do you have something on your mnd?  Call and be part of the awesomeness!!

"You can't reason someone out of a position they did not reson themselves into."  Or so the saying goes.  You've heard it over and over from your atheist friends.  Well, I disagree. Not entirely.  I don't think religion is a position one uses reason to reach.  But at the same time, I also don't think that means people who have faith are unreasonable people.  I just think they hold ideas to be true for bad reasons. I'll give my perspective on how reason and logic work when we land on beliefs, and how they help us when those beliefs need to be challenged. Plus your calls. Let the awesomness begin.

It's hard to find a conversation with a christian believer that does not involve the bible at some point.  Sooner or later you will have some quote thrown at you.  I find it less interesting in what the quote says, and more intersting what the choice of quote tells me about the person who chose it. We all know people cherry pick the bible, but what are the cherries?  When two people go to this book and come away with such varying views, it says less about the book than it does the pickers of the cheries. Plus, a brief conversation I had on Facebook this week.  Very brief. Look!!  The awesomeness comes two weeks in a row!!

I think it's about time I talked about this election.  I don't do a lot of politics, but I think this election is crazy enough to talk about it some.  While this may not have much to do woth atheism, it's what's been on my mind lately. I hear so much from people who are skeptical about our candidates.  And with good reason.  But is that a good enough reason to stay home or vote for a third party? I'll give my thoughts tonight. Got 2 cents?  Call and give 'em! Oh, the awesomeness!!

When I talk to believers, one of the "good things" religion is supposed to do is create a social network of people.  It is supposed to bring people together and make families of strangers.  It does this by allowing people to get to know each other quickly and in a friendly way.  But is religion really good at this?  What about beer? Sure I think people who share an imaginary friend can find other things in common and quickly bond, but I think the same thing can happen over beer and barbeque.  And which scenario is preferable?  Which is the one that makes better bonds? Do you have an opinion?  Call in and share it!! The awesome returns!!

June 4, 2016 was the second Reason Rally in Washington DC.  It was so awesome to be there!!  I got to hug so many of my friends, meet so many new friends, and just hang out with some of the most amazing people on the planet!!   But not everyone at the Reason Rally was there to support reason.  Some Christian protesters showed up, too.  They were forced to hang out on the sidelines, making them the literal side show at the Rally. I took a moment to stop by.  I had a recorder on me.  This is what happened. I'm afraid this episode will NOT be my triumphant come-back to podcasting regularly.  My wife is still going through chemo, and that is going to take another month or so.  I want to thank all my listeners for all their patience and support in this time!!  YOU ARE ALL THE SOURCE OF AWESOME SAUCE!!

We always hear from so many of the same atheists.  How about a new one?  This is Robert Burks.  Just a guy.  A fellow free-thinker and someone who wants to do more in the atheist movement.  He's a new voice in atheism, and I am honored to host his first podcast interview. Robert and I talk about his deconversion, and I throw a few of the questions every theist asks at him.  I think Robert's answers are as good as any. The awesomeness will not be denied!!

From the doctor's office in Indy, to a knock at my front door, I seem to be getting a lot of tracts these days.  Lots of people want to give me small pamphlets that tell me that I need saving. Let's talk about this form of "witnessing" and what I have to say about it. Plus, your calls. Guaranteed to be more awesome than a Chick Tract!!

I've had lots of conversations with believers.  Some were good apologists, others were just okay.  Who was the best aplogist I ever met?  Who made the arguments that I had the hardest time trying to refute?  Whose arguments drove me off the wall? It may surprise you to learn that while I was deconverting, I was the best apologist I knew.  I knew just how to argue with me.  I knew the reasons I believed, and I knew why I had doubts.   Today, those internal arguments serve as my starting point for many of my conversations with believers.   I'll explain why, and how I think this makes me better equiped today. Plus, your calls. Let the awesomeness flow!

My wife recently found out she had ovarian cancer.  Most people just offered support and kindness.  A few offered prayers.  How does an atheist react to that?  How SHOULD an atheist react to that?   I'll give my thoughts, as well as my real life reactions.  You may be surprised what did or did not happen. Plus, your calls. The awesomeness has returned!!

I've gone on record saying religion is a net evil.  That is, the good religion does is outwieghed by the bad.  So does that mean that I think if religion dissappeared things would be better?  The answer may surprise you. I'll talk about what I think would happen, what would not happen, and why.   This episode is a return to the rambling stream of thoughts this show does when it doesn't do interviews. So you could call in and give your two cents! Oh, the awesomeness!!

Trav Mamone is the host of the Bi Any Means podcast.  A humanist, bisexual, genderqueer, powerhouse of awesomeness, Trav brings such a wonderful, amazing voice to the podcasting world.  If you haven't found the treasure that is the Bi Any Means Podcast, do yourself a favor and give it a listen. Trav and I discuss their journey of self-discovery.  From diving into religion to swimming out, from always feeling like a square peg in a world of round holes, to the awesome person they are today.  Trav has a genuine quality about them that is just the best. http://www.bianymeans.com/ http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/bi-any-means-podcast https://www.facebook.com/bianymeanspodcast/ www.facebook.com/tmamone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAsK2Jbpc7c  

Women breastfeed.  It's a fact, and it shouldn't have to be shouded in taboo or under a banket.  At the 2nd Atheists of Facebook Online Convention, Ayla Braodnax presented on the Free the Nipple campaign, aimed at removing the taboo suurounding mothers feeding their children.   Somehow, we find ourselves in a society where it is okay to sell breasts, but not wear them.  What is up with that?!  Ayla talks about why we need to Free the Nipple and allow mothers to feed children when they are hungry, and not cater to the squeamish prudes that would attack a mother for doing what comes naturally for breasts. The awesomeness overflows!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu_37aJwROo

January 2, 2016 will be the Second Atheists of Facebook Online Convention.  Adam Collins is the man putting it all together.  The first convention was filled with amazing people, both new and veterans in the atheist movement.  Adam has even invited me to do a presentation in the upcoming event.  This is my first atheist presentation!! Adam is so awesome.  His passion for the movement, his humor and wit, along with his tireless efforts to make this movement something great make him the source of all awesome sauce. Mark your calendars!!  1/2/16!!