Truth Wanted 09.11 with Kelley Laughlin and Stephen Harder

In today’s episode of the Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Coleman Watts work through a classic conspiracy theory caller before taking long-time caller Jon for a refreshing conclusion. Greg in CA is not comfortable calling things conspiracy theories when they are true such as the conspiracy theory of who might be behind the events of September 11, 2001 because of words mentioned in a classroom. It has not been demonstrated that a former POTUS was behind these events, however, these events could have been used to benefit him politically. What happens when you have two or more conspiracy theories? Why would any reasonable or sane person allow an attack to happen? When the world’s problems are blamed on a particular race, bad things tend to unfold. If you take the time to get to know people of the race that you think is responsible for all evil things, it makes it harder to believe your conspiracy about that race. How do you explain the bad things that have happened in the world that have nothing to do with Jewish people? When you are more interested in perpetuating your delusional ideas than having an actual conversation, there is no point in continuing the discussion. Just to be clear, we do NOT endorse any views of this caller. Jon in Canada, is convinced that Area 51 conspiracies are bogus because the aliens would not just come all the way here and then fly away. Why would we not be interesting to aliens when there is no apparent life around us? If such a technology existed to allow defiance of time and space, it would be a shame if they crashed in a desert that might have looked like the planet they just abandoned. Thank you for joining us this week! Remember, always keep seeking the truth, even when loved ones are wearing tin foil hats. Believe in God? Ghosts? Astrology? Conspiracy theories? Call Truth Wanted!  7:00-8 :30PM CT at 1-512-991-9242 or call with your computer 💻 http://tiny.cc/calltw► Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes:  https://tiny.cc/patreontw► Podcasts may be found @: https://tiny.cc/podcasttw► Shop Truth Wanted merchandise @:  https://tiny.cc/merchaca► We welcome your comments on the thread for this show.  Contact us with questions or news stories at: [email protected] The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.We request pronouns as part of the call screening process on our shows, and we display the pronouns our callers provide.  If you see a caller with no pronouns indicated, this is because they chose not to provide us with any, and we respect that decision.► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)NOTESTruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA.Thumbnail artwork by:   / princepsed   Copyright © 2018-2026 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

In today's episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin is joined by Stephen Harder, the "Naked Mennonite," to explore the origins of Friday the 13th superstitions, the math of coincidences, and why our brains are so prone to seeing patterns in the chaos! They delve into the deconstruction of biblical myths and the importance of finding secular community after leaving the flock.Henry argues for psychophysical harmony and God as a necessary being, citing the fine-tuning of the universe for life and consciousness. The hosts challenge the fine-tuning claim, noting the universe is mostly hostile to life. They push back on his deistic model, questioning how a disembodied mind interacts with physical reality without evidence. Can a perfect mind exist without a physical brain to ground it?Thank you for joining us today! We will see you next week and don't forget to add your answer to this week's We Want The Truth question: The best way to get kicked out of heaven is.Believe in God? Ghosts? Astrology? Conspiracy theories? Call Truth Wanted!  7:00-8 :30PM CT at 1-512-991-9242 or call with your computer 💻 http://tiny.cc/calltw► Don't like ads? Consider becoming a patron for commercial-free episodes:  https://tiny.cc/patreontw► Podcasts may be found @: https://tiny.cc/podcasttw► Shop Truth Wanted merchandise @: https://tiny.cc/merchaca► Contact us with questions or news stories at: [email protected] Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.We request pronouns as part of the call screening process on our shows, and we display the pronouns our callers provide.  If you see a caller with no pronouns indicated, this is because they chose not to provide us with any, and we respect that decision.► http://www.atheist-community.org (The Atheist Community of Austin)NOTES:TruthWanted is the official channel of Truth Wanted. "Truth Wanted" is a trademark of the ACA.Thumbnail artwork by:   / princepsed   Copyright © 2018-2026 Atheist Community of Austin. All rights reserved.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

Show notes will be posted when available.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

In today's episode of Truth Wanted, Kelley Laughlin and Aaron Jensen explore the limits of free will, the necessity of universal logic, and the origins of our universe! From the "hellscapes" of Oregon to the mysteries of the Big Bang, the hosts challenge listeners to move beyond religious labels and ground their worldview in evidence.Jamie in TX questions the free will defense. If heaven has free will without evil, why is the earthly trial needed? Hosts distinguish between choice and will, citing biology. Does the concept of heavenly robots invalidate the trial?Goatus in OH asks if universal truths like logic exist without God. Hosts explore logical axioms and scientific pragmatism. They argue these are tools for navigating reality rather than divine mandates. Does a lack of grounding make logic arbitrary?Stephen in NY redefines God as "determinism." Hosts identify this as a relabeling exercise with no explanatory power. They challenge the link between divine intent and material physics. Why use the God label for natural laws we already understand?John in Canada asks about the Big Bang and universe origins. They discuss singularities, time travel, and dark matter. The hosts stress the value of saying "I don't know" when evidence is absent. Will we ever observe the beginning of time?Thank you for joining us today! We will see you next week and don't forget to add your answer to this week's We Want The Truth question: what's the most ridiculous religious claim that you've believed?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

Show notes will be posted when available.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

Show notes will be posted when available.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

Show notes upon receipt. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, Objectively Dan and Deconstruction Deacon wrestle with the concept of free will before uncovering their own limitations of free will when it comes to deciding what species to consume over another. Salvatore in LA calls to continue a conversation had with the co-host, and defines free will as the ability for a moral agent to choose. What are your thoughts around the ability not to choose? The caller explains that free will is a mechanism used to explain the problem of evil. Deacon uses his Street Epistemology skills to ask the caller a series of thought provoking questions. What does the process of choice look like in the brain? What factors in life make a person more likely to choose one option over another? In what sense is "will" free? Our choices can’t be truly free if we don’t understand all the conscious and unconscious processes. How is it free will when we are coerced?Chase, calling from the USA, wants to talk about speciesism, discrimination against other beings for not being human. If this is a form of harm reduction, what happens when one species is starving and another is abundantly available for food? If this is maximizing well being, how does this play out when one species consumes another due to dietary and nutritional needs? What happens when it is in the best interest of a spider to continue to live in a house that is occupied by someone who is terrified by spiders? Why do we put some animals in the food category such as pigs, and not other animals like dogs? Thank you for joining us this week! Our back up host, Scott Dickie joins us to close out the show and remind us of the question of the week: What is the worst example of god’s unconditional love?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.

In today’s episode of Truth Wanted, host Eli Slack and guest Tracy Wilbert kick off the ninth season by exploring the dangers of gaslighting and the potential for secular progress. They delve into the bicameral mind hypothesis and the bizarre reality of escaped monkeys in Missouri. The hosts challenge listeners to prioritize truth over convenient narratives as they set the stage for a season of critical thinking and skeptical inquiry.Michelle in NY asks if secular society can surpass religious ones. Eli argues religion causes novel harm, while Tracy compares dogma to a car boot preventing progress. The conversation shifts to the origins of animism and Michelle's personal pseudo-belief in a minimally powerful creator. The hosts challenge her 50/50 stance as a logical contradiction. How does one justify a deity while admitting there is no evidence? What happens when intuition clashes with reality?Thank you for joining us today! We will see you next week, and don't forget to add your answer to this week's We Want The Truth question: What is the worst lie you were caught in?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/truth-wanted--3195473/support.