The Atheist Experience 30.02 with Justin and Seth Andrews 2026-01-11 16-25-11

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and The Cross Examiner dismantle the legal myths of Christian nationalism and expose the tribalistic roots of biblical law. From the dark history of slavery in the Levant to modern-day "persecution" complexes, the hosts challenge believers to provide evidence that justifies merging church and state!Mason in OK argues the Bible guides morality. Hosts pivot to laws regarding chattel slavery in Leviticus 25, questioning why a good deity endorses owning people. They challenge the reliance on tradition to mask biblical cruelty. How does one choose which divine commands to follow?Emmanuel in TX proposes a theocracy where non-believers are taxed to incentivize conversion. Hosts identify this as a violation of the First Amendment and Establishment Clause. They warn against discriminatory policies that create second-class citizens. Would a just society ever benefit from state-sponsored religious extortion?Mike in SC fears hate speech laws are tools for Christian persecution. The Cross Examiner clarifies that hate crime enhancements require criminal acts and intent, not just offense. They debunk algorithm-driven misinformation regarding religious suppression. Is the perceived war on faith just a result of confirmation bias?Moises in CA questions the need for proof and miracle claims. Hosts apply theological non-cognitivism and note that miracles lack reliable eyewitness accounts. They also explore how faith healing leads to medical neglect. Can a story be a reliable pathway to truth if it cannot be verified?James in OH critiques states' rights rhetoric using the Articles of Secession. Discussion moves to the Insurrection Act and the dangers of religious exemptions in child protection laws. They highlight the struggle against abuse permitted by dogma. Will legal systems ever prioritize children over ancient dogmas?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

In today’s episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin and Thinker explore deconstruction and challenge theists to present evidence for their genocidal deities! They dissect the psychological hooks of faith and the sexism faced by secular women in debate.Jim asks why atheism is frequently viewed as a religion. Justin suggests it is a form of whataboutism used by religious individuals to equalize the playing field and mask their own insecurity regarding a lack of evidence. Thinker notes that atheism lacks the dogmatic monolith of faith. Does the desire to label atheists as religious reveal a fear of intellectual accountability?Supreme Leader asks if humans are easily deceived, attempting to suggest the hosts are deluded by their reliance on knowledge. The hosts see through the trolling, identifying his defensive reaction to their critique of biblical myths. Can a caller who refuses to provide an argument ever facilitate a productive dialogue about reality?Ozzy from FL challenges the use of the null hypothesis and posits that an eternal, cyclical universe is effectively God. The hosts struggle to find a coherent argument, as Ozzy relies on "why not" as a primary justification and highlight that adding a deity to a self-sustaining universe is unnecessary and lacks explanatory power. Why insist on the God label if the universe can be explained through physics?Chloe from NV asks for secular alternatives to prayer for coping with anxiety and maintaining hope. The hosts suggest therapy, meditation, and radical acceptance of emotions as valid mental health tools. They encourage her to build community and practice self-soothing without the expectation of supernatural intervention. Can moving through the stages of grief lead to a more stable, self-reliant existence after losing a lifelong faith?Steve from MO discusses theories on how geographical surroundings shaped early God concepts, such as desert monotheism versus forest polytheism. Justin explains how God's supposed location shifts as science explores previously mysterious spaces, eventually retreating into the unfalsifiable immaterial plane. They trace the transition from animated nature to undetectable deities. Does the constant moving of God's goalposts prove the concept was merely a human invention?Chidumebi from PA asks why prosperity gospel preachers target marginalized and low-income communities. Justin and Thinker explain that these scams prey on the desperate by promising supernatural solutions to systemic wealth gaps. They highlight the exploitation of authority and the "slot machine" nature of tithing. Is increasing literacy and critical thinking the most effective way to dismantle these religious predatory models?Watcher 215 argues that biological function proves a designer and that suffering results from original sin. The hosts differentiate between function and purpose, noting that evolution explains complexity without intent. If God premeditated the death of his son, is he morally responsible for the act? Why follow a deity that uses suffering to teach righteousness?Thank you for joining us this week! See you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

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In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, hosts Forrest Valkai and Jim Barrows tackle the dangerous rise of Christian nationalism and its alignment with fascism, explore the limits of biblical morality, and examine the overwhelming evidence for evolution and geology.Lucy Spina in TX, ACA chair, details the Rainbow Rights Roadshow drive with Equality Texas, aiding LGBTQ+ resource deserts. Hosts stress "no strings attached" secular community support needed against current political threats. Is this grassroots outreach vital?G-Man (nudibranchs jumping sea slugs) argues atheists lack objective morality, asserting God is the source of all good. Hosts challenge this as Divine Command Theory, making God the subjective arbiter. They critique God's immorality, citing the Flood and slavery. Does God's omnipotence and omniscience make him culpable for all sin?Ujay in SD, a deconstructing agnostic, asks for a scientific explanation of evolution and dating methods. Forrest refutes the creationist claim that evolution begets racism, explaining it is Social Darwinism. He details radioisotope half-lives and Hubble's constant for dating the Earth and Universe. Can overwhelming evidence cure religious skepticism?Hannah argues research on morphogenesis (Michael Levin) suggests evidence against materialism, supporting a platonic space of information. The hosts warn against using this gap as evidence for the supernatural. They challenge the assertion as an Argument From Ignorance, noting that complexity does not equal magic. Is Platonism a justifiable conclusion from current unknowns?Thank you all so much for tuning in. Please support your local atheist and civil rights organizations, as they are needed now more than ever.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

In today’s episode of The Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and JMike tackle the concept of arbitrary biblical morality, the search for stance-independent purpose, and failed prophetic claims about global digital currency. Supreme Leader in CO asks if the fulfillment of the Mark of the Beast prophecy, appearing as mandatory one-world digital currency, would force belief. The hosts critique the vagueness of Revelation, noting that a single correct prediction does not validate the Bible or prove magic. They suggest that such vague claims are akin to low-probability guesses. Why does this particular apocalyptic prediction persist despite being easily dismissed? Patrick in FL argues that if God truly engaged in intelligent design, the world would not contain genetic diseases, mental defects, or other flaws, finding perfection incompatible with observed malfunction. He then questions the purpose of life without a God. The hosts clarify that absolute purpose is a meaningless concept, much like arguing someone is "taller" without context. If purpose requires a conscious mind, is it fundamentally subjective? Cyrus in England questions the utility of debate, noting that most people are either immovable or easily swayed, suggesting he should stop debating on Discord. JMike and Godless Engineer argue that debate is crucial for honing skills and influencing fence-sitters who watch, even if the direct interlocutor is unmoved. Is engaging hostile opponents worth the positive effect on casual observers? All right, well, that's going to be our show for today. I hope all of you humans out there have a great day. And don't forget to stand up and use your voice. 00:00 Intro 06:32 Supreme Leader-CO | Belief Caused By Fulfilled Prophecies 30:49 Patrick-NY | Intelligent Design Correlation With Success 1:12:30 Cyrus-(ENG) | Utility Of Debating Theists The ACA, American Humanist Association, and Genetically Modified Skeptic, are joining forces to support the Equality Texas Rainbow Rights Roadshow. Join us at the Freethought Library, on December 7th, between noon and 8 o'clock, where we'll be accepting donations for clothing, personal hygiene products, banned books, school supplies, and canned and dry food. Can't make it to the event, but you'd still like to help? You can follow the links below to support Equality Texas directly. We need your help to make this campaign a success, so follow us on MeetUp, or donate directly through the links below and help support us today." MeetUp: http://tiny.cc/acasupportseqtx Equality Texas: https://equalitytexas.org/give/501c3/ Atheist Community of Austin: http://tiny.cc/donateaca American Humanist Association: http://tiny.cc/acapartner Believe in God? Call the show on Sundays 4:30pm-6:00pm CT: 1-512-991-9242 or use your computer 💻 http://tiny.cc/callaxp and tell us what you believe and why! 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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.