Skeptic Generation

It might seem easy to see the flaws in other people's thinking when it comes to religion, but what happens when we don't apply that logic elsewhere? If you've found yourself deconstructing other belief structures in your life, give us a call! Whether you believe in a supernatural world, believe in exceptional metaphysics, or just want to tell me that I'm wrong... Give us a call at 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro  04:31 - Jim (He/Him) OH - How did life begin?14:48 - Trent (He/Him) MO - Staying a mormon after deconstruction52:04 - Ashley (she/they) MN - Conscientious Satanism1:02:25 - Sarah (she/her) WA - I saw a ghost!1:17:22 - Chelsea (she/her) NC - Meeting in the middle1:28:06 - Pete (He/Him) CA - Deconversion tactics1:42:15 - Superchats04:31Jim feels like a hypocrite when he thinks about life in the universe, since he doesnt have sufficient evidence. They both talk about possible beginnings of life on earth and conspiracies. Ultimately, apportioning our acceptance of a claim should be tied to how much evidence we have.14:48Trent has been wrestling with the idea of holding on to religious concepts even though he knows that the supernatural pieces aren't true. More to the point, he has found that “othering” things like anxiety and genius gives him a leg up in working through things for both him and his kids. Eric does his best to address the topics before losing his train of thought!52:04As a satanist, Ashley uses ritual in their day to day life. The problem is, they really want to make sure they're not inadvertently appropriating other people's culture. It's a strange line that we need to walk when we find ways to embrace rituals as a humanist. From fetishizing others, to alt-right pipelines, the path to a “secular spirituality” is full of pitfalls.1:02:25Sarah has done the work to deconstruct her religion, but theres a problem that has been in the back of their head. When she was a kid, she distinctly remembers seeing a ghost, but how does that work?!1:17:22Chelsea wants to sort out how to really meet people where they're at when it comes to conversations around religion. 1:28:06Pete has thoughts about it as well! From epically owning our family members, to making strangers extremely uncomfortable, an enormous amount of cringe can be had if we're not careful. Cheers for wanting to read the room, listen actively, and not just waiting for your turn to talk!_________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Here's a thought: Does asking for proof beg the question that only a naturalistic worldview can answer? If so, is that unreasonable? If not, can we assume that naturalism is the de facto assumption except when it isnt?Whether you believe in a supernatural world, believe in exceptional metaphysics, or just want to tell me that I'm wrong... Give us a call at 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro  04:23 - Michael (He/Him) NY - Cosmic Justice36:48 - Evan (He/They) WA - Challenging Christians on the street54:39 - Jon (He/Him) CAN - How did Eric lose his faith?1:07:42 - John (He/Him) TX - Thanks for the advice!1:18:04 - Philo-Sophistry (He/Him) USA - Atheist Atrocities fallacy?1:30:41 - Superchats04:23Michael suffered as the target of a false allegation and he's struggling with the lack of accountability for people who acted maliciously toward him while people who believe in god can say “they'll get what's coming to them” and be okay with it.By the way, here's that Madea clip Eric was talking about!-https://youtu.be/CTPzXwNVc9g?si=0fBp2hQwt5Isek8Y36:48Evan wants to talk about two Discworld characters who are witches, one of whom chooses to be good and one of whom chooses to be evil, and how these characters impacted his faith and his family. He goes on to talk about how atheists saying “I don't believe god exists” forces people to challenge their own self worth.54:39Jon wants to talk to Eric about his journey away from faith. Eric talks to him about his journey away from faith and people from other religions he spoke to, including some key advice given to him by a rabbi.1:07:42John wants to thank Eric for advice he gave him on setting boundaries with his theist family. At first they didn't react well, but then they realized they still love him.1:18:04Philo-Sophistry wants to know if it's really a fallacy when theists bring up atheist atrocities? Should he push back against believers who bring this up? Eric explains that evolution is not social Darwinism.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Is this a crossover episode?! This week Eric will be joined by long time friend of the show and all around sweet guy Secular Rarity! This is (surprisingly!) the FIRST time we've hosted a show together and we're really excited!As always, if you would like to talk about what you believe and why, please call 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Introducing Secular Rarity!07:12 - Sarah (She/Her) WA - Can I pull ideals from religions into my secular life?26:59 - Nick (He/Him) UT - Supporting public figures that tithe to harmful churches.38:30 - Red (They/Them) TX - Atheists, Pagans, and Imaginary Friends55:46 - Jesse (He/Him) WA - Should we use labels that most people can't define?1:12:16 - Chas (He/Him) AZ - Putting the Atheo in Atheopagan1:37:58 - Steve (He/Him) NY - Antitheism VS Pluralism2:07:23 - Outro, superchats, final discussion07:12Sarah wants to know if it's okay to find good things from religion and bring them into her secular life. Secular Rarity and her talk about buddhism and some of its practices, then SR, Eric, and Sarah talk about collecting rocks. Eric asks some questions about Buddhism and supernatural claims.26:59Nick wants to talk about Brandon Sanderson, and other public figures, being religious and whether or not it's okay to support them by purchasing their products if we know they are tithing to organizations that lobby for harmful political policies. SR and Eric talk to him about perfect morality and ethical consumption.38:30Red wants to follow up with Eric about a previous conversation they had with him. Eric had previously recommended to them a pagan community in TX. Red checked it out and learned about atheopaganism. They want to know if they are still considered an atheist if they are talking to “gods” which are imaginary friends, and they don't believe they are necessarily real but also don't know they aren't real.55:46Jesse wants to do a friendly nitpick about labels. He heard Secular Rarity identify as a theological non-cognitivist and he has a small bone to pick about using the label without actually telling people what the labels mean. Eric and Secular Rarity have a conversation with him about how the labels can be helpful. After the caller hangs up, Eric and SR have a friendly conversation where Eric is challenging theological non-cognitivism.1:12:16Chas thanks Eric for being there during a dark time. He has a different perspective of atheopaganism than Red, the previous caller, and he elucidates his perspective and how he came to this place in his religion.1:37:58Steve was the first atheopagan caller. He wants to talk about anti-theism vs pluralism, he advocates for pluralism and provides some opinions about supremacist religions and gives details about a pagan group that is run by a white nationalist.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric is making some big changes in his life, we're gonna find out just what that means for the show!As always, if you would like to talk about what you believe and why, please call 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  OR tiny.cc/skepgen to call online!If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro and patreon update10:02 - Steve (He/Him) - OH - How do I talk to my child about going to church?23:40 - Raphael (He/They) - Hungary - Are anti-zionists racists? (bad audio)49:59 - Chase (He/Him) - ID - How confident are you that god isn't real?1:15:59 - Sober (He/Him) - CA - How do we find out what's true and what do we do after?1:29:00 - Will (He/Him) - TN - What are the teleological and ontological arguments? 1:40:22 - Christopher (He/Him) - SCT - Are the gods in the Torah, Bible, and Quran the same god?10:02Steve and Eric discuss a previous phone call where Steve got some advice from Eric regarding the topic of death. Steve had to have the same conversation again. Today, he wants to talk about his child going to church and becoming absorbed into it. They go on to discuss various facets of Steve's child going to church.23:40Raphael only hears people talk about zionism when they're using racially motivated speech. Him and Eric discuss how he identifies with the state of Israel, whether it's irrevocably linked to his faith, and how he feels about anti-zionism. Eric advises him to meet people where they are when talking to them.49:59Chase wants to talk about Street Epistemology and his confidence level in the god of Christianity being not true. He asks Eric how confident he is that the god of the bible doesn't exist and does a Street Epistemology session with Eric, who returns some epistemological inquiry to Chase.1:15:59Sober wants to follow up about the earlier caller with the Israel caller and determining the truth of reports of current affairs and hard choices that someone has to make after they have the truth. Eric and the Sober talk about how people put spin on things and how everything is colored by the people telling the story and this is why it's good to apply skepticism to things and find different viewpoints to get a well rounded understanding of things.1:29:00Will wants to know more about the teleological and ontological arguments and Eric falls on his face. The teleological argument is the watchmaker argument. The ontological argument is that a being that necessarily exists is greater than a being that doesn't necessarily exist.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

-AUDIO WARNING-The first few minutes of the call with Drew includes an echo. We are able to resolve the echo within a few minutes, but feel free to skip to 3:30 if the echo is unbearable.Personal friend and fellow YouTuber Drew aka Genetically Modified Skeptic joins the show today! Before we take calls, he shares how he has taken a scholarly approach to trans issues and has been going to bat for the community in responses to seriously bad arguments made by the religious right. Here is a link to the videos that Drew is referring to during the intro. If you haven't seen them, check them out! They're fantastic!https://youtu.be/ABojJ2rW6vA?si=GEOcTJ75tss5FfIAhttps://youtu.be/22W7I3yV-NY?si=BTwBYfP9wSxUN2VBAs always, getting the show started came with its technical setbacks, but we were able to get up and rolling for a fantastic show. Here are the timestamps if you'd like to skip to specific calls.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro  03:30 - Drew's Echo is fixed!14:58 - Why are there so many denominations? | Ronan (He/Him) - NY30:33 - How to build interfaith community | Isaiah (He/Him) - South Korea45:41 - Where do morals come from? | Tug (He/Him) - CAN55:48 -  Reliability of the Gospels | Phil-oginy (He/Him) - USA1:06:56 - Atheists shouldn't cohabitate | Andrew (He/Him) - FL1:22:48 - Atheism has a branding problem | Brian (He/Him) - CA1:38:46 - Faith, Community, and Smart Recovery | David1:56:07 - Understanding our religious neighbors | Connor (He/Him) - VA2:03:38 - Community building and smart recovery | David (He/Him) - NC2:10:57 - Superchats14:58Ronan was raised in a non-religious household and is really wondering why there are so many denominations even if they are all reading the same bible.For more resources, we recommend resources like:Dan McCclellan - https://www.youtube.com/@maklelanReligion for Breakfast- https://www.youtube.com/@ReligionForBreakfastDigital Hammurabi- https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalHammurabiAndEsoterica- https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannel32:03As a believer, Isaiah is finding it harder and harder to connect with fellow religious friends and family. He wants to know, how can a Christian like himself both connect with more hardcore family members as well as find common ground to engage with nonbelievers? Speaking for the show, this is the exact kind of conversation we hope to have and applaud anyone making the effort!45:41I don't think we're ever going to get away from questions like what is morality, but at least we can do it serving Kant! In this call, Tug wants to know just how we develop morals and why. We ask ourselves, do we need a transcendent lawgiver to ground our morality? Does objective morality exist? Let us know what you think in the comments!55:48Stepping back from the narrative, how much can actually be taken from biblical scholarship? What about secondary sources? Lets talk about what we have, what we want, and what we can hope for!1:06:56Andrew thinks that atheists should still wait until marriage to live together. We talk about taboos against divorce, the positives of living together, and what that means with data from religious sources.1:22:48Brian sees a shift in the way atheists have talked about themselves in the last 20 years, and thinks a new label would be helpful. Drew has wondered about how useful it could be, and Eric shares the shameful history of atheist rebranding.1:38:46John has been on the path to deconstruction for a few months now, and has a few questions. Eric and Drew chime in on reading the room, setting boundaries, and atheist evangelism.1:56:07Connor wants to talk about the nature of discourse with religious folks. Drew talks about how our history informs our approach and how former believers have an easier time understanding the other side. Eric talks about respecting people vs respecting ideas.2:03:38David follows up to John's call about secular community building and resources for recovery that don't rely on a higher power. You can learn more by going to smartrecovery.org___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgenLove the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscordTo find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

It has been a helluva week! At least we get to have some awesome conversations. Let's do this!If you'd like to help us secure the licenses to stream, feel free to buy us a coffee! It gets delivered immediately and allows us to purchase time in callinstudio & pay for the program fees.If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 0:00 - Eric announces a special guest next week and does some housekeeping. 5:08 -  Mitch - Skepticism is RUINING society! (Troll Call)14:38 - Amanuel - Atheism doesn't work31:02 - Ameet - Being an Indian Atheist43:29 - Tug - How to disagree effectively50:58 - Isaac - The paradox of tolerance1:02:01 - Alda - What are YOU reading?1:12:10 - Eric reads superchats5:08Mitch calls in to talk about how society has progressed DESPITE skepticism. Has industrialization been a tool of non skeptics? Is our world polluted because of the socratic method? Or is Mitch gonna troll the show yet again?14:38Banned on all other shows, Amanuel calls in. This caller says that all things come from the supernatural. Eric and Amanuel wind up talking about what Atheism means and how we ought to interact with each other.31:02Ameet calls in to talk about how the Indian atheist community is so very different from the American one! As an Indian ex christian, Ameet is wondering how he should interact in ex hindu spaces. If you have experience with other non-believing communities, tell us about it in the comments!43:29Watching call in shows and getting active means figuring out how to be heard. Eric shares some tips and tricks of the trade!50:58Isaac thinks that human experience removes the paradox of tolerance. Eric has made a video in the past about this subject, but has shifted opinions since then. What do you think of this apparent paradox?1:02:01Alda wants recommendations for philosophers to learn about.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436) Love the show? Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

It's been a LONG year! It's time for Eric to shake off those cobwebs and get back into the show! Please feel free to call and say hi! This episode probably won't have a bunch of callers, so this is the weekend to call up uncle Joe and get them to call in!If you'd like to help us secure the licenses to stream, feel free to buy us a coffee! It's gets delivered immediately and allows us to purchase time in callinstudio & pay for the program fees.If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro09:35 - Javier - Walking Away From the Discussion22:27 - Bree - Welcome Back!28:49 - Vi - Good Luck, and What's Next?36:51 - Steve - Life Without Meaning?47:50 - Dan - When Will It Stop?!1:00:17 - Maria - Can Objective Morals REALLY Exist?1:17:57 - Roy - Finding your footing. (22 year old trans person)1:33:24 - Red - Can a non believer celebrate religious holidays?1:48:33 - Christian - How Do You Get The Pronouns Right?Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436) Love the show? Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

No, you read that correctly. This is the last live show of 2022, and we will be going on hiatus after that to figure out what's next for us and for SkepGen. This episode is a 2.5-hour long extravaganza, with many familiar voices calling in to say hi. We also lifted all previous bans on topics and callers, which makes for some interesting (and heated) conversations before we say goodbye. If you would like to provide $1/month to support the show as we are on hiatus, please make sure to become a Lifelong Skeptic on our Patreon: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Check out our official “SG Hosts DESTROY Callers!” playlist by visiting our YouTube home page or following this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgAFtcRCck1woYD2zC8z4DePc7m6Q4aH6 ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish! 11:07 - Should You Sacrifice Yourself for the Greater Good? - Javier (he/him) - SC20:45 - Thanks For All You've Done! - Steven (he/him) - AZ 26:22 - Should We Be Skeptical of Whiteness? - Steve (N/A) - NY 41:25 - This Vegan Caller Says He'd Eat People! - Chase (he/him) - ID1:04:54 - Merriam-Webster Is LYING About Christmas?? - Sunny (she/they) - IN 1:12:41 - Would You Ever Eat Engineered Meat? - Chris (he/him) - CA 1:22:19 - Repeat Theist Caller Tries ONE MORE TIME… - Connor (he/him) - TX 1:31:26 - “God Is The Answer!” - Xeno (he/him) - SK 1:54:30 - Secular De-Colonization and Spirituality - Rosy (she/they/it) - CAN 2:05:06 - Another Thank You for the Show - Jim (he/him) - OH2:09:12 - Should We Start a Santa Claus Religion? - Chris (he/him) - SCT2:13:11 - What Would Convince You of Miracles? - Dean (he/him) - VA 00:00 Eric and Vi discuss the hiatus, address concerns, and talk through what happens next. 11:07Repeat caller Javier returns to discuss altruism and self-sacrifice. Are they overrated? Are they actually selfish? Why would someone ever sacrifice themselves for the greater good if we only have one life to live? 20:45 Steven calls in to wish us well and tell the hosts how much the show meant to him. We appreciate it, Steven! 26:22 Repeat atheopagan caller Steve asks about how to approach the social construct of whiteness, especially if you enjoy discovering your own cultural heritage as a white person. Vi points out the validity of the concerns around neo-Pagan use of ancient cultures to promote white supremacy, but insists there is a healthy way to learn about yourself while using that knowledge to help others. 41:25 We lifted the subject ban, and we have our first vegan caller! This conversation gets heated and contains a lot of loaded language and appeals to emotion. The hosts call this out, attempting to steer clear of strawmen while getting to the heart of the issue: are honeybees people too? 1:04:54 A dictionary has a really shocking entry and this caller wants to talk about it! Vi says this call both made and ruined their day at the same time. 1:12:41 Another vegan caller appears, and this time the hosts are asked what their thoughts are on lab-grown meat. Eric and Vi are both down with some test tube chicken, and offer their understanding of why some vegans might still be against it. 1:22:19 Repeat theist caller Connor tries one more time to talk about how he came to his Baha'i faith. Eric points out the difference between “faith” and “trust,” and Vi says that a testimony might be riveting but doesn't hold the evidence they're looking for. 1:31:26 Yes, we let him back on. Xeno wants to make sure the hosts have the correct takeaway from their multiple calls with him: “God is the Answer!” To what? Everything, of course! The question remains: will we miss Xeno? Well, if we're being totally honest… God? 1:54:30Why do so many people use religion and spirituality as a way to “connect to their culture”? Are there other ways of reaching into the past that are more secular? This caller discusses their own experiences trying to reconnect with their Indigenous culture as a secular person. 2:05:06 Jim calls in to thank the hosts for their time on the show and to offer some suggestions about where they might go next. Thanks, Jim! 2:09:12 Repeat caller Chris from Scotland is wondering if we should ditch Christianity and make a Santa Claus religion instead. He seems nicer than God, anyway. Eric advocates for a non-omniscient deity instead. Vi suggests Hermey the Dentist Elf. Hail Hermey? 2:13:11Finally, we end on a classic: the argument for God from the existence of miracles. Repeat apologist caller Dean is wondering what would make us believe in miracles, and if those hypothetical miracles would then be good evidence for God? Vi points out that if miracles were proven, they'd no longer be called miracles. Eric gets Dean to admit he hates babies.___________________Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We are talking about New Year's resolutions this week, since it's officially December! Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Vi leads this show solo and reads from their old Christian journal from nine years ago. What was their deconversion process like? Is it similar to yours? Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to share your story or just vent about the holiday season. ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Is Solo This Week02:23 - Can People Choose Their Beliefs? - Javier (he/him) - SC18:13 - Vi Reads from An Old Deconversion Journal 25:44 - My Family Doesn't Believe I'm An Atheist - Cameron (he/him) - MN38:16 - What Kind of Culture Should Atheists Build? - Mark (he/him) - CA 55:53 - Why Is It So Easy to Believe In God? - Steven (he/him) - AZ 1:07:04 - My Friend Thinks God Is Punishing Her… HELP? - Caleb (he/him) - MD1:15:30 - Jesus Wants Us To Be Mean to Atheists - Jim (he/him) - OH1:22:16 - How Do I Deal with Street Preachers? - Chris (he/him) - SCT 02:23Can people choose their beliefs? Vi says that answering “Yes” or “No” are both wrong: this is a “yes, and” situation. People both have the ability to choose what beliefs they strengthen, and are ultimately not in charge of the moment one belief wins out against others. That's why it's always dangerous to hold harmful beliefs, even if you don't act on them. 18:13 Vi has brought an old journal that they wrote almost a decade ago. “The Quest for God” laid out how 20-year-old Vi was struggling with belief, parsing apart what was true and untrue about what they'd been told, and trying to figure out what next steps were. A raw, real moment that hopefully resonated with others. 25:44 This caller is having trouble with his family after coming out as an atheist. They are telling him he's broken, they are unfollowing him on social media, and generally making him feel unwelcome. They also happen to be in an MLM, which makes things even worse! Vi gives this caller permission to kick these folks out on their ear: “Jesus said to avoid you.” 38:16Now that atheists are growing as a demographic in the US, what should we be focusing on to make sure we aren't repeating the problems we are seeing with a Christian majority? Repeat caller Mark is wondering what next steps are, and Vi says something shocking: We need to stop talking about religion. 55:53This caller points out that God is easy to believe in because the idea of God is so baked into our culture. Vi agrees: this is why apologetics work. You have to believe in God already in order to be convinced by any of the major arguments for God. We need to eradicate the idea of a maximally great God before we can truly be free. 1:07:04What do you say to someone who is convinced that God is punishing them? Vi points out that it's actually scarier to imagine that things happen for no reason than to imagine a god is punishing you. At least you're still kind of the main character, and not just an incidental casualty of the universe. Also, landlords suck. 1:15:30 We talked about some atheists having trouble with their families this episode, but isn't that exactly what Jesus said to do? Didn't he tell Christians to desert their families, even end things violently, in order to follow him? Vi once again says “Yes” and “No.” If we're looking at the historical context of Jesus's words, he's actually talking about a political rebellion! 1:22:16 Repeat caller Chris asks how to deal with the street preachers that he's seeing everywhere. He's tried reasoning with them and he never makes any progress! Vi says it's a lost cause to try and debate with them, but what this caller CAN do is make them seem utterly ridiculous. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

That's right! Vi has endured, healed up, and is ready to take your calls! We'd love to talk about what you believe and why, you can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. We're ready to listen.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Technical Difficulties! 09:48 - Is Voting Skeptical? - Mark (he/him) - OH16:58 - Can Atheists Experience Wonder & Awe? - Mark (he/him) - CA 32:03 - Is Humanism Logical? - Jason (he/him) - TX49:18 - Did God Defeat My Depression? - Sour Fruit (she/her) - CAN56:10 - How Should I Weaponize My Atheism? - Mozzie (he/they) - GA 1:17:30 - superchats09:51 Can you be a skeptic and think that voting works? What is the role of skepticism when it comes to how our country is run and our ability to change things at the ballot box? This caller asks huge (and important) questions but the hosts might be a bit out of their depth… 17:02Repeat atheopagan caller Mark dials in to ask whether atheists can experience wonder and awe, and why so many atheists seem to be averse to pursuing those feelings intentionally? This conversation touches on the definition of spirituality, the importance of ritual, and whether or not all the tools used by the Church are inherently bad. 32:09Is it logical to be a humanist in a world full of terrible humans? How do you reconcile with all the bad structural things you're forced to take part in, if your goal is to be a good person? Can someone who hunts, drives a big truck, and owns an iphone be considered moral by harm reduction standards? Vi provides some practical advice: the four circles of activism. 49:27This repeat atheist caller is coming out of depression and realizing that, if she had been a less skeptical person, she'd attribute all her progress to God. Why is she thinking more about God now that she's feeling more hopeful? And what causes people to gravitate towards narratives of supernatural salvation so consistently? 56:09 A great way to end out Vi's first episode back, this caller is a conversion therapy survivor and ex-Christian who is looking for ways to help the LGBTQ+ folks stuck in abusive religious environments. How should they go to war for their community while prioritizing their own mental health and optimizing impact? The hosts have some ideas! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Reading the comments last week, it sounds like people have had a LOT to say! What is a ritual? Does a ritual need to have a supernatural component? If it doesn't, does the word become meaningless? And then there's the topic of violence. When is violence called for when facing oppression? This call last week sparked a hot debate about whether or not it can EVER be the correct answer. What do you think?If you disagree with the host or callers, we want to hear about it. You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen.________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

With Halloween just around the corner, let's talk about what it means to celebrate a holiday. As Christians Vi and Eric were told that celebrating Halloween was tantamount to pagan idolatry. As atheists, they still hear many nonbelievers spouting the same lines! Does celebrating a holiday require one to believe in the supernatural? If you think so, or have an argument against holidays like Christmas and Halloween, we want to hear why! You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Are atheists still harboring religious prejudices?05:24 - Well that was anticlimactic - Kendall (he/him) GA07:59 - What is EVIL anyway? Sajid (he/him) CAN19:15 - “I've change my mind” - Jim (he/him) OH 25:16 - God ‘s got some ‘splaining to do! Sajid (he/him) CAN - Part 248:43 - When is violence justified? - Austin (he/him/they/them) MD01:01:10 - It's too many holidays! - Steven (he/him) AZ01:15:54 - You should be a sexy cat - Sakura (she/they) NY01:23:44 - The supernatural solution - John (he/him) PA 00:00With Halloween a day away, Eric wants to hear what objections non believers have to celebrating holidays. 5:24It isn't every day we get such an eager troll! Unlike most other trolls, Kendall shot off just a little too prematurely and got dropped before introductions could even be finished… How embarrassing for him! We at Skepgen have often found enlightening discussions with even dishonest interlocutors, but callers like Kendall can't help but leave their conversation partners … disappointed. 07:59Frequent caller Sajid shares with us how he as a Muslim enjoys Halloween too! Eric and Sajid quickly find their way down a rabbit hole when Sajid mentions that he believes in evil, but what is evil? If we should believe that evil comes from a place or person, we should first seek to understand if that concept even makes sense! Unfortunately due to a poor connection, they need to cut their conversation short.19:15Jim has watched his last call and realized that he doesn't want to be the kind of person to wish others suffering, no matter how bad they are. Eric shares that he's also on a similar journey of self discovery, and that it's admirable for someone like Jim to change their mind after re-watching the show. To see Jim's first call, here's a link!https://youtu.be/6B5aeAyAuf4?t=180525:16Sajid is back with a good connection! This time we're facing the problem of evil directly! Sajid recognizes that abuse isn't undone by reward afterward, and that a loving god still needs to answer for the suffering in the world. He also concedes just how scary it is if there's no divine purpose, and that is seriously admirable. Even though these conversations are uncomfortable, we seriously respect the mental and emotional labor Sajid is putting in.48:43Austin hits Eric with an impossible question right out the gate: When is violent resistance justified? Given current events in the US, it feels ever more prudent to ask! Eric does his best to summarize his understanding of violent resistance, but concedes that he can't nor shouldn't be the arbiter of when it is called for. We must listen to the needs of the marginalized, and recognize the context that surrounds political violence.As an aside, if supporting LGBTQ rights and safety is a problem for you as a viewer, we encourage you to find another channel, because it isn't changing here.01:01:10Do federal holidays tacitly endorse one religion over another? Steven calls in to ask if the government should really be in the business of mandating holidays. This might be a little extreme until we take into account the massive amount of cultural holidays celebrated around the world! Can we as a society walk this tightrope?01:15:54Holidays don't just evolve through generations. Over the course of a lifetime, the same holiday can change exactly what and who we celebrate. Eric and Sakura agree that whether it's food, presents, or the chance to be a sexy cat, any excuse you can make to live your best life is worth it.01:23:44Does AA have a problem with cognitive dissonance? If Alcoholics Anonymous views alcoholism as an illness, should a supernatural solution be the first place we go for a cure? Eric points out that for those who believe in the supernatural, it's understandable. Even though it can seem rational to a believer, rationality isn't all it's cracked up to be.________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi is back and Eric should be held accountable for his actions... Where is the limit for free speech, civil suits, and how long should we wait to celebrate the downfall of shitty people?From conspiracies and conspiracy mongers to the existence of God and the supernatural, we want to know if you believe any of it is true and why! You can join the conversation toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Explains Himself 12:52 - Is Less Religion Better? - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 30:02 - Vi Dumbfounds Eric with Logic - Jim (he/him) - OH37:22 - Can You Have Autonomy and Free Will? - Nick (he/him) - TN56:09 - Should I Stay a Christian? - John (he/him) - LA1:08:02 - Is It Better to Be Happy or Right? - David (he/him) - NC1:21:56 - Will My Halloween Ritual Hurt Me? - Sakura (she/they) - NY00:00Is Eric a sadist for enjoying watching Alex Jones and his family suffer? Or worse, is he being illogical? Some of you have said so, but how does he defend himself against these accusations? 12:52Repeat Muslim caller Sajid wants to draw attention to the violent patriarchal systems being done in the name of Islam. The hosts discuss the Iranian hijab protests and how they got started, and commend Sajid for calling out members of his own religion for doing harm. Watch our last conversation with Sajid here: https://youtu.be/MSo2bia_HCw Book recommendations from Sajid's conversation: The Trouble with Islam by Irshad Manji: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429906937/thetroublewithislam Red, White, and Muslim by Asma Gull Hasan: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/red-white-and-muslim-asma-gull-hasan?variant=32205450084386 30:02This caller agrees with Eric's statements about the Alex Jones case, but takes it even farther. If Hell existed, he'd be happy to send Alex Jones there. Eric is uncomfortable with this position. Vi nails a point that leaves Eric reeling for the next several calls. 37:22Is free will necessary for autonomy to be valuable? Vi defends their position that a deterministic universe would not negate the value of autonomy as a moral good. They also come up with the term “spicy determinism” that you can be sure will make future appearances in this broadcast. 56:09This theist caller still believes in God and Jesus, but is debating whether or not to keep calling himself a Christian. The term, he says, has been hijacked by political extremists and he doesn't want to be associated with them. Vi and Eric disagree on what next steps for this caller would look like. 1:08:02Eric lays down some hard truths when it comes to the question about whether it's better to be happy or to be right. The answer? Healthy boundaries! Meanwhile Vi comes for Boomer comedy. If you are curious about secular alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous, please follow the caller's advice and check out SMART Recovery: ​​https://www.smartrecovery.org/ 1:21:56Repeat pagan caller Sakura is about to do their first Samhain (Halloween) ritual, and is a little scared. What advice (if any) do the hosts have for them as they start exploring this new process? Vi describes their own approach to rituals and reassures the caller that they are not in any spiritual danger, no matter what happens. You can listen to our last conversation with Sakura here: https://youtu.be/6A0Adt_9qsU ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

In the modern day, we don't often see punishments so strict that they could be passed down to their children. This week however, we got to see one!Do you have any examples of supernatural curses in your life? Do you believe any group in particular has been singled out divinely for protection or punishment? If so, this is the weekend to tell us! You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric got a vasectomy and Alex Jones got emasculated!06:34 - Nick (he/him) - TN - What about Christians who don't believe in hell?20:35 - Sphinx (he/him) - TN - This might be uncomfortable to listen to.29:53 - Steven (he/him) - AZ - Our society is set up for secular curses37:53 - Kay (he/him) - Nowhere - Is identity politics empowering prejudice?01:01:00 - Seb (they/them) - CAN - Abusing empathy01:13:23 - Chris (he/him) - SCT - Does ableism empower treating people as less than human?01:23:45 - End of show00:00 - Intro - Eric got a vasectomy and Alex Jones got emasculated!What does it mean for society when a jury finds someone liable for nearly a BILLION dollars? Eric has some opinions!06:34 - Nick (he/him) - TN - What about Christians who don't believe in hell?Nick was blindsided during a conversation with a Christian friend who doesn't believe in hell! Eric takes a moment to point out that not all denominations believe in hell, which makes listening so very important. But now down to brass tacks, could a god me morally palatable if hell is off the table?20:35 - Sphinx (he/him) - TN - This might be uncomfortable to listen to.Sphinx took the opportunity to talk about a very painful subject for Eric today… literally! In the wake of the supreme court's decisions, getting a vasectomy is a good option for those who can get them! Eric answers some questions about his experience in the hopes of making it a little less scary for others.29:53 - Steven (he/him) - AZ - Our society is set up for secular cursesSteven points out that a curse doesn't need to be supernatural. From the legal system to one's own family, the impact of a person's decisions can have lasting repercussions even after their death. That said, we shouldn't view the children as guilty, but the punishments of their parents being carried out.37:53 - Kay (he/him) - Nowhere - Is identity politics empowering prejudice?Kay wanted to ask some pretty tough questions today about Eric's ethnicity. What are the costs and benefits of embracing your ethnicity? What about your beliefs? Would abandoning them get the world closer to peace, or would it simply empower bigotry?01:01:00 - Seb (they/them) - CAN - Abusing empathySeb hit close to home today with Eric. Churches often depend on other people to be the bigger person, in order to control them. This isn't just a religious problem though. Those who have endured this kind of abuse often are left with learned trauma responses that need to be unlearned as adults. We need to remember that we deserve our boundaries, and that it isn't selfish to let people own their own bad behavior.01:13:23 - Chris (he/him) - SCT - Does ableism empower treating people as less than human?Chris wants to talk about the way ableism is still a big conversation that we as a society have to engage in! They both discuss the importance of education and normalization to break down the “othering” that happens around neurodivergence, mobility, and more.___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric is getting a WHAT?! | Skeptic Generation | Episode 41 Season 2It's one thing to see fundamentalist religious zealots on the news, it's another to live in the line of fire. Here in Austin Texas, we've realized that we need to take action!Religion has NO place in government, prove us wrong. If there's a good argument for why religion should motivate law, give us a call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - TMI, Eric! 06:49 - Are the Polys OK? - Steven (N/A) - NY 22:08 - Repeat Muslim Caller Admits He Has Doubts - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 36:52 - Theist Caller Makes Vi Call For a Timeout - Connor (he/him) - TX55:37 - Can Theists Be Skeptics? - Mike (he/him) - MA 1:09:56 - Balancing Skepticism and Open Mindedness - Nathan (he/him) - AUS 1:20:30 - A Perfect Ending To This Episode - Steven (he/him) - AZ 1:26:01 - Superchats00:00 Eric is getting snipped this upcoming week and will be sharing all the gorey (or not so gorey) details next Sunday. In the meantime, consider this your motivation to be proactive about protecting the reproductive rights of those around you… whatever that looks like for you! 06:49Why does a secular society still judge polyamory as being wrong or icky? Even as new legislation makes it safer to pursue poly relationships, it is important that we dig deep and ask ourselves: “What about this is making me uncomfortable, and is there a good reason for it?” Check out the ruling discussed on this call here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/10/new-york-judge-rules-favor-polyamorous-relationships/ 22:08Our repeat Muslim caller Sajid calls in with what Christians would call a “crisis of faith.” Some things just aren't adding up about his religion, and he is finding it harder and harder to ignore these incongruencies. Eric and Vi listen and affirm the discomfort he finds himself in, and encourage him to be gentle with himself and call back as he has questions. If you or a loved one is struggling with leaving a religion, you don't have to do so by yourself! Contact Recovering from Religion by visiting this link: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 36:52Our repeat theist caller Connor is back, this time with a seemingly innocuous conversation starter… that seems to completely contradict his statements on previous calls. Vi calls a timeout and confronts this discrepancy, getting increasingly irritated as Connor fails to sufficiently explain his position. Perhaps next week? Do you think Connor was contradicting himself? Watch his previous calls to determine for yourself: - Theist Contradicts Himself Over and Over: https://youtu.be/k-nPFWve510 - Theist Defends Contradictions in Holy Texts: https://youtu.be/7ZSYLuGNbw8 55:37What happens when two skeptics reach different conclusions? What if one of them believes that praying for rain will help a drought? This caller is concerned that maybe he is doing skepticism wrong because he has failed to be convinced of God's existence. Eric and Vi reassure him and give him pointers to talk to skeptical theist friends and family members.1:09:56We're going to be honest, this one baffled us just a bit. This caller wants to discuss the convergence of skepticism and open mindedness: how do the two intersect? Should we be more worried about being one than the other? Eric encourages him to call back with specific examples in order to get to the meat of the problem. If you're interested in checking out Andrew Newberg and his work in the field of neurotheology, you can find his books here: http://www.andrewnewberg.com/all-books 1:20:30 A warm note to end the episode on, a returning caller thanks Eric and Vi for modeling skepticism and how to have compassionate and effective conversations with others. It was, it turns out, exactly what the hosts needed to hear this week. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Seriously, is there a single situation where faith is preferred over evidence? If you have a case for faith, we want to hear it! You can contact us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - What Is Faith Good For? 05:34 - Losing My Trust In God's Plan - Lisa (she/her) - CO22:07 - Theist Claims We All Have Faith - JB (he/him) - CO 1:09:33 - Muslim Caller Has Subjective Evidence for God - Sajid (he/him) - CAN05:34 This caller is trying to figure out what is stopping her from deconverting. Where does her fear lie? At first she thought it was the fear of Hell, but more and more she is realizing: it's the realization that there may not be a Plan or a Purpose for everything. What advice do the hosts have for someone grappling with this feeling of insecurity? 22:07We may have a new pre-sup theist caller! At least, that's where this argument seems to be going. Do we all have faith? Is there such a thing as a truly evidence-based worldview? Are all of Eric's arguments inescapably circular? Eric gets riled up and calls BS. 1:09:33 Repeat Muslim caller Sajid wants to dive into evidence for unseen beings and miracles. He appeals to both subjective and objective evidence. Vi breaks down the difference between the two. Can subjective experiences become stronger through corroboration? What happens when two people's subjective experiences contradict each other? How about contradictory experiences of God? ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

While Vi took calls last week, Eric was sick in bed, cheering them on; but this week he's back in the saddle and ready to talk! Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis? Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Is A Smarmy A$$hole? 12:24 - Finding Belonging as a Black Atheist - Sourfruit (she/her) - CAN 30:58 - Are Trans Teachers Appropriate? - Joe (he/him) - KS47:25 - Should “LGBTQIA+” Include Straight People? - Kay (he/him) - N/A1:05:23 - How Should I Address Subtle Transphobia? - Ameet (he/him) - NY 1:18:34 - Superchats00:00Eric is back after a mental health break… to a damning email from a not-so-fan. We are called out for being cheeseballs, as cringey as the Kardashians, and generally awful, self-absorbed hosts. What a great way to kick off our Sunday. 12:24This caller is experiencing some isolation at the intersection of being Black and atheist. Eric empathizes with her feelings of disconnectedness, and Vi provides their understanding of the unique loss of community faced by Black atheists in North America. If you are struggling with similar feelings, check out the resources below: Black Nonbelievers: https://blacknonbelievers.org/ The Hotline Project: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 30:58Repeat theist caller Joe has a question about a recent “scandal” about a trans teacher. What do the hosts think about the issue? Vi lays out the problem as they see it, explaining transmisogyny and how women's bodies are subjected to scrutiny regularly, especially teachers. 47:25Why do we need to focus on minority groups? Why do we put people into separate categories? Why can't straight people get included in the category of GRSM? This caller seems confused about what value communal identities have for oppressed people, so Vi does their best to explain. Note for those with a post-101 understanding of this stuff: We use the term “straight” on this call as a shorthand for “cishetero allosexual.” Heterosexual trans people, for example, still fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. 1:05:23How do you address someone's subtle transphobia in a way that is effective but doesn't overstep or speak for others? This is a great question, and Vi and Eric have differing opinions about it. Vi explains their willingness to believe the best about their interlocutor, but Eric fully supports being an asshole to make a point! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Did you know Dennis Prager also has a call-in show? Where he disses kids? It looks lonely, maybe we should try calling him sometime. In the meantime, we'd love to talk to you! Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to share why you believe what you believe.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Goes Solo 07:31 - Should the Government Exist? - Steven (N/A) - NY 22:06 - A Step-by-Step Guide To Building A Moral Argument Against Christians - Nick (he/him) - TN54:28 - Would You Trust A Theist Scientist? - Joe (he/him) - KS1:13:02 - A Little Story with a Twist at the End - Alias (he/him) - WY1:22:08 - Superchats00:00Vi is hosting solo today, and has a little rant about Dennis Prager prepared. The founder of PragerU dislikes motivational quotes for kids, and claims that children don't make the world a better place. An odd stance, especially for such an extreme anti-choice advocate! 07:31A social democrat and an anarchist walk into a bar… is the punchline for a very tedious joke full of words that mean nothing to the general population. Vi discusses their preference for anarchism and debates with a social democrat about the pros and cons of government, unions, and democracy. 22:06How do you convince a Christian that you're moral? Repeat caller Nick wants help constructing an argument defending atheistic morals to Christians in his life. Vi and the caller walk step by step through an argument for a moral system based on autonomy, consent, and harm reduction rather than a religiously-based moral structure. If you've ever had a conversation with a theist friend, family member, or co-worker about where morals come from, this is a good primer to get you on the right track! 54:28Theist caller Joe asks if it's fair to call Christians wilfully ignorant or stupid? What about the very many real scientists who also believe God created everything? Would you consider them stupid? Vi points out the nuance in this conversation, and explains how to approach experts with different theological frameworks than your own. 1:13:02Should this caller have left his ex's boyfriend in the dark about whether or not the kid is his? Join Vi and the caller for a rather odd little storytime session to end the show as they ask themselves: “Should you let someone live a happy lie or tell the truth and ruin things?” ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Today is a good day to remember what religious extremism can do to people. Watch this instead of war propaganda reruns. Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to talk with us. Also, Moco makes an extended appearance on this episode, so you will see lots of cute fluffy cat butt. ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - 3000 Deaths 02:54 - Can You Consent to Exist? - Ian (he/him) - NC17:39 - Bodily Autonomy vs Harm Reduction - Ale (she/her) - WA35:22 - Islam and Social Justice - Sajid (he/him) - CAN47:28 - Should We Tolerate Bad Beliefs? - Chris (he/him) - SCT1:06:30 - What Is Religious Extremism? - Rich (he/him) - WA 1:19:52 - Superchats 02:54 Did Vi contradict themself in their anti-natalist argument? This caller thinks they might have. Vi and Eric mess around with the philosophy of their positions versus the practical, day-to-day approach. Can both coexist? Did Vi, in fact, get it wrong? 17:39Can you hold both bodily autonomy and harm reduction as moral values? What happens when they contradict each other? This ex-Catholic caller is wondering if there's a silver bullet, or if it's always going to be this complicated to figure out? Vi has some bad news for her. 35:22A Muslim caller speaks against Islamic extremism and represents a Sufi perspective. Eric challenges him on his beliefs, and why his perspective is the correct one. Vi gets excited about their experiences with Sufi mystic poetry. If you are interested in checking out some of this poetry, visit this website: https://www.rumi.org.uk/poetry/ 47:28Repeat caller Chris returns to ask if we should tolerate people with bad beliefs in society. Vi emphasizes the difference between tolerating people versus tolerating their beliefs, and Eric says that mockery and making fun of bad ideas will always be a valuable tool. Chris agrees, after all, mockery got him out of his own bad beliefs. 1:06:30 What is religious extremism, and how do we identify the beginnings of it in others? Vi offers a broad-scale cultural perspective, while Eric gets right down to brass tacks and talks about the day-to-day political and social identifiers of religious extremism. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

This may be an interesting episode of Skeptic Generation. Due to the horrors of the US healthcare system, both Eric and Vi are off their meds and probably about to get a little spicy. Join for the fun, stay for the pandemonium. Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to talk with us. ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - New Camera, Can You Tell? 06:04 - Vi & Eric Fight - Javier (he/him) - PR 29:08 - Theist Contradicts Himself Over and Over - Connor (he/him) - TX1:09:44 - How To Accommodate Neurodivergence - Sal (she/they) - OH 06:04If all laws are based on our moral standards, why are we uniquely upset when Christians try to inflict their morality on our laws? This caller wants to highlight a double standard, but ends up inciting a claws-out debate between the hosts on whether laws are actually moral at all. Don't worry, your dads fight like this sometimes but they still love you very much. 29:08 Repeat theist caller Connor tries to explain why his faith does not grant full equality to women, and Vi is NOT having it. Buckle up, because this is a long call full of contradictions and checkmates that highlight just how duplicitous even a “progressive” religion can be. 1:09:44 This caller wants to talk about the line between explaining and accommodating differences in society, be they related to mental health or gender identity. The call got a little lost in the weeds, and we definitely want to highlight some terminology used during the conversation. Asperger's as a diagnosis is no longer in use, as we now understand it to be under the umbrella of ASD. Learn more about this diagnosis's history and use in Nazi Germany here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05112-1 Also, “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” are now understood to be inaccurate and even harmful terms when discussing autistic individuals. Check out more here: https://planningacrossthespectrum.com/blog/why-stop-using-functioning-labels/ Finally, in case you're interested, a non-cis gender identity is not a form of neurodivergence. Thank you and goodnight! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We toss around the word "skeptic" a lot, but what does that mean? Are climate skeptics the same? If you consider yourself a different kind of skeptic, we want to hear about it! Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Needs to Talk About Skepticism 14:06 - What Are The Precepts of Skepticism? - Mark (he/him) - CA18:52 - What Are Extraordinary Claims? - Rae (they/them) - UK 43:15 - Calling Out Christian Hypocrisy - John (he/him) - LA 1:00:02 - Are Christians the Real Lizard People? - Ameet (he/him) - NY1:14:03 - Should We “Identify” as Skeptics? - Micaiah (he/them) - TX 00:00 Eric wants to discuss what skepticism actually is, and what it is not. Why do some conspiracy theorists gravitate toward the term “skeptic” and how do we distance ourselves from outrageous claims? 14:06Why don't people understand the burden of proof, the null hypothesis, and Occam's razor? This caller laments the lack of skepticism in the general population, and the hosts suggest having a large skeptical demographic may not be in the best interest of the powerful. 18:52This call starts with a Hitch quote and ends with a discussion on whether or not aliens have sent UFOs to earth. Eric gets a bee in his bonnet about the caller's willingness to put extraterrestrial life as a viable option for unexplained events. Vi sees a middle ground. 43:15This theist caller has been hanging out with atheists on Sundays, and has been seeing things differently than he used to. He addresses what he sees as hypocrisy in the Church, especially around the idea of who can be saved and what a “true Christian” even is. Vi and Eric give this guy two thumbs up! 1:00:02Why is it a conspiracy theory to say that lizard people are taking over the government, but NOT a conspiracy theory to suggest that Christian Nationalists are? This caller wants to know how to best hold himself accountable and avoid falling into a conspiracy mindset. Vi points out that the problem with conspiracy theories is not the claim itself, but rather the method used to get to said claim. 1:14:03Is skepticism a tool, an identity, or both? This caller wants to know if identifying as a “skeptic” is a good thing to do. Eric emphasizes the value of viewing your epistemology as a tool rather than a personality trait, while Vi explains the potential pros and cons of using labels to find community online. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Apparently there is a group of Evangelical Christian furries out there who are worried about being judged... for disliking LGTBQ+ folks. Read the article here: https://onlysky.media/hemant-mehta/ev... We know we have questions. Do you? Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG._________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Needs to Talk About Christian Homophobic Furries 13:08 - Is Having Kids Selfish? - Phillip (he/him) - CA30:50 - Theist Says Misogyny is OK - Dale (she/her) - TX49:32 - Can You Practice Astrology As A Skeptic? - Joshua (he/him) - NC1:05:48 - Should the Human Race Continue? - Wolfos (he/him) - TX1:12:47 - Anti-Natalism Counterargument - Ami (she/her) - CAN 00:00 Vi goes on a bit of a rant about the Christian Furry Fellowship, a group of Evangelicals who are worried that being anti-gay will get them doxxed by their fellow furries. The burning question is: How are they justifying being furries while maintaining their anti-gay stances? Doesn't that cause massive amounts of cognitive dissonance? Also, Vi gets educated on the furry community by the comments! 13:08Is having children a bad thing? This caller is trying to figure out if their anti-natalism argument makes sense, and wants the hosts' opinions. Eric engages with his own doubts about the topic and how to make sense of the logic of it, and Vi prompts him to dig beyond the biological instinct to survive. 30:50This Baha'i caller tries to explain that her religion is not misogynist… by defending misogyny. The hosts are not having any of it, and Vi gets especially hot under the collar after their questions about progressive revelation are dodged. How can you call yourself a feminist and actively defend a system that restricts womens' access to power? 49:32What do the hosts think about practicing astrology while denying the idea that the stars can impact our day-to-day lives? Is it irresponsible? Or is it harmless fun? The answer, it turns out, is a bit more complicated than that. Eric discusses the need for transparency and education, and Vi encourages the caller to make sure he is exercising a consistent logical framework. 1:05:48Repeat caller Wolfos calls in for the first time in a while. After hearing the hosts discuss anti-natalism with the previous caller, he is grappling with the question: should humanity exist at all? Vi cautions that even though their personal philosophy leads to anti-natalism, discussion of limiting procreation of others has been used to perpetuate eugenics in the past. 1:12:47 Continuing with the anti-natalist theme of the week, this caller wants to defend humanity's right to continue existing as a link in the greater evolutionary chain. But how does one make this argument knowing how detrimental humans have been to the evolution of other species? And should we be arguing against human flourishing or against capitalism? _________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric Is Irrationally Angry About Circles | Skeptic Generation | Episode 33 Season 2It has finally happened. Eric has finally had enough with the incessant nitpicking about the roundness of circles and people are going to pay. In other news, give us a call! We'd love to hear about what you believe and why. If it is about circles though, it isn't going to go well for you.Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro01:35 - Eric Needs to Talk About Circles15:20 - Do Christians Have Double Standards? - Philip (he/him) - OK 31:03 - Does Ending Life Cause Suffering? - Nick (he/him) - TN46:46 - Platforming vs Censorship: Where Does It End? - Jack (he/him) - CA 1:03:25 - Is The Universe Determinist? - Phillip (he/him) - CA 1:13:05 - Muslim Counter Apologetics? - Cameron (he/him) - MN1:21:44 - Superchats00:00Intro01:35Eric drops about twenty F-bombs in the first ten minutes of the show because people don't understand circles. Yes, this is how he normally is. Vi leads everyone in some deep calming breaths afterwards because… wow. 15:20This caller wants to talk about the double standards Christians have around watching movies with violence in them versus movies with, erm, spicy scenes. Vi gives some insight into their own childhood experiences as a fundamentalist Christian. 31:03What starts off as a vegan call ends with an argument that the Flood of Noah was actually merciful? What? Vi and Eric walk through the implications of suffering, environmentalism and the factory farming industry, anti-natalism, and the pros and cons of the Thanos Snap in this very interesting but unexpected conversation. 46:46We're all upset by the Far Right trying to censor things, but what about the Left saying that platforming problematic individuals is a bad idea? Is that hypocrisy? The hosts clarify their own positions on platforming and censorship, and push back on the idea that educated people are less censorious. If you're interested in hearing a good take on the free speech and censorship debate, check out Tom Nicholas's video on Elon Musk's attempted acquisition of Twitter here: https://youtu.be/79pS5OXKTkU Also, lest this was not hit upon hard enough in this episode, please look up what Marilyn Manson has been credibly accused of in recent years: https://youtu.be/Ja-UFvajEHc 1:03:25If we don't actually have free will, can we really blame or praise anyone for anything they do? This caller explains why his belief in determinism calms him down in traffic, which is an intriguing idea to the hosts. Eric says his way of empathizing with reckless drivers is to assume they just need to poop really badly. Hey, whatever works to keep your head level! 1:13:05How do you successfully counter Muslim apologetics? This caller has a coworker who he's been engaging in theological discussions with, and is looking for some help. The hosts suggest he watch some ex-Muslim activists and debaters for a good, informed approach to this conversation. If you're interested in expanding your counter apologetics viewing diet, here are some ex-Muslim content creators you can check out (please leave your recommendations for others in the comments!): Zara Kay: https://www.youtube.com/c/ZaraKay Apostate Prophet: https://www.youtube.com/c/ApostateProphet 1:21:44Superchats___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Do you think Jesus is still alive? You're wrong but we're willing to hear you out. Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - We Try This Again (Don't Ask) 04:36 - Can Atheists Believe In Heaven? - Justin (he/him) - NY11:13 - Do We Have a Stigma Around Death? - Casper (he/him) - NL21:49 - Bigotry in the Bahai Faith? - Connor (he/him) - TX 41:40 - Pascal's Wager, But For Climate Change? - Gabe (he/him) - MO 56:11 - Jesus Was An Anarchist? - Phoebe (she/her) - MA 1:13:05 - Can You Really Attack Ideas and Not People? - Drew (he/him) - AZ 04:36Can atheists believe in an afterlife? This caller, who considers himself a “super atheist,” wants to know the hosts' thoughts. The verdict: Not only do many atheists believe in an afterlife, Vi posits that religion is not even necessary to get to that conclusion. Eric pushes back on that last bit. 11:13Does how we view death as a society cause us to act selfishly when it comes to matters of autonomy and decisions to end one's own life? Is death always bad, are there biological reasons we cling to the idea that it is, and how does this conflict with ideas of autonomy? This is a bit of a heavy one, so watch at your own pace. 21:49Repeat theist caller Connor calls back, initially wanting to talk about persecution of Bahai individuals in other countries. Eric and Vi redirect the conversation back to the last call, asking if Connor had done any additional introspection on issues of progressive revelation or the inerrancy of scripture. Finally, Vi gives an ultimatum: next time Connor calls in, he has to talk about what made him think his faith is true. 41:40Can you use Pascal's Wager for things besides apologetics, and are there cases where it might actually be useful? This caller uses climate change as an example, and Vi gets super excited to graph it out. Meanwhile, the hosts have a bit of a miscommunication around the “is” and the “ought” of the classic argument. 56:11Was Jesus an anarchist? This caller, a Christian anarchist, thinks so. The hosts are intrigued. “What does Christian anarchy bring to the world that just Christianity and just anarchy don't?” they ask. The caller says she believes the shared mythology is the point, and Vi agrees. Eric is aghast. If you want more information about the book Vi references, you can find “The Dawn of Everything” by David Graeber and David Wengrow here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374157357/thedawnofeverything 1:13:05This caller thinks that it's impossible to attack ideas and not attack people. According to him, people are their ideas, so attacking one by definition attacks the other. Vi has issues with the use of the word “attack” and Eric is unconvinced by the greater claim: are people inextricably linked with their ideas? ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi is hosting Skeptic Generation solo for the first time! What kinds of conversations do you want to have? Call them at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Vi Is Flying Solo 06:05 - How Do You Argue The Tri-Omni God? - Nick (he/him) - TN22:26 - What Is Identity? - Ottoa (they/them) - AUS 31:23 - Caller Has Proof of an “Unmoved Mover” - John (he/him) - WA 51:57 - Theist Admits The Crucifixion Was Morally Wrong - Gohan (N/A) - TX 1:20:12 - What Are Your Moral Imperatives? - Phoenix (they/them) - TN 1:29:03 - Superchats06:05Debating Christians is fun online, but when you're dealing with family and friends, should you be trying to steelman their positions? This caller is wondering how to break down traditional arguments for God in a way that challenges theists to change their beliefs. Vi is skeptical that this is a more effective scenario in all cases. 22:26How does identity get used in the otherkin community, and how does it differ from things like gender identity? This caller was part of last week's roster and their call cut out, so they finish up the conversation this week. 31:23This theist caller has a (very long) syllogism to prove an “unmoved mover” aka God. He walks Vi through it, but Vi has concerns upon reaching the conclusion. Primarily: the claim is that an immaterial thing can change material things. Is that possible? Isn't this just a category error in sheep's clothing? 52:57Repeat theist caller Gohan wants to discuss the existence of Absolute Morality: a moral standard without ifs, ands, or buts. Vi walks through a few examples of Gohan's version of Absolute Morality and… it turns out that killing for the greater good is always wrong. Even in the case of the crucifixion. Vi's head may explode just a little bit. 1:20:12What are Vi's moral imperatives (if any)? Vi gives their two cents, but the conversation quickly dives into the problem of consequence: what happens to people who disobey Vi's moral imperative? Do they drown in their giant coffee mug? Are they forced to watch Star Trek for all eternity? The question remains: Can we determine moral imperatives for anyone but ourselves? ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric and Vi are back in the hot seat and ready to take your calls. Reach out at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric's Back!... For Now 02:57 - Can You Be A Dragon? - Ottawa (they/them) - AUS14:52 - Theist Defends Contradictions in Holy Texts - Connor (he/him) - TX40:57 - Is The World Run by Martians? - Chris (he/him) - SCT50:37 - Cultural Appropriation in the MCU? - Johnny (he/him) - UT1:02:09 - Churches Are Good For Atheists - Kay (he/him) - N/A 1:17:47 - “Stop Shoving Your Religion In My Face!” - R (he/him) - N/A 1:29:05 - Superchats02:57Otherkin, therian, furry… What do these words mean? This caller offers to clear up some misconceptions about these groups, but unfortunately drops out in the middle of the call. In the meantime, though, we have an interesting conversation about identity, including the “weird ones” in your social movement, and highly sensitive people. Generally an all-over-the-place call that goes places you do not expect. 14:52A classic “what you believe and why” call with a repeat theist caller! Connor calls in to discuss his Baha'i faith, but this time Vi and Eric have some questions. Why does Connor accept ALL holy texts as true, and how does he reconcile the contradictions? The caller explains that the answer is “progressive revelation,” but the hosts are not having it. 40:57Remember the Scottish caller who asked Eric about ghosts a while ago? Well, he's back and asking us to give him our feedback on Spirit Science, a culty community with claims about everything from chakras to ancient aliens to the lost city of Atlantis. Why do people fall for this kind of (to quote Vi) “hippy dippy woo woo”? And what can we do to protect people from predatory spirituality cults? 50:37Is it cultural appropriation for a white person to dress as the Black Panther? This caller wants our take on the difference between cultural appropriation versus appreciation. Eric points out that centering the viewpoint and experiences of the people who have dealt with appropriation is crucial to this conversation. Vi reminds everyone that there are both individual and systemic sides to this equation. 1:02:09Can churches and other religious non-profits be good for atheists? Should we settle for a religious soup kitchen if it's going to feed people faster, or should we spend time building a soup kitchen for atheists? Is there a third option here that no one is considering? Also on this call: Vi coming up with a new phrase for SG merch. Drop a comment if you'd buy a shirt that says “Fuck your sandwich” on it.1:17:47This caller has a bone to pick with religious people who say “I'll pray for you” during difficult times. He says it's always done in a predatory and coercive way, a symptom of broader religious overreach. Eric shares his perspective and how he's chosen to view the offending platitude, while Vi calls out Christians for disrespecting boundaries in all areas of their culture. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We are welcoming a special guest to the show this week: Robert Reed of Gin and Truth on YouTube. If you're a fan of a pull-no-punches, take-no-prisoners approach to secular humanism, we think this is probably going to be the show for you. Tune in or call in to talk with our guest at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.Find more Robert Reed: Subscribe to his YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLaC... Follow his Twitter: https://twitter.com/RCReed40 Stream his podcast wherever you like to listen! ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro04:11 - Robert Gets On the Soapbox 11:39 - Ditch Your Therapist, Come to Church! - Andrew (he/him) - MN20:25 - Ontological Evidence for God... AGAIN - Xeno (he/him) - SK35:10 - Thank You For Speaking Up! - Uncle Beck (he/him) - NM38:26 - Fighting Spiritual Abuse with Skepticism - Tim (he/him) - Czech Republic1:00:15 - Do Debate Bros Actually Deradicalize Anyone? - Garrett (he/him) - MT1:16:50 - You Never Really Believed! - Nick (he/him) - TN1:28:24 - Superchats00:00Intro04:11From taking a leak in peace to preferred pronouns, why does it seem like we aren't ever having the same conversation when it comes to trans rights? Being an ally is more than just recognizing the humanity of our neighbors, it's recognizing that arguments to the contrary make you part of the problem.11:39This caller got to learn about the evils of LGBTQ and poly folks from a religious friend. He also got recommended church instead of actual therapy. We all have a little laugh, but Robert hits the nail on the head when he says, “Make sure you can tell the difference between a doctor and a pastor.”20:25Xeno calls in to make yet another ontological argument for God, and Robert meets his claims with exactly the right reaction: uproarious laughter. Meanwhile, Vi points out the exact reason that Xeno's argument doesn't work using set theory, and Xeno suddenly needs to go… 35:10Uncle Beck wants to shout out just how important it is to have allies that are willing to go to bat. You can find Uncle Beck's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/BeNoJustBe 38:26If we need to pick one, should we pick skepticism or critical thinking? This caller thinks that addressing spiritual abuse is an easier pill to swallow if it doesn't include any extra baggage. Our hosts counter that just like leaving any other abusive relationship, recognizing the signs of abuse can prevent those who have suffered abuse from falling into it again in the future.1:00:15Does it really matter if bad reasoning is used to de-radicalize people? Vi shoots back that the problem isn't deradicalization, it's perpetuating bad thinking! If the louder person seems to “win” the debate, it's only a matter of time before listeners are convinced bv a louder person. The better tactic is to place less value on the “debate bro” culture in the first place.For more information about the Federalist Society, check out this article by the Harvard Gazette: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor... 1:16:50Nick has been placed in a church mediation program to determine if he is allowed to communicate with his siblings. During the mediation, he has been told that he was never a true Christian… because he never did miracles! Robert calls it out for the absolute horseshit that it is. We're with you Robert!1:28:24Superchats___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

It was Eric's birthday yesterday, and we're excited to celebrate it! If you want to give him the best birthday gift ever, call in with a realllllly bad argument for the existence of God. Like, just the worst one. He'll love it. Wish him well at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.If you want to get Eric a birthday present but don't want to call in, check out our Amazon wishlist at https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist. ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Happy Birthday, Eric! 02:42 - This Theist Caller LOSES It - Chris (he/him) - WI17:08 - Is Occam's Razor Dangerous? - Javier (he/him) - SC33:46 - A Skeptical Theist? - Robert (he/him) - MA 45:30 - Dealing with Emergencies As an Atheist - Keith (he/him) - NJ 55:40 - Should I Stop Being A Pagan? - Brendan (he/him) - SC1:10:04 - Are Conspiracy Theories Skeptics? Seth (any/all) - MA 1:17:05 - When Is a Belief Too Harmful to Ignore? - Nick (he/him) - UT1:28:25 - Superchats03:20What starts off as a potentially productive call quickly goes off the rails as this theist caller goes from telling us we don't have morals, to saying we are still Christians, to ranting about how terrible Planned Parenthood is and ultimately dissolving into… blowing raspberries? Really? Anyway, Eric gets rightfully pissed and you should be too. 17:11 Repeat theist caller Javier wants to better understand Occam's razor, especially since a friend claimed that using it could result in innocent people being accused of murder! Are we using this logical tool correctly, and are there situations where we may need to put the razor down in favor of other methodological approaches? 33:56 Is it possible to be skeptical and a theist at the same time? Eric and Vi say yes, but it's not as simple as being a skeptic or not being one. Many of us are skeptical about certain things, and remain quite credulous about others. The question is: how are you applying skepticism and is it getting you good results? 45:43 TW: Pet death Have you ever felt the urge to pray during an emergency, even though you didn't really believe in God? This caller was feeling something similar as his cat was suffering renal failure. Spoiler alert: the cat survived! But this left us all wondering… why do we feel the need to pray or ask for divine help when something bad happens, even as atheists? 55:50If your beliefs aren't going away on their own, should you “force it”? This pagan caller wants to know if he should be getting rid of his beliefs. Eric points out that while discussing metaphysical ideas is important, it's best to start with the practical and make sure your beliefs are not putting you in harm's way. Vi encourages the caller to sit in the discomfort and figure out how his god beliefs influence a pragmatic worldview. 1:10:19 What would you say if you encountered a science teacher who was also a flat earther? What if that person called themself a skeptic? This caller is concerned that the term “skeptic” is getting used by conspiracy theorists and making it more difficult to find credible sources. Is this something the hosts are concerned about? 1:17:12When is a belief too harmful to ignore? This former Mormon caller is struggling to maintain relationships with his family as they continue to pursue their faith. He asks the hosts if there's a point where he should break ties. Eric points out that making people uncomfortable is a necessary step in the path to rationality. Vi encourages the caller to think about how to use their position to counteract bad ideas. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi is back from Portland and ready to take your calls. This has been a terrible week so we can either go "more terrible" or "less terrible." It's up to you and the kind of conversations you bring to the table. Talk to us at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi is Back from Portland! 03:58 - Defending the Problem of Evil - Javier (he/him) - SC21:07 - What is A Woman? - Chelsey (she/her) - NC 29:47 - Becoming A Pagan… Help! - Sakura (she/they) - NY 47:44 - Teaching Children About the Crucifixion of Jesus - Chris (he/him) - SCT58:26 - A Silver Bullet for Deconverting Christians? - Kay (he/him) - N/A 1:16:23 - How To Keep Allies Around? - Philip (he/him) - OK 1:30:24 - Superchats03:58Defending the Problem of Evil - Javier (he/him) - SC Can this caller refute the problem of evil and defend God? Specifically, does appealing the “the greater good” make sense of the suffering in the world? Vi and Eric don't think so, and list out the many reasons that train of logic is not compelling. 21:07What Is A Woman? - Chesley (she/her) - NC Have Vi and Eric watched the Matt Walsh “documentary” about trans issues? What are their thoughts on the tactics Matt used to try and play “gotcha”... was it honest? Was it at least effective? The answer to all of that, and to Matt Walsh in general, is no. 29:47Becoming A Pagan… Help! - Sakura (she/they) - NY What happens when a scientist becomes a pagan? How should this caller navigate through a change in worldview while honoring their understanding of the scientific method? Can it even be done? Vi has some thoughts to share on this subject… 47:44 Teaching Children About the Crucifixion Of Jesus - Chris (he/him) - SCTIs teaching kids about the crucifixion (and everything that led up to it) immoral? Vi says their main problem is with hypocrisy: why is torutre OK to teach to children but not things like sexual orientation or gender identity? Eric, meanwhile, has stronger words for what happens during indoctrination: namely, it's abuse. 58:26A Silver Bullet for Deconverting Christians? - Kay (he/him) - N/A Kay calls back this week to discuss a silver bullet for “defanging” religion by turning theists into deists. The hosts are skeptical about how useful such a method would be. It becomes clear that while they agree on many things, Kay isn't taking the indoctrination factor into consideration, which will make things much more difficult. 1:16:23How To Keep Allies Around? - Philip (he/him) - OKThis caller has some thoughts about what was said on the show last week regarding whether cis men should be discussing the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade. Don't we need the voices of the ones in power to actually get anywhere? Eric explains his reasoning: it's important to avoid speaking over others. Meanwhile Vi asks an important question: “Who are we speaking to?” ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Skeptic Generation is excited to have a friend and co-host from another life, Kevin S join us today! We have some difficult things to discuss after the Roe v Wade decision news, but we also want to make sure we're staying on course on our own mission: taking bad ideas to task. Do you think your beliefs should be *our* beliefs? Do you believe in a globalist agenda, aliens, or other grand conspiracy? Call In! 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.____________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Discussing This Horrible Week 06:44 - My Friend Believes in Demons - Chris (he/him) - UK 25:47 - Christians Need to Step Up! - Vishanti (she/her) - CA 37:47 - Is There Religious Persecution in the US? - Connor (he/him) - TX 47:40 - Give Less Credit To God! - Wolfos (he/him) - TX 52:25 - Bigots Deserve Your Platform! - Kay (he/him) - N/A 1:15:32 - What Are The Moral Obligations of Skeptics? - Preston (he/him) - TX 06:44 This caller used to believe some very “out there” evangelistic beliefs, and back in the day he converted his friend. Now the caller has deconverted, but his friend is still deep in it… and has gone even further. This friend now believes that they are demon possessed and cannot leave the house. How do you reckon with the guilt, and what can Chris do to help? 25:47 Repeat caller Vishanti is fed up with progressive Christians washing their hands of the radical Christofascist Right. What can they do to deal emotionally and practically with these bad actors, and what do we risk if they don't? Speaking of bad actors, we dump on Mr. Delicieux for a while which is oddly cathartic. If you want to share the cringe, check out the other week's clip: https://youtu.be/gbdJHNknzyc 37:47This religious caller is not a Christian, and feels threatened by the Christian nationalist agenda in the United States. Deeply scared, in fact. Special guest Kevin has some crucial takes on why things are so dark right now, and he isn't afraid to call a spade a spade. 47:40 People have to be more willing to give themselves more credit, and give God less credit. You've done the thing yourself! Just a cheerful reminder from a repeat caller! 52:25 We discussed “debate bros” the other week. Now this caller wants to defend Destiny for being a champion for having the hard conversations. According to this caller, there is no such thing as “platforming a bad idea” and you should give everyone who wants to debate the rights of others a microphone. In general, he has lots of opinions on how we should run our show. Maybe he should start his own? Watch our last conversation about debate bros: https://youtu.be/3NIk_KrTS8g Check out a video that explains this issue better than we could with @F.D Signifier here: https://youtu.be/4y0nR0E8pk4 1:15:50Do skeptics have any kind of moral duties or obligations? Does skepticism have any kind of “ought” statements? Eric gets really excited about this and dives right in. Ultimately, skepticism is not what you use to make moral judgments, but it *is* how you get the raw materials to make good moral judgments. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We've had enough sensational crap recently, let's settle in and have a good conversation. Do you have a belief that could use a skeptical eye? Do you think we're gonna burn in the fiery depths of hell?Call In! 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.Learn more about Juneteenth: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Announcing a Special Guest Next Week 03:36 - The Romans 1:20 Conundrum - Will (he/him) - TX09:32 - Deism vs. Agnosticism - Joe (he/him) - KS 29:27 - The Five Ways To Tell If Something's True - Steven (he/him) - MI 35:24 - My Partner Is A Christian and I'm Not… Help! - Nathan (he/him) - PA44:35 - Religion is Cultural, Not Revelatory - Allen (he/him) - MI1:01:07 - Defending Debate Bros - Steve (any/all) - NY 03:36Have you encountered the Romans 1:20 argument from theist friends, relatives, or apologists? If so, you may be entitled to compensation… or at least our empathy. How do you address this with someone, and is it a lost cause to try and counter it? Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” 09:32This caller deconverted from Christianity in his teens and is now a deist. Eric digs into the reasoning behind this stance: is it a God of the gaps argument? What is the motivation for holding onto a god belief, and is it something that necessarily needs to go? 29:27How do you know what is true? This caller says there are five different methodologies regarding how you can know something is accurate. Why don't we use all five all the time? Eric suggests that might lead to analysis paralysis, but for those big claims that influence our worldview… absolutely! Check out the article discussed on this call here: https://kq.freepressunlimited.org/evidence/the-psychology-of-fake-news/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkruVBhCHARIsACVIiOw5kmAPr4h1knJUil9QIAiUI7UjKrh2QtgQ39nGXalU-nvEdjeyu4oaAnqIEALw_wcB 35:24How do you navigate a relationship if your partner is worried you're going to hell? This caller is grappling with some heavy questions, and luckily he called the most compassionate host on an atheist call-in show. Eric gives relationship advice, and ends up (kinda) therapizing himself too… 44:35Many religions claim they originated via divine revelation, but this caller thinks that religion is, in fact, cultural. His previous Baháʼí faith and missionary work led him to this realization: the issue isn't with religion but with God. He lays out five points to prove this. (SG Kitty makes an appearance!) 1:01:07Are debate bros unlikely heroes? Do we owe the current landscape of YouTube to cis white guys willing to have the uncomfortable debates? This caller seems to think so, but Eric isn't so sure. Vi is in the live chat pulling their hair out wanting to respond… so they call in too! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Should Eric have gotten a flight all night back from Portland to make it to the show at the last second? Probably not, but here we go! This host is flying solo this week and doesn't have a lot of fuse to burn.Do you think you have the answers to life, the universe, or really anything? Call In! 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Has Had 3 Hours of Sleep 04:15 - Are We In Another Satanic Panic? - Chris (he/him) - UK 13:11 - But Is Atlantis Real Though? - Connor (he/him) - TX28:38 - Eric Officially Disproves Ghosts - Chris (he/him) - UK 46:06 - This Repeat Theist Picked The Wrong Day To Call In… - Mr. Delicieux - CAN 1:08:40 - What Is Your Favorite Cryptid? - Alda (she/her) - SC1:17:51 - There Are No Soulmates, and That's OK - Joshua (he/him) - SC 1:27:09 - Far-Right Troll Gets Hung Up On - Jon (he/him) - CAN 1:32:48 - Superchats04:15Did the Satanic Panic ever really go away? Why are we seeing such a rise in conspiracy theories and fear mongering, especially as it pertains to “protecting the children” from “dangerous outsiders”? Eric and the caller discuss why we might be seeing similar problems arising today. If you want more information about the Satanic Panic, check out Seth Andrew's talk on the subject on @The Thinking Atheist channel: https://youtu.be/iW6UoIjy5F4 13:11This caller wants to know why people are such skeptics when it comes to discussing the reality of Atlantis. Is it possible that ancient civilizations could have created a technologically advanced city on an undiscovered sunken land mass? When is believing this “accepting the evidence” and when is it “credulity”? Check out a previous call about this topic here: https://youtu.be/IgxTaDVNIhU 28:38In the most level-headed and incisive takedown of ghost lore on Skeptic Generation history, Eric guides this caller through a host of ways to disprove the existence of the paranormal realm. If you're looking for a bunch of new, science-based ways to refute ghost claims, definitely check out this clip. 46:06Mr. Delicieux is back… for the final time. This repeat theist caller picked the wrong day to call in, because a sleep-deprived Eric is an Eric with little patience for bullshit. Yes, it's frustrating to listen to the smugness, but stick around to the end and listen to the sweet sound of that mic drop. We're done here. 1:08:40If you are a fan of mythological beasts of any sort, you are probably going to enjoy this call a lot. We discuss the Not Deer, wendigos, Nessie, and a whole host of other paranormal creatures, including where the legends come from. What is your favorite cryptid, and do you know its origin story? 1:17:51Eric consoles a caller who has recently deconverted and is going through a time of grief without the comfort of a god to lean on. They discuss heartbreak, soul mates, and how to use skepticism not as a tool of nihilism but as a way to move forward and create meaning and hope in the future. Get out your tissues for this one! 1:27:09Rarely have we seen Eric get so mad. We almost made it this week without a horrible, bigoted call from a Christian nationalist, but it wasn't meant to be. Jon, if you're reading this, please never call in again. We don't like you. If you are concerned about keeping children safe as we see a rise in gun violence across the United States, consider supporting March For Our Lives: https://marchforourlives.com/ ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Coming out of retirement to join Eric today, Russell is a veteran to the call in show format. We're sure this is gonna be good! Please call in to share your beliefs and talk to us about what you believe and why: 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.Follow Russell on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/RussellGlasser ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 03:12 - Russell Needs To Talk… about Roe v. Wade 33:04 - Are Atheist Religions & Rituals Good? - Steve (any/all) - NY42:48 - Do Agnostics Have Impossible Standards of Evidence - Joe (he/him) - KS 59:19 - Russell Stomps Xeno's God Claims - Xeno (he/him) - SK 1:17:03 - Magic Is True Because… Drugs? - David (they/them) - NC 1:29:03- Superchats00:00We welcome Russell Glasser back on live air, and he needs to talk. He does a deep dive on the Christian Right's fight against reproductive choice, explaining how we got to the current leak regarding the Roe v. Wade decision will impact the United States. Are you interested in doing something? Check out the community action idea generator that Vi built for inspiration: https://perchance.org/community-action-idea-generator 33:10This caller asks whether atheists using religion and ritual to fight Christian extremists is a good thing. Eric thinks that it works well and is effective, while Russell wonders if it's just a little too trolly. If you're interested in the kinds of religions discussed here, check out some of the links below: “Hail Satan?” documentary of the Satanic Temple: https://youtu.be/27RtJp-rhHk Vi discusses the Church of Prismatic Light: https://youtu.be/Nnz3jeA_MPk 42:54Do agnostics and atheists have an impossible standard of evidence? If requiring a modern autopsy of the dead body of Jesus Christ prior to his resurrection is the only thing that will convince you of Christianity, are you basically admitting your position is unfalsifiable? The hosts have thoughts… What would convince them? 59:42 The software programmers geek out… until one of them (spoiler: not Russell) says he thinks that God probably exists because “How can you know for sure He doesn't?” This is a classic argument from ignorance, but Xeno will not be deterred! Eric makes some killer points, and Russell is profoundly unimpressed. This is cathartic. Check out previous calls with Xeno: - God is Like An NFT: https://youtu.be/kHcDKiWk_Ds - I Can't Prove God, But You Should Believe Anyway: https://youtu.be/PNNxwNF8Yns 1:16:40 Is magic like voodoo functionally true? Is there a difference between the supernatural and the preternatural? Is this linked to mental health in some way? What about drugs? We are all very confused, but we enjoyed the West World references. General request: Please don't turn mental illness or neurodivergence into “magical experiences,” that's generally a really bad idea. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

June is almost here, so that means if you want to catch Vi live on Sunday, now's your last chance for a while. Call in to share your beliefs and tell us why you think the way you do: 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Where Is Vi Going? 09:25 - What If The True Religion Hasn't Been Created Yet? - Relic (he/him) - TX 30:38 - Everyone Actually Believes In God - Sam (he/him) - TX43:00 - How To Come Out - Sal (they/them) - OH1:00:06 - Why Won't Theists Change Their Minds? - Will (he/him) - TX1:06:45 - The Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh? - Connor (he/him) - TX1:15:27 - How To Avoid Fake News - Chris (he/him) - SCT 09:26 How do we know that the true religion won't be created in the future? Repeat theist caller Relic calls in to explain why a perfect religion might address society's issues. Vi points out the unlikelihood of a perfect religion existing, and Eric asks why a religion is needed at all. 30:47This theist has called in to let Vi and Eric know that they actually *do* believe in God, and that they are doing the Lord's work by building a studio and showing up every Sunday to debate His existence. The caller reassures the hosts that he can be trusted, as he is delivering a message straight from Jesus himself. 43:03How is coming out as an atheist similar or different to coming out as LGBTQ+? This caller wants to hear how the hosts navigate the intersections of “coming out” as Pride month begins. What challenges have they faced, and what are they still grappling with? 1:00:21Why not ask theists right away what will change their minds? This caller wants to learn more about the tactics of counter apologetics, and the hosts dive into their rationale when debating with theists. Eric hits the nail on the head: why assume that theists think there is value in changing their minds at all? 1:07:05 Another Baháʼí caller, this time someone who wants to share a bit about holy days and the ascension of their messianic figure. The hosts attempt to parse out how this caller navigates accepting the truth of all religions while determining what corresponds to reality. What do they do when two faiths contradict each other? 1:15:45As someone who is raised in a religious environment, it can be difficult to know how to parse good and bad information. Vi discusses what this looks like from a journalism psychology perspective, and offers some practical tips to being more informed and avoiding the fake news funnel.For more information on how to determine good information online, watch this clip from a few weeks ago: https://youtu.be/JBFPJL6QASc ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

The week of our birthday surprise episode is here: and it's a retrospective! We're going to be reviewing some of our favorite (or most cringe-worthy) clips from our first year as an independent live call-in show. Get ready to hear our thoughts on Robin, Chad, Jay, and Flat Earther Connor (among others). We won't be taking calls this week, so save your questions for next Sunday! Also, make sure you check out our monster 4-hour livestream where Eric builds our production computer from the ground up, joined by Thomas Westbrook of Holy Koolaid! You can find that here (for now), before it moves onto Patreon: https://youtu.be/c2uST3EQrSU __________________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Happy Birthday to SG!13:51 - We Review Our Very First Episode: "We Were Panicking!" 25:06 - Vi Reviews Scott's Call: “The Thing About C.S. Lewis…”37:40 - Eric Reviews Jay's Call: “What the HELL Was that?” 48:11 - We Review Flat Earther Call: “What Do You Mean, Pac Man?” 1:02:36 - Vi Reviews Robin's Call: “A Livestreamer's Worst Nightmare” 1:17:03 - Eric Reviews Chad's Call: “Don't Be A Troll” WHERE TO FIND THE CLIPS FROM THE EPISODE TODAYWant to watch the full clips from the episode today? You can find them here: Our First Cold Open (S1E1): https://youtu.be/_cxzwxHGmVMWhy Aren't Atheists Convinced By Evidence? (S2E3): https://youtu.be/mIFeBeYF8vYEric Unloads on Theist Caller (S2E11): https://youtu.be/PR9D5g9_b_IFlat Earther Has Proof Scientists Won't Look At (S1E20): https://youtu.be/0pY8TVpGwUEVi Versus A Darth Dawkins Clone (S1E7): https://youtu.be/vlx5E0tdweQThis Troll Seems Very Angry (S1E22): https://youtu.be/jkHfa_zoeDs__________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

This week we got a rave review from a fan, namely that we are more cringey, absurd, and touchy-feely garbage with each passing week. We're so excited to be making such consistent progress, and hope you'll join us this Sunday to witness us taking one more step toward greatness: call us at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTSMay 19th: Senior Patron Hangout on Discord May 21st: Watch Eric Build Our Production Computer! (Limited livestream event) May 22nd: Surprise Birthday Episode Week of June 6th (TBD): Eric & Vi Are In Portland, OR! ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 05:11 - “Help! My Brother Is Watching Jordan Peterson” - Erika (she/her) - TX 23:06 - Theist Says THIS Makes Skeptics Look Silly - Joe (he/him) - KS 36:57 - Could You Identify God If You Met One? - Lucas (he/him) - BR46:53 - Crypto Bro Proves God Using Empirical Evidence - Xeno (he/him) - SK1:15:35 - Sex, Drugs, and Televangelists - Benji (he/him) - US 1:24:45 - This Call Gave Us Goosebumps! - Fancy Monkey (he/him) - GA05:17How do you have conversations with someone who thinks being a math teacher makes them qualified to debunk evolution? What if that person is your Christian brother? What if he has started listening to Jordan Peterson? This caller needs help figuring out family communication as a new skeptic. This is the book that Vi recommended: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/informal-logic-a-pragmatic-approach_douglas-n-walton/794396/item/4024815/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwyYKUBhDJARIsAMj9lkG7RD3zS794oZvRQRZ2R7mV_lu---2rIah9m47AIsI_Zt1a2FosPIkaAhqyEALw_wcB#idiq=4024815&edition=5988947 23:10Repeat theist caller Joe asks why skeptics are so concerned about astrology and horoscopes. Aren't they harmless fun most of the time? Eric points out some situations when relying on astrology could be really dangerous, and Vi highlights the underlying problem of magical thinking that normalizes accepting harmful claims. 37:09Star Trek nerd alert on this one! This caller wants to know if the hosts would concede that an all-powerful or manipulative creature was a god. Well, what does being a god even mean? Why do we call things “god” in the first place? Eric approaches this from a linguistic perspective, while Vi highlights the moral and aesthetic baggage weighing down the word “god”. 47:00Xeno calls back to teach us why God is real, using NFTs as an example. The only problem is, Vi and Eric remain resoundingly unimpressed. Eric especially is having none of it, and this caller ends up being hung up on after telling the hosts to “sit down and shut up.” 1:15:41This caller is an atheist working undercover at an international televangelist organization. He is grappling with some guilt because while it pays well, he knows he's helping the baddies. Should he quit his job? Publish a tell-all? Become a mole and report dirt to the government? Eric and Vi have some ideas, and also definitely want to read his future book. 1:24:55 This atheist caller tells the hosts about an answered prayer from his past, and it is genuinely a beautiful story. The three of them break down why it might be compelling for believers, why it probably was just coincidence, and how that doesn't make it any less special. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric is very excited. Last week, we pulled the trigger on buying the pieces of what will be our new production computer. While there will be a whole livestream about this in the near future, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek. Then, we hope to hear all about what's got YOU excited (if it has to do with what you believe and why). Call us at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTSMay 19th: Senior Patron Hangout on Discord May 21st: Watch Eric Build Our Production Computer! (Limited livestream event) May 22nd: Surprise Birthday Episode Week of June 6th (TBD): Eric & Vi Are In Portland, OR! ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Shows Us His Parts…. Not Like That 10:58 - Is “Love” a Religious Word? - Douglas (he/him) - ID 25:32 - Theist Says Atheists Can't Understand Love - Jay (??) - MO 44:55 - Should I Join the Church of Prismatic Light? - Levi (he/him) - CO 51:38 - Why Are We Forced to Play By Different Rules? - Chris (he/him) - CT 1:10:29 - Atheist Defends Unconditional Love - Woflos (he/him) - TX 10:20 We have a few calls about love this week. This caller wants to know whether love is a word religious people use to manipulate, and how we can best reclaim the word so it cannot be used for harm. Vi references All About Love by bell hooks, and Eric speaks from personal experience regarding how religion used “love” to control. Curious about more philosophy on love? Go buy the book All About Love: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17607.All_About_Love 25:38Repeat theist caller Jay wants to give us the good news: we cannot understand unconditional love because we do not believe in God. After being confused about why this might be considered rude or condescending, Jay tries to pivot to challenging the hosts to accept God into their lives by “seeking” for 30 days. The hosts are not having it. If you want to watch Eric vs Jay in another video, check this one out: https://youtu.be/PR9D5g9_b_I 45:09Last week, we talked a bit about the Church of Prismatic Light, a new non–profit organization that is currently working to be recognized as a religion by the US government. The hope is that becoming a member of this church will protect the rights of LGBTQ+ folks that are quickly being stripped away. Levi asks: Should he join, or is relying on a religion for rights ceding too much? Watch Vi's explanation of the Church here: https://youtu.be/RNbwH6TCoyw If you're curious about becoming a Prismatist, follow this link: https://linktr.ee/churchofprismaticlight 51:47How do we have “civil conversation” without lapsing into “civility politics”? This caller highlights this issue and how it manifests in atheist circles specifically, and the hosts share their tactics for demolishing dog whistles, educating others, and advocating for a bigger epistemological toolbox. This caller also has some zingers in here, so make sure to stick around for them! 1:10:32Repeat caller Wolfos wraps up our conversation on love by saying that he experiences universal, unconditional love as an atheist. Eric is a bit confused by this and pushes back, while Vi points out how we simply do not have enough words to accurately describe our emotions. Wolfos and Vi also share some painful and evocative personal stories. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

You read that right: this week Vi became a Prismatist. What is that, and is Eric worried? Call in to ask more about the Church of Prismatic Light or any other religious or spiritual topic! We're available at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.Find out more about the Church of Prismatic Light here: https://linktr.ee/churchofprismaticlight ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - WTF Is a Prismatist? 11:25 - Vi vs Suicide Cult - Sawyer (he/him) - IN 42:52 - Atlantis Was Real! - Andy (he/him) - TX 58:37 - Theist Says Evolution Proves Fine Tuning - Gohan (n/a) - TX 1:25:05 - Founder of Atheopaganism Defends His “Faith” - Mark (he/him) - CA 00:00 We have a lot of announcements today, including some amazing fundraising news! We are also talking about the Church of Prismatic Light, a religion founded to push back against Christian extremism in US politics and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Check out more about them in the description above! 11:25TW: Discussion of the Heaven's Gate mass suicide. Heaven's Gate apologists call in, and the hosts are thunderstruck. Vi is especially frustrated with their attempts to justify the mass un-aliving that took place in March of 1997. Apparently it wasn't that bad, because they're all up on a spaceship now. What, and we repeat, the actual fuck.To learn a little more about Heaven's Gate, check out this article: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavens-gate-cult-members-found-dead 42:52This caller wants to explain how Atlantis not only was real, but was a technologically advanced society responsible for the construction of the great stone structures around the globe. This means the pyramids, the Mayan temples, Stonehenge. Our caller says we can know this is true because Plato says so, but we have our doubts. 58:37Gohan calls back to debate the fine tuning argument from a scientific perspective. Eric especially nails the arguments here, finding common ground and pinpointing where the assumptions this theist brings to the table fall flat on their face. For a look at our previous calls with Gohan, check the links below: - Theist Argues for Evolutionary Creationism: https://youtu.be/cTLksn_yeRw - Another Bad Argument Against Abortion: https://youtu.be/TTq_sMHPNQI 1:25:05Mark is the founder of atheopaganism, and has called in to discuss his worldview and correct some misunderstandings about the religion. Can one be an atheist and a pagan at the same time? Is it different from non-theistic paganism? Eric asks for more clarification, and Vi points out that while words don't have prescriptive meanings, we do hold the responsibility to use them wisely. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We have a pretty exciting announcement this week: we have our first crew member. Tune in to say hello and fall in love as much as we have. And if you'd like to argue about anything, we're available at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.If you want to see the inside life of Georgie and her two dads, visit her Twitter @TerranCat. ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Meeting Georgie the One-Eyed Cat06:34 - This Theist Has Questions - Javier (he/him) - FL28:57 - Apologist Wants to Talk About Genesis - Dean (he/him) - VA 1:03:26 - Debunking the Fine Tuning Argument - Allen (he/him) - MI 1:15:00 - Do Atheists Miss Out on Love? - Toby (he/him) - CO 00:00 Introducing her Royal Majesty, Emperor Philippa Georgiou, our newest crew member! She doesn't have opposable thumbs, so she can't do much, but she makes up for it by being adorable. Say hello, and go visit her on her own Twitter account: @TerranCat! 06:34Repeat theist caller Javier has questions about deconverting. How does one do it? Should it be a fast process or a slow one? And how does one avoid circular arguments? Vi and Eric give some hard truths: it's not possible to be fully objective, and you can't really avoid circular arguments. Thanks, laws of logic! But the questions are worth asking anyway. 28:57An apologist calls in to discuss the stories of Genesis, how the hosts view creationism, and whether it's important to be a Young Earth Creationist in order to be a Christian. Vi shares their wild YEC upbringing and the tall tales they were told as a kid. Eric challenges our caller to even more probing questions: what about the Exodus? What about the Walls of Jericho? How much is true at all? 1:03:26This caller wants help debunking the fine tuning argument. How do you respond to theists who try to say the universe proves God? Vi points out that relying on “the odds” is useless without other universes to compare against, and Eric challenges the basis of asking the question in the first place. 1:15:00 Does viewing love as “just a chemical reaction in the brain” cheapen it? Or is it the most romantic thing ever? Show this clip to anyone who is concerned that atheists miss out on love, or that naturalistic explanations of emotion somehow make them “lesser.” ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Get in, losers, we're going to CVS to collect all of the discounted Easter candy. But first! Let's chat about Zombie Jesus, whether rabbits lay eggs, and all the other important questions of the day. Join us by calling 585-526-8774 or hitting this link: tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 06:57 - Do Virtues Exist on a Deserted Island? - Bree (ze/zer) - IA 21:08 - Are We Just Making Up Our Own Rules? - Chris (he/him) - NJ 27:30 - Theist Says Religion Is Necessary for Society! - Jon (he/him) - CAN37:50 - Is Anyone Irredeemable? - Micaiah (he/him) - TX 50:14 - Repeat Theist Caller Defends Slavery - Mr. Le Chef (??) - CAN 1:16:14 - Jewish Caller Corrects Christian Doctrine - Vishanti (she/her) - CA 06:57Are virtues inherited through culture? Would they still exist if we lived alone on a deserted island? This caller proposes that virtues and ethics are intertwined, but the hosts aren't so sure. Do you think you'd think about virtues and vices if you were the only person in your world? This caller's question inspired by our latest VS episode, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/F989FvzRg_8 21:08 This caller suggests all morality is based on our personal consciences, as opposed to our consciences being shaped by the morality of our society. The hosts chew on this for a bit. “Is it like Jiminy Cricket?” Eric asks. “We just do whatever he says?” 27:30 This theist caller attempts to explain how religion is necessary for society. After all, isn't America “one nation under God”? The hosts point out that determining what is right and what is wrong isn't a religious endeavor but a secular one, and Jon ends up hanging up. 37:50 What is redemption? Do we need it in a secular society, or is it purely a religious concept? How do we get redeemed, and is it possible to abuse redemption? Eric is jaded, but Vi might have changed his mind after their description. 50:14Mr. Delicieux calls back to argue that he is one of the only true Christians in the world today. Eric takes off the jacket and gets ready for a Bible-off, but things quickly turn ugly. This theist jumps straight into slavery apologetics, and Vi is having NONE of it. If you want to watch the last time Mr. Delicieux called in (suggesting that the seven day week proves God), you can find that link here: https://youtu.be/x6D9EG16UcQ 1:16:14After listening to the previous caller make unsubstantiated claims, this Jewish caller decides to set the record straight. Where does Christian doctrine go wrong according to Judaism? Why are these misunderstandings (or blatant misinterpretations) so crucial to understand? Eric has SO MANY questions… ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi is back from the woods and ready to take your calls! Tell us why you believe what you believe at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 05:13 - Mysticism vs Skepticism? - David (they/he) - NC 19:34 - Christian Charity: What Is It Good For? - Javier (he/him) - FL 37:39 - When You Can't Trust The Media… - Rae (they/them) - UK 01:03:38 - Non-denominational Atheism? - Chaos (she/they) - UK 01:16:53 - Summer of the Psychics - Thomas (he/him) - TN 05:13We get off to a rocky start as David calls in to talk about their background in mysticism and skepticism, and how those two interact. We're going to be honest, it may have been the lack of caffeine, but we didn't really get it. Vi ends up hanging up on this caller after they start demanding air time. 19:34Repeat theist caller Javier calls in to ask the hosts' opinions on religious-based charitable organizations. Is it worthwhile to hold a sandwich hostage in order to save a soul? 37:39 Where should you go to hear the truth? Are all media organizations corrupt? Why are science journalists so bad at reporting science accurately? This caller wants to know how to guard against misinformation, and Vi puts their journalism degree to use. 1:03:38This caller is having trouble interacting with atheists online, who don't seem to know what to do with someone who calls herself a skeptic and a polytheist. How do we communicate better? Vi's answer pretty soundly disses the atheist community, so feel free to go off in the comments. 1:16:53This caller is wondering how a psychic knew his toilet was going to explode. A fun way to wrap up the episode, the hosts share their own plumbing horror stories and discuss the sharpshooter fallacy. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Do you believe in psychics, mediums, or prophets of god? How about the historicity of the bible? Today is a fantastic day to call in because friend of the show Thomas Westbrook will be joining us again today. Thomas' channel @Holy Koolaid is dedicated to debunking pseudoscience and researching biblical claims in a fast-paced informative way.Give us a call and tell us why you think we've got it wrong at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.You can check out Thomas' channel here: https://www.youtube.com/HolyKoolaid ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Who Is Thomas Westbrook of Holy Koolaid?03:30 - Does Capitalism Equal Morality? - Javier (he/him) - FL 29:40 - Time Doesn't Exist… Baba Booey! - “Giovanni” (he/him) - VA 49:33 - Holy Koolaid vs. Freya - Relic (he/him) - TX 1:18:50 - Hell Is Better Than Nothing? - Yosiah (he/him) - VA 03:30A libertarian calls in to argue about whether or not certain rights encourage things like freeloading. Thomas talks about the Veil of Ignorance and the technicalities of living in a society, while Eric waxes philosophical about what a moral society should be like. Do you agree? More importantly…. ROADS? 29:40Troll alert! “Giovanni” proposes that time does not actually exist! This is Thomas's cup of tea: he breaks down some scientific facts about the concept of time to debunk this caller's claims. If only this conversation was legitimate, and not going to end in a train wreck… 49:33We've talked with Relic a few times, and he is finally calling in to tell us what he believes and why. Spirits exist and manifest as various polytheistic gods, in his experience specifically Norse and Greco Roman pantheons. Eric sits back and lets Thomas react. For previous Relic calls, view them here: - Talking to Spirits: https://youtu.be/dzKA5W2_btc - Atheist Dogma: https://youtu.be/9Etj0Qg7oHE- The End of the World: https://youtu.be/iZEWAOJFoCU - “I Experienced the Afterlife”: https://youtu.be/0I3-qauGJU0 1:18:50What kept you going back to church after starting to deconvert? This caller talks about his own fears about nonexistence. Thomas talks about the natural fears of dying, especially as you age. Eric shares his own experience leaving the church and how long it took to truly walk away. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Apparently you can now put your prayers on the blockchain to "eternalize" them, and get a little NFT in the process! All it will cost you is $19.99. We wish we were joking. Check out the hell site responsible here: https://eternalprayer.org/products/bl... Join us as we scream in enraged frustration at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Prayer NFTs: WTF? 09:11 - The B-Theory of Time Doesn't Defeat the Kalam - Ian (he/him) NC25:04 - Who Gets to Have Rights? - Javier (he/him) FL38:36 - Objectivity vs Morality - Yosiah (he/him) VA59:23 - Why “Debate Bros” Suck (or Don't?) - Ryan (he/him) NC1:16:08 - Helping Deconstructing Christians - Nick (he/him) TN00:00 Vi needs to talk about Christian groups selling “eternalized” prayers on the blockchain. What even is this? How does this make any sense theologically? And what–pardon the pun–in GOD's name is Christ Coin? 09:11Does the past exist? If it doesn't, isn't the Kalam cosmological argument defeated? This caller doesn't think so. Vi lays out the definitions of the A and B theory of time, and Eric does some philosophical navel gazing. Are the hosts going to have to concede parts of the Kalam argument in order to remain internally consistent? Or does this bad argument still fall apart? As always, we recommend this video from Paulogia for additional viewing: https://youtu.be/GC3o4GnKJFU 25:04This theist was watching a debate between a Christian and an atheist, which spurred him to ask: “Why do we have rights, and who gets to have them?” Vi goes for the practical approach, while Eric decides to dive into the crux of the matter: do we have the right to murder for funsies? Check out the book Vi recommended here: https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Constituti... 38:36 Following up on Javier's call, this caller asks the hosts if they believe in objective morality. A split occurs, with Eric deciding to focus on the word “objective,” while Vi takes issue with the term “morality.” Could this be a new VS topic, or did they come to a satisfactory conclusion at the end of it all? Which word is more important in this frankly all-too-familiar conversation? 59:23Do Vaush and Destiny suck? What about the category of “debate bros” in general? This caller wants to know. In what might be the most controversial takes Skeptic Generation has offered yet, Eric and Vi not only vehemently disagree with each other, but probably are going to cause a rift in the space/time comment continuum. Sound off with your thoughts below! For a more nuanced look at this issue, check out FD Signifier's video on debate bros and "BreadTube": https://youtu.be/41B5YonixBs 1:16:08 Should atheists take the opportunity to help deconstructing Christians along their journey? Vi says not so fast: assuming deconversion is the end goal of deconstruction, or thinking that you are farther along in your deconstruction journey just because you ditched a God belief, is dangerous ground. Tread lightly here! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

It's the first week of spring and our allergies are letting us know! Cultures and religions all over the world hold this equinox as sacred, so let's chat about your deeply held beliefs... about spring or anything else! You can talk to us by calling 585-526-8774 or online at tiny.cc/callSG.___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 05:48 - Science Is Mysticism? - David (they/them) - NC 14:33 - “I Experienced The Afterlife!” - Relic (he/him) - TX 48:55 - Did Vi Get Veganism Right Here? - Javier (he/him) - FL1:07:10 - Can “The Self” Exist Without Free Will? - Phoenix (they/them) - TN1:21:26 - Tinder Profile Evangelism! - Ash (they/them) - TN 05:48David calls in to talk about a book they read that suggested science is a form of mysticism. This call got a bit rambly, and ended on a weird note when the caller told the hosts that because they were younger they should listen. Um? No, that's not how this works. 14:33 Repeat theist caller Relic starts this call by diving into why belief in an afterlife is not inherently harmful (something the hosts have differing opinions on), but it quickly becomes a conversation about Relic's own adventures into the afterlife, where he meets with spirits. How does he know that's what's happening? How has he determined this is true? Hear the backstory Relic referenced in his previous call to Skeptic Generation here: https://youtu.be/dzKA5W2_btc Other conversations with Relic are below: https://youtu.be/9Etj0Qg7oHEhttps://youtu.be/iZEWAOJFoCU If you want to know more about Kat Kerr, check out these videos on Holy Koolaid's channel. You may even see some people you recognize! Part 1: https://youtu.be/ikosus8S09M Part 2: https://youtu.be/v6zPkFJd58Q 48:55 A theist wants to know if the hosts think secular humanism leads to veganism. If so, why? Vi and Eric do their best to lay out a potential chain of rationality between deconverting from a religion that told you humans are special to a worldview like veganism that puts all species on a more level playing field. Disclaimer: Neither Eric nor Vi are vegans (at this point in time) and while they did their best to explain the logic behind such a worldview, they are open to feedback. Discuss in the comments if you have thoughts. 1:07:10Phoenix is doing therapy and it's making them question some core principles of identity. Is free will something that impacts our sense of self? Could we have identity without it? Are consciousness and “the self” synonymous? A more esoteric call, but a worthwhile one! 1:21:26Hoo boy. This caller wants to know if heaven would be like slavery, and they were inspired to ask this by a Tinder profile evangelist. Eric is delighted at the idea of using the Bible for sexy purposes, and proceeds to pose dramatically with our KJV, something King James himself (allegedly) would have been into…___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi has finally joined the realm of TikTok... to make a single video. What would you do if you found out you were, in fact, a tomato and not a potato? How would you know? Could you prove it? Let's examine our preconceptions of ourselves today at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSGNote: There is some audio clipping due to a YouTube processing error, we apologize for that. An ad-free, audio edited version of the livestream sans clicks is available for patrons who pledge $10 or more. Check out our Patreon here, if you're interested: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - I'm A Potato 04:30 - Answer Me These Riddles Three: God Edition - Robin (she/they) - TX 17:53 - I Can't Prove God, But You Should Believe Anyway! - Xeno (he/him) - SK 45:18 - Does Humanity Crave Its Own Destruction? - Relic (he/him) - TX 56:41 - Eric Unloads On This Theist Caller - Jay (“Jesus Loves You”) - MO 1:18:22 - Ex-Bahai Deconvert Lost Everything - Allen (he/him) - MI 00:00 Vi is a potato. Enough said. 04:30 Robin is doing research for a book about atheism and theism, and has asked Vi and Eric to answer three questions about God. They are as follows: 1. What is the minimum you'd need to be convinced a god existed? 2. What is the minimum you'd need to be convinced to worship said god? 3. What would you say to a god if it showed up right now? Leave your answers in the comments! 17:53 Xeno (creator, innovator) returns to explain why the unfalsifiability of god claims shouldn't stop atheists from believing them. Rationality is just our “style” of thinking, but apparently it is not Xeno's. Frodo Baggins makes an appearance, as does cryptocurrency. Vi is less than impressed as they attempt to keep the conversation on track. Watch Xeno's previous call here: https://youtu.be/BpzOzIUNouI 45:18Repeat theist caller Relic returns to ask if humanity yearns for armageddon? The hosts break down why the current Western understanding of the “end of the world” exists today: as a theological invention of the 1980's heightened by the Cold War. Here's the book referenced, in case you'd like to check it out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conspiracy_Against_the_Human_Race 56:41This caller wants to know why we hate God and why all atheists are communists. An old-school theist slapdown in the OG style, Eric is having none of it. Jay is cornered at every turn, ends up ranting, and then hangs up on the hosts. Vi also indulges in a bit of a dick-measuring contest and throws an ENORMOUS Bible onto the desk to prove a point. If you want to watch the video Eric referenced, click here: https://youtu.be/w5aZXXx3E6U 1:18:22 This caller is an ex-Bahai deconvert who is recently out as an atheist. He says he lost everything and is struggling to find community, as his faith is not one often discussed on atheist YouTube. The hosts direct him to the Discord, where hopefully he'll be able to find some people who share his experience. If you're interested in joining the Discord, you should check it out here: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We're back and ready to take your calls! What are your deeply held beliefs? Let us know at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Meet Eric's Mom!! 05:08 - Should Humans Stop Giving Birth? - Chaos (she/they) - UK 18:45 - Will Modern Parenting Solve War? - David (they/him) - NC 25:56 - A Cup of Tea, Therefore God? - Robert (he/him) - MA 42:46 - Do Atheists "Evangelize"? - Relic (he/him) - TX 1:07:41 - How Do I Escape Evangelists? - Wolfos (he/him) - TX 1:16:53 - Is “Community” A Bad Word? - madi (they/them) - NY 00:00 Eric's parents are in town and his mom stops by to say hello to all you wonderful internet people!05:08 We've had our fair share of anti-natalist callers on this show, but this conversation gets deeper into the weeds. Is it OK to make a moral decision against having kids? Is it acceptable to make that decision for others? What are the limits of this philosophical concept and when does following it get ridiculous? 18:45 This is a quick call with a big claim: modern parenting creates a more rational, empathetic child, which is in turn decreasing war and violence in the world. Is that true? Eric and Vi have their doubts, but want to know your thoughts. 25:56 Aren't apologetics Facebook groups fun? This caller wants help dissecting an argument given to him by a theist: if a cup of tea cannot make itself, the universe cannot either. That feels wrong, but what are the reasons for it? Vi lists off the numerous fallacies this argument falls into, while Eric approaches from a more diplomatic angle. 42:46Repeat theist caller Relic says many atheists evangelize and are dogmatic in their argument tactics. Is this a problem that the hosts see as well, and how is Skeptic Generation trying to be different? Eric encourages a charitable understanding of others, and Vi explains why so many atheists may fall into “evangelizing” methods of communication due to previous religious indoctrination and training. 1:07:41Have you ever gotten stuck behind the counter at your job being evangelized to for two hours? This caller has! The hosts agonize with him as he describes his cringey encounter, and provide suggestions on how to escape next time you get bogged down by someone wanting to talk about how much they love Jesus. 1:16:53Why do online groups call themselves “communities”? Doesn't that misrepresent how close or united they actually are? Madi asks for clarification, and Eric and Vi offer their guidelines for when a community is valuable and valid, and when it might be harmful or even abusive. How do you navigate a community you've built without relying on parasocial power dynamics? How do you find people you can rely on in real life simply by engaging online? ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

The age-old wisdom of YouTube has always been "Don't read the comments." Well, we do. And Eric has some thoughts. Let's dive into the background of why we do what we do! Then, of course, we'll want to hear your thoughts. Call us at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Reads The Comments 13:51 - Is Sam Harris Dishonest? - David (they/him) - NC 26:08 - Vi Being A Pessimist for 10 Minutes - Nick (he/him) - TN 39:33 - Theist Says Atheists Strawman Religion - Joe (he/him) - KS 49:37 - Is Naturopathy Connected to Creationism? - Theresa (she/her) - DE 54:13 - Is Military Conscription Immoral? - Rae (they/them) - UK 1:02:44 - Can Atheists Marry Religious People? - Wolfos (he/him) - TX 1:12:54 - Theist Asks for Our Best Argument Against God - Luc (he/him) - QC 00:00Eric has read the comments under our YouTube videos this week, and has some thoughts about a question he received. Why do we engage with callers in the way that we do? What are the unspoken rules of Skeptic Generation? What can listeners take away from these conversations? 13:51 This caller has been reading some of Sam Harris's work, and is troubled by his apparent dishonesty toward dealing with Christianity and Islam. Is one actually worse than the other? Is it bad to call out leaders in the movement for causing potential harm? So many questions, so little time. Vi shares their take on the situation, and invites Sam Harris to call in. 26:08 Is the world getting better? This caller inspires a heated conversation about the march of progress between the hosts, with Eric taking the optimistic position and Vi being perhaps a tad pessimistic. Can you blame them, after this week? Who do you agree with, do you think that the world is getting consistently better over time? 39:33 Return theist caller Joe asks us for our opinion on atheists that strawman religious people, and how progressive churches factor into that conversation. Vi and Eric point out that the instinct to equate atheism with any other worldview is dangerous, and we should all be holding our sides accountable for using good arguments. 49:37 This pharmacy student in the UK has a theory: the gravitation towards things like essential oils is directly connected to creationism. They both use the appeal to nature fallacy in order to suggest that the world was designed for humans. The hosts are impressed, and point out that in addition to this, the term “natural” is very much up to interpretation. 54:13 A pertinent topic for this week, the hosts are asked about conscription and whether or not it is a matter of morality or bodily autonomy. Vi goes off as they explain why it's such a timely matter these days, and Eric admits that he might be a bit out of his depth in this one. 1:02:44 Repeat caller Wolfos has heard from both Christians and atheists that he and his wife shouldn't have gotten married due to their different stances on religion. However, they have been happily married for almost thirty years. How did he manage it? What should he keep in mind when talking to those who would judge his relationship, from either side of the religious aisle? 1:12:54This theist wants to know if Vi and Eric have an argument against the existence of God. Vi admits that they don't, and passes the mic to Eric. This call may have the most giggling of any we've taken, despite the fraught nature of the topic. Luc has promised to call back to continue to hold our philosophical feet to the fire. Let's see if he does! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We're back on our ranty horse this week. This time, Vi will be discussing (well, more like outright mocking) the debacle surrounding the botched baptism spell and how God might be sending an entire generation of Catholics to damnation. Have you had a religious ritual go horribly wrong? Are you scared your baptism may not have stuck? Call us at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and we'll laugh with you. Definitely not at you. Definitely not. Skeptic Generation also had the honor of participating in and donating to the recent fundraiser for Recovering from Religion hosted by @YFNA . If you would like to help donate, the fundraiser is still going and they're less than two grand away from their goal: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/recovering-from-religion/fundraiser-for-recovering-from-religion-yfna-year-two Learn more about what Recovering from Religion does at https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org For more information on how to get access to exclusive patron benefits, visit https://patreon.com/skepticgeneration ___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Needs To Talk About Priests vs Pronouns 13:40 - Theist Says We're Infected With Sin! - Scott (he/him) - NC 45:04 - Theist Gives Us A Cringey History Lesson - Wingo (he/him) - IL 58:25 - Do Catholics Do Magic? - David (they/him) - NC 1:07:40 - A Brief Call with A Nice Person - Joanne (she/her) - FL1:09:54 - If God Exists, Sin Is Moral? - Jay (he/him) - VI 1:19:50 - The Universe: Is It Even Worth It? - Phoenix (they/them) - TN00:00 Did the Catholic Church just cancel itself for using the wrong pronouns? Vi breaks down a recent news article about an Arizona priest who resigned after using the wrong words in the rite of baptism. Now a whole generation of Catholic kids might be in jeopardy of hell! Turns out God cares even more about someone using the wrong pronouns than trans people do. For more information on this outrageously ironic news story, check out this article by AP: https://apnews.com/article/arizona-priest-baptism-catholic-church-208c6795fbf2dea911cf4488e8a5925e 13:40 Scott calls back to tell us we have a sinful nature, and explain to us how we got infected by the spiritual disease of total depravity. Eric cuts right to the heart of the issue with a skeptical scalpel and doesn't let up. No fluffy metaphorical language allowed, we want cold hard facts and crystal clear evidence. Because the implications of accepting the idea of sin without them are dire. 45:04Is Jesus the reason we can book international airplane flights? This theist caller tries to explain how religion was and is used as a tool by society. He starts off well, but gets a few crucial things wrong. Eric corrects some important misinformation while Vi cringes out of their skin and simply has none of it.58:25What is the Catholic Church's take on magic? Well, officially, participants of the religion would probably deny it. But upon closer look, this caller says their study of world religions has led them to believe Catholicism is based on a magical structure. Vi agrees, and recommends the book Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas for a closer look at how the Church embraced magic in the Middle Ages. Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Religion-Decline-Magic-Sixteenth-Seventeenth-Century/dp/0140137440 1:07:40Joanne called in to talk about spirituality and the subconscious, but had to leave shortly after the conversation began. We look forward to speaking with her again soon! 1:09:54Does this caller actually have a new way to defeat the religious moral argument using three simple syllogisms? The hosts are intrigued by the proposition, and by the claim supported by the argument: that if God exists, sin is moral. Eric wants to graph this out, and Vi is tickled at the idea of using apologetics against apologists. What do you think, are you convinced? 1:19:50Why even is the universe? Eric and Vi talk with a caller who asks what the point of existence is if suffering will always outweigh pleasure? Vi gets really excited about the philosophical implications of this line of thought, but Eric pushes back with some good points about how some suffering actually increases one's appreciation for pleasurable things. ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

This past week, Vi appeared on Genetically Modified Skeptic's channel to review the series Midnight Mass. Today, they are calling all the righteously indignant to call in and chat about magical healing blood (and other such notions): 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. To watch the Midnight Mass review, follow this link: https://youtu.be/kQ-Xt-q9qHw For more information on how to get access to exclusive patron benefits, visit https://patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 07:00 - Nonbeliever Feels Guilty Going to Church - Rachel (they/them) - UK 18:09 - Midnight Mass Misrepresented Catholics - Charismatic Catholic (he/him) - TX 25:16 - Atheists Destroy The Concept of Love - Nick (he/him) - TN33:46 - Is Criticizing the Old Testament Anti-Semitic? - Josh (he/him) - CA 48:52 - Druid Says Spirits Talk To Him - Relic (he/him) - TX 1:12:25 - Why Waste Time With Presups? - Tom (he/him) - GA 07:00 Can a nonbeliever still go to church and enjoy themself? This caller is feeling conflicted and guilty for attending services as an atheist. Vi and Eric discuss how indoctrination reshapes the brain to want certain things, but how there is no rule about what atheists can and cannot do or feel. If this is what Rachel knows they need, they should feel comfortable exploring it. 18:09 This Catholic caller has feelings about the show Midnight Mass, which Vi reviewed alongside Genetically Modified Skeptic earlier this week. He doesn't think the show accurately depicted Catholic thought or motivation.If you're interested in hearing the full breakdown of Midnight Mass, hop over to Drew's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ-Xt...25:16 In Valentine's Day fashion, Nick calls in to discuss the concept of love from a skeptical point of view. Is there such a thing as “the one”? How about “soulmates”? What do the hosts think? Vi and Eric get vulnerable about how they view love, how that view impacts their relationship, and where the real beauty comes from. Hint: It's not God. 33:46 Why might some people say criticizing the Old Testament is anti-semitic? Vi points out that understanding the history of anti-semitism and deadly prejudice stemming from a misrepresentation of the Hebrew Bible is crucial. Eric emphasizes that you may not be aware you're repeating harmful talking points, and to always make sure you're explicit in your critique of ideas, not people. As good skeptics, we know the best way to find out if your perception of a thing is wrong is to talk to the experts! In this case, a good next step for anyone asking this kind of question would be to talk to Jewish scholars and theologians to discuss what misconceptions about the Hebrew Bible exist in modern Christian thought. If you're interested in learning more about Israel Finkelstein per Eric's suggestion, check out his page here: https://israelfinkelstein.wordpress.com/ 48:52This druid caller communicates with spirits, including the Goddess Freya. Vi and Eric are confused and do their best to get to the bottom of things. What are spirits? How do they talk to us? Can you get to personal enlightenment without spiritual help? 1:12:25Why do the hosts take presup callers? Isn't it just a waste of time? Eric breaks down what makes a good call, while Vi weighs in on whether dishonest tactics are allowed in arguments with dishonest people. What do you think? ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Today we are hoping to talk to some fishers of men. Some good old salty dogs just waiting for Christ himself to start backseat driving flounder straight into their nets. Are you confused? So are we, but don't worry... we'll explain. Come tell us your fish stories at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. You can watch Eric review Thomas Westbrook's debate on Holy Koolaid here-https://youtu.be/ybQE9gIeLJ4For more information on how to get access to exclusive patron benefits, visit https://patreon.com/skepticgeneration___________________TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Needs To Talk About Jesus Commanding The Fish 11:30 - Eric Defends His Position on The Cosmological Argument - Chaos (he/they) - UK30:13 - JRobin Is Back… Has He Learned His Lesson? - Robin (he/him) - DC1:05:59 - Determinism Is As Ridiculous As Religion - Joe (he/him) - KS1:18:16 - We Have To Come From Something! - Xeno (he/him) - SK00:00 Vi has a bone to pick with a really bad tweet they found over the week and wants to share exactly why this kind of fluffy, Christian mumbo jumbo is wrong. Also, is Jesus Aquaman? We dive in here. If you want to see the hosts react to other cringeworthy takes, tweet them @SkepticShow with your candidate for next week! 11:30 This polytheist caller pushes Eric to explain why the Kalam cosmological argument is wrong. Is there a reason to dismiss it entirely or should we simply be suspending belief? The hosts break it down. 30:13Back after a long period of silence, Eric and Vi allow JRobin back on the show in the hopes that he has learned more. They are deeply disappointed when he jumps straight back into his scripts, but this time they aren't letting him get away so fast. While Eric embodies compassionate listening to model honest communication, Vi goes for the jugular. 1:05:59Hard determinism is just as absurd as some religious claims, says this deist caller. Eric admits that the idea that we don't have free will is scary, but that shouldn't be enough to keep us from exploring all options. Vi suggests claims feel absurd or strange when they have not been reinforced by our surrounding community, or seem to contradict “common sense.” 1:18:16 Apparently this deist caller has been banned from other call-in shows, but he's calling in today to explain why we *have* to have come from a God. Eric and Vi dive into the difference between asking “how” versus asking “why,” and whether defining things as God is useful at all. This is the start of what will hopefully be a longer conversation next week! ___________________Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22MerchHelp with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.