Podcasts about Freedom from religion

We announce two new lawsuits this week that FFRF is taking with a coalition of state/church groups. The first challenges the placement of statues of Catholic saints at the entrance of the public safety building in Quincy, Massachusetts. The second challenges a new Texas measure that mandates the placement of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Then, we speak with Pulitzer Prize finalist Rollo Romig, author of the book I Am on the Hit List: A Journalist's Murder and the Rise of Autocracy in India.

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com

The new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has insulted "practical atheists," but it is really his own church that needs to apologize for bad behavior. After hearing Dan Barker's song "The Battle of Church and State," we speak with FFRF's Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne and Regional Governmental Affairs Manager Mickey Dollens about the many "good, bad & ugly" state/church bills at the state level.

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 6:1-; Apg 19:28; Apg 4:23-

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Apg 4:24-32; 2:1-; Gal 6:3-; Spr 6:16-19

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 6:1-; Hebr 13:7/17; 2.Tim 3:15-16; 1.Kor 12:20-

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 6:1-; Eph 4:11-16; 2.Kor 3:16

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 6:1-; Jh 10:1; 1.Mose 3:5; Phil 4:11-13; Ps 55:23; 1.Petr 5:7

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 6:1-; Jh 10:1; 1.Mose 3:5; Phil 4:11-13; Ps 55:23; 1.Petr 5:7

Today InPerspective with Dr. Harry Reeder April 23, 2025

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com

After a roundup of state/church news around the country, we celebrate the birthday of Eric Idle, 82, (who calls himself an "old agnostic") by listening to his irreverent song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," from the movie "Monty Python's Life of Brian." Then, professor and author Josh Cowen tells us about his book The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 5:13-19

Series: Beyond The SurfaceTitle: Freedom from ReligionDate: 03/23/2025Week 4 of 4Give to the mission of Prairie Heightshttps://prairieheights.com/give

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 5:13-16

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com

From Faith To Faith To The Nations Ministries - Nürnbergerstr. 7 - 90762 Fürth - Deutschland - info@fffnations.de www.fffnations.com Gal 4:30-31; 5:1-

“When I use the title ‘freedom from religion' do you assume I'm suggesting we leave get rid of these institutions?” In today's podcast and post I'll discuss the next institutional authority that must be subverted if we truly desire freedom in our lives. The only way to fix our faith is to accurately define religion and then become free […] The post Fix Your Faith 6: Freedom From Religion appeared first on Keven Winder.

We announce the first atheist billboard in Africa! We report on a tsunami of Christian nationalist bills and executive orders at the federal and state levels, including Texas, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa and Tennessee. In honor of Valentine's Day, we hear Dan Barker's secular love song "It's Only Natural." Then sociology Professor Ryan T. Cragun, author of Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization, shows us, with data, that religious people are not happier, healthier or more moral than nonreligious people.

Do you follow the Bible or do you follow rules given to you by your church? Jesus never approved of religion or legalism but He was born into a time when there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law who didn't like what Jesus was offering:  Freedom FROM Religion and Legalism!

Do you follow the Bible or do you follow rules given to you by your church? Jesus never approved of religion or legalism but He was born into a time when there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law who didn't like what Jesus was offering:  Freedom FROM Religion and Legalism!

The first half of our show this week deals with the many Christian nationalist executive orders and actions of the Trump administration. We hear part of the "Stop Project 2025" rally in Madison, Wis. Then, we listen to Black/Latino atheist actor Jon Huertas, best known for playing Miguel Rivas in NBC's "This is Us," as he spoke to FFRF's Denver convention about “True Freedom: Breaking The Shackles Of Religious Indoctrination.”

We listen to Seth Andrews, host of “The Thinking Atheist” podcast, read Dan Barker's article “The Top 10 Absolute Worst Old Testament Verses.” Then, we hear Washington Post columnist Kate Cohen's entertaining and thought-provoking speech at FFRF's 2024 convention called “Tampon Tim and the Long Reach of Religion.”

The Winter Solstice (December 21 this year) is the real reason for the season. We celebrate this festive time of year with music and freethought humor, including songs and performances by Kristin Lems, Dan Barker, Tim Minchin, Roy Zimmerman, Irving Berlin, Trey Parker, Tom Lehrer, the London Humanist Choir, Ken Lonnquist and Brent Michael Davids.

After covering state/church news in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, West Virginia and Minnesota, we celebrate "Bill of Rights Day" (Dec. 15) by hearing Dan Barker's song "The Battle of Church and State." Then, we speak with renowned biblical scholar John J. Collins of Yale Divinity School about his book, Does the Bible Justify Violence?

Freedom from Religion and Rules Justin Domino November 24, 2024 by New Hope Community Church

After reporting on state/church news and victories in Florida, California, and North Carolina, FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott describes FFRF's new lawsuit challenging proposed bible distribution in Oklahoma public schools. Then, we hear author and journalist Katherine Stewart accepting FFRF's "Freethought Heroine" award, warning of the dangers of religious nationalism.

We announce FFRF's new lawsuit against bible-toting Oklahoma state Superintendent Ryan Walters. Producer Leo Costello interviews "Democracy in Chains" author Nancy MacLean, who is touring with "Bad Faith" documentary screenings. And veteran reporter Linda Greenhouse tells us how some justices are engaging in "grievance Christianity."

After reporting state/church news in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Alaska, we devote a segment to the dangers of the proposed Christian-right authoritarian "Project 2025." Then, we hear the engaging speech by Ron Reagan (son of the former president) given at FFRF's annual convention last month, where he tells us about the authoritarian threats to our planet and to democracy -- and what we can do about those threats.

FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliot and FFRF Legal Fellow Hirsh Joshi join us to talk about state-church developments in Utah, Alabama, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee and Minnesota. Then, we speak with Michigan State University Professor Josh Cowen about his new book, The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.

After news updates, the hosts recap the "Celebrate Dissent" conference in Oslo about ex-Muslims. Annie Laurie Gaylor then interviews co-host Dan Barker about Contraduction, his new book on "the death of the Design Argument."

After summarizing secular activism and victories around the country, we talk about secularism and Hindu nationalism in India (the world's largest secular democracy) with our two guests: activist Shabnam Hashmi from India and Professor Barry A. Kosmin from here in the United States. Interspersed through the show is the music of freethinking jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker, whose birth anniversary we celebrate today.

We announce FFRF's Chicago billboard saying "Keep Freedom Alive: Stop Project 2025." After reporting state/church complaints and victories in Texas, Missouri, Florida, and Arkansas, we announce FFRF Action Fund's "Secularist of the Week." Then, we take a time machine back to 2006, our first year of broadcast, to hear our first interview with philosopher Daniel C. Dennett, the year of release of his blockbuster book Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon.

After reporting on efforts to keep state and church separate in Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Florida, we get acquainted with FFRF's new multimedia producer Leo Costello. Then, South Carolina humanist and atheist debater Herb Silverman, founder and president emeritus of the Secular Coalition for America, tells us "How to talk to Christians."

After reporting on state/church news around the country, FFRF's Senior Counsel Sam Grover tells us about the FFRF court victory against the Texas governor that took nine years to finalize! We hear the song "Because" by Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir. Then, we speak with "Reverend Billy" (William Talen), the "pastor" of the secular Earth Church in New York City who uses performance art to combat consumerism and save the planet.

We describe our legal efforts to gain information about the attempt by the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Education to put the bible into every classroom, and similar attempts in Tennessee to inject religion into government. We hear Rupert Brooke's poem "Heaven" (from the point of view of a fish) set to music by Dan Barker. Then we talk with Cara Fitzpatrick, author of the new book, The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America.

Project 2025 and "divine intervention" are discussed, as well as state/church complaints and victories in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Illinois, New Jersey and Tennessee. FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Sammi Lawrence joins us to talk about our legal victory allowing a nonreligious after-school group to meet on campus alongside the religious Good News Club in Memphis, Tennessee. Then we talk with evolutionary psychologist Will M. Gervais about his new book Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species.

Christian nationalist rhetoric is heating up, especially regarding the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. We report on a state/church victory in Tennessee and state/church complaints in New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana. After hearing a hilarious take on the bible by comedian Robin Williams, we speak with Cait West, author of the new book RIFT: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy.

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss France's ongoing struggle between the French State and organized religion. Their embrace of laïcité, which is best translated as secularism, means they really have adopted a freedom from religion mentality within the public sphere. This goes well beyond the idea of separation of church and state, and sets very tight restrictions on religious expression in public places. Episode Links As the start of the 2024 Olympics in Paris rapidly approaches, the French laïcité will undoubtedly face challenges as the ban on religious symbols may prompt some French athletes to rebel. For a good article on this topic, we suggest that you read “From schools to the Olympics, how France's staunch secularism affects religion in public life,” by Giovanna Dell'Orto. Another article that came up several times in today's conversation is worth the time to read as well: “Why Is France so Afraid of God?” by Rachel Donadio. This is not the first time that the podcast has centered around the interaction of religion and politics in the public sphere. In case you missed these past episodes, be sure to check out: CCP112: On January 6 and the Fastest Growing Christian Movement in America, CCP46: On the Clash over Religious Freedom and CCP37: On Christian Nationalism. Today's discussion also went into a bit of a history lesson on the Enlightenment and French Revolution. As Alexis noted, the importance of understanding history and its impact on the cultural trends of our day was something that Dr. White highlighted in another past episode: CCP73: On Becoming a Student of Culture. For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.

We report on FFRF's efforts to keep Christian nationalists in check around the country. Honoring the anniversary of the birth of the anti-fascist singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie, we hear the funk/soul version of "This Land is Your Land" performed by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Then, FFRF's Legal Director Patrick Elliott describes our lawsuit challenging the Louisiana law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in all public-school classrooms and our efforts to rein in Oklahoma's Christian nationalist State Superintendent of Public Education.

Paul and Ashley share moments on their journey of freedom from religion and how they are looking forward emotionally and spiritually. Also discuss how to keep one's head as dark moments such as SCOTUS ruling this week and discuss a new fave YouTube show @antibot

The Christian nationalist "Project 2025" and the Ten Commandments are the focus of this week's show. We hear Dan Barker's song "We, The People," challenging the notion that we are "one nation, under God." Then sociologist and author Samuel L. Perry, author The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy, describes the clear and present danger of mixing religion and government.

We celebrate the 96th birthday of the Broadway composer Charles Strouse, a lifelong atheist, by hearing the protest song he wrote for the musical "Golden Boy," "No More," sung by Sammy Davis Jr. We also reprise part of our 2009 interview with Strouse. Then we speak with Professor Anthony B. Pinn about his new book, The Black Practice of Disbelief: An Introduction to the Principles, History, and Communities of Black Nonbelievers.

A judge ruled that our lawsuit challenging an Oklahoma religious charter school can continue. FFRF Director of Communications Amitabh Pal tells us about the national election results in India, which have weakened the threat of Hindu nationalism. Then we speak with novelist Amy Sohn about her book on Anthony Comstock, The Man Who Hated Women: Sex, Censorship, and Civil Liberties in the Gilded Age.

Today's guest, philosophy Professor Patrick J. Hurley, discusses his insightful new book, Religion, Power and Illusion: A Genealogy of Religious Belief. And FFRF Legal Fellow Hirsh Joshi talks about how an FFRF complaint caused a Minnesota jail to repaint — and hopefully repent — over a massive Ten Commandments display.

After reporting on state/church separation in Alabama, Florida and Arizona, and on blasphemy, book banning and abortion, we hear the optimistic song "Workin' on a World" by Iris DeMent. Then, we speak with NPR Correspondent Sarah McCammon about her new book The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church.

FFRF attorney Sam Grover joins us to describe our newest amicus brief ("friend of the court") over an Arizona school board member who refuses to stop pushing her religion at the meetings. We announce FFRF's "Godless Gospel" musical show to be performed in Manhattan June 24 and 25 (and hear a sneak preview). Then, we speak with Adam Neiblum, author of the book Rise of the Nones: The Importance of Freedom from Religion.