Thank God I'm Atheist

Guest host Andrea fills in for Frank. Coach Dave's fundraising scheme, a ruling on if a Catholic school can fire a gay man, some faith leaders aren't horrible on abortion, Mexico proves it's better than Texas, a Norwegian church holds an unusual ceremony, a Spanish bishop finds a good reason to leave the clergy, and Dan and Andrea discuss Harvard Law Today's take on polyamory (and reveal some stuf...

Guest host Kate joins Dan for a religious news roundup: Kat Kerr can't control weather, Los Angeles forced to pay damages to a church for trying to keep their parishioners safe against their will, Christian network fires senior VP Dan Darling for encouraging intelligence, Myanmar is slightly less awful than they could have been, Ken Ham hoards all the Jesus for Earthlings, a new deity takes out hi...

Zambian pastor's stunt leads to death, church in Australia fined for violating COVID restrictions, more Americans accept evolution than don't (FINALLY), Harvard has a new chaplain, the Taliban attempts to protect women (from the Taliban), belief in aliens, and a Mormon leader is gunning for dissenting professors at BYU. 

Anti-vax cardinal on ventilator, COVID-denying pastor dead, inmate on Texas death row asks for pastor to join him during execution, thousands of new molestation cases emerge, whistleblower shares his story about Mormon funds, a Baptist university cancels far right event, and the Mormon prophet goes on the record encouraging the vaccine and calls of 'false prophet' emerge.

McDonald's advertising entices woman to sin, anti-gay 'treatment' group forced to pay $3.5 million in court case, 'moderate' Norwegian imam in trouble over antisemitic comments, Indonesian military ends virginity test for female recruits, Turkmenistan finds new way to enforce VPN ban, Christian group calls on Fisher-Price to modify one specific playset, and Christians scramble to find religious ju...

Wedding website designer loses case, Kent Hovind gets arrested, atheists face intolerance at work (says study), Israel's gold medalist can't marry, megachurch still designated a hate group (says court), romance novel loses award, and our musings on men who always think they're right. 

More priests defend the indefensible with Canadian residential schools, the Museum of the Bible is in hot water... again, Missouri clergy jump on the vax train, meanwhile vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. is dropping (even among the religious!), new curriculum among New Zealand Maori rankles scientists, and Anchorage loses a strip club and gains some Jesus. Also- will somebody get Frank an Ark?

A new holiday hits Utah, abortion rights activists fight new Texas law, a top US official in the Catholic Church outed for Grindr use, women sue Liberty University, Alaska assistant attorney general outed as a Deseret nationalist (a far right, Mormon hate group), robots go to Hajj, and a discussion about Mormons and their wacky underwear. 

Woman lets god drive and he wrecks her car, it turns out the Southern Baptist Convention isn't liberal after all, an alternative to traditional burial draws Catholic opposition, highest EU court rules that employers can restrict religious apparel, new numbers about religion in America, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus causes controversy, and a chat about Bible translations.

A fatwa group declares fatwa about video games, a Florida couple sues school, the Catholic Church plays poor to avoid paying residential school survivors, a Canadian archbishop cries persecution, India jails activists for speaking undeniable truth about cow poop, the US Supreme Court refuses to hear religious bigotry case, and the Mormon Church quietly changes their doctrine about Mormons becoming...

Nigerian state bans mannequins, a Canadian priest is in hot water over defense of residential schools, Missouri offers itself up as a delta variant test case, Pat Robertson misunderstands what critical race theory is, an Air Force fighter pilot is suspended over refusal to wear a mask, a new conspiracy theory emerges about Bill Gates, and a discussion about some cute little cults and how religion...

Exorcism at the Home Depot, Mississippi license plates, Italian prime minister stands up to Catholic Church, anglicans subject school children to a lesson in misogyny, a nun gets ejected from convent, Jim Bakker in hot water (again), and the Mormon Church slips up and calls its members "customers."

Mormon 'American Idol' star comes out as LGBTQIA+, news from the Southern Baptist Convention, Michigan governor ends government funding of 'conversion therapy,' a new rug for the forgetful Muslim, Florida now requires daily moment of silence in schools, a mysterious donation to hate preacher, and the very strange ideas people have about god.

Drought-burdened Utah gets a little rain during weekend of prayer, two new christian apps, Uyghurs deported from Muslim countries, a hateful Nigerian pastor goes away, Burger King taunts Chick-Fil-A with support of LGBTQ organization, hats off to Justin Trudeau for calling out the pope, and the story of Noah's ark is just plain stupid.

High school coaches force Jewish student to eat pork, indigenous schools in Canada, Louisiana votes to honor aborted fetuses, Catholics release new rule priests, Texas enacts law to target anyone aiding in abortions, high-profile anti-vaxxer goes to hospital with COVID-19, and Utah's governor tries to end drought with a weekend of prayer.

Wheaton College disposes of offensive plaque, Southern Baptist numbers decline significantly, fetuses flee to Ohio town for safety, street artist takes on Vatican, Legos celebrates diversity, the shocking case of Saudi Arabia continues, and a discussion about religious titles and how we feel about honoring them.

Saudi Arabia opens up a little to non-Muslims, why college turns people secular, 'religious knives' in Australia, abusive summer camp for future ministers, Muslims boycott White House celebration, anti-vaccine conspiracies come from the same twelve people, and the Christians are about to get everything they've ever wanted.

A god has died, German Priests defy Vatican, Hindu sect engages in forced labor, shop owner hides crosses in furniture, Lutherans ordain new bishop, Southern Baptists ordain new pastors, and we try to give some credit were credit is due (with a couple of caveats). 

A stampede at an Israeli festival leads to dozens of deaths, Mormons and the COVID-19 vaccine, evangelicals promise to terrify Democrats, atheist 'prayers' at council meetings lead to similar responses in Florida, antisemitic crimes up in Germany, Jerry Falwell Jr. promises big party for graduates, and a discussion about Josh Duggar and why we usually don't talk about stories of religious types se...

This week, Kate fills in while Frank takes a much needed vacation, and tells us about leaving the church she had indoctrinated her children into. Catholic bishops are mad at Joe Biden, a Canadian MP tries to defend conversion therapy but ends up with a hashtag, bleach drinking "church" indicted and more! Find Kate and her amazing art on Instagram and TikTok @kebirch

Liberty University wants its money back, activists seek more accurate Poland census, Bavaria orders secular crosses hung in public buildings, Pakistan calls on West to criminalize blasphemy against Islam, study finds poor health outcomes for women in sexist churches, Facebook announces a new prayer feature, and Richard Dawkins' fall from grace.

US Supreme Court continues push to officially establish Christianity as state religion, Mormon sex therapist faces excommunication for promoting sexual health, a Hindu holiday poses public health threat in India, bigger and better Jesus coming to a Brazilian town near you, Mormon Church growth slows, Planned Parenthood announces new board members, and a discussion about Mormon men and their odd pu...

Tennessee wants to expand eligibility to serve in legislature (in a bad way), RCMP close down church in Alberta, Alabama allows atheists to vote, god worshipped by cargo cult dies, t-shirt angers Muslims in Kenya, COVID-19 vaccine required for entry to Mecca, and Mormon prophet has a message for anyone doubting Mormonism, "you're lazy."

Catholic Church lobbied against suicide prevention hotline, Christian schools reconsider mascots, new Arkansas law allows medical workers to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people, Panera Bread discriminates again pagan worker, fewer than half of Americans now belong to a church, a Christian school apologizes for the wrong thing, and a discussion about heaven and hell.

Jehovah's Witnesses face fines in Belgium, bakery faces another lawsuit, a US Air Force shooting range disrupts meditation, a poll of American values, Franklin Graham promotes vaccination, Texas lawmakers consider new HOA rules, and a wealthy former Mormon sues LDS Church over accusations of fraudulently using tithing money.