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The hosts unveil FFRF’s new bus sign campaign, debuting in February in Madison, Wis.,(and going around the nation as funds permit), including memorable quotations by freethinkers, including Richard Dawkins. Interviewed will be Foundation member Paul T. Rappel, who will talk about why he decided to stand up and become a plaintiff in FFRF’s new federal lawsuit challenging a 62-year nativity scene violation by Manitowoc County, Wis, an ultra-conservative spot.
Topics include Inaugural Religion
Commentary and clips from the Presidential Inauguration, and an update on the Newdow inaugural prayer lawsuit, will precede an interview with Jason Torpy, president of the Military Associatio of Atheists and Freethinkers.
Topic: State/Church Separation Activism
The broadcast will include guest Ed Hensley, one of 10 plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed to challenge a Kentucky law requiring the state Department of Homeland Security to stress dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth.” Also interviewed will be the Foundation’s new staff attorney, Rebecca Kratz, who will report on ending several major state/church violations this month, including Christian proselytization of service men and women in Iraq, as well as religious violations in public schools in California and Florida.”
Topics: Stem-Cell Research: The Future, and Update on Inaugural Prayer Challenge
The featured guest will be filmmaker Jessica Gerstle, whose movie, The Accidental Advocate,” chronicles the moving quest of her surgeon father, Claude Gerstle, who was recently paralyzed, to seek answers on stem-cell research and what is holding it up. Jessica will address the complex barriers to full stem-cell research, thanks to religious-right incursions into the federal bureaucracy. The hosts will also update the new inaugural prayer challenge and discuss the dangers of politicians, such as Roland W. Burris, believing they are “anointed by God.””
The Inaugural Challenge
Plus State/Church Year in Review
A lively wrap-up of 2008, with audio clips of funny or infuriating moments by would-be theocrats of 2008, will be followed by an interview of state/church watchdog Mike Newdow about the new federal challenge of inaugural prayers. A brief remembrance of freethinkers who died in 2008, and the song Dear God,” by XTC, will also be featured.”
The hosts will discuss what’s wrong with prayer at the Inauguration, and with Rev. Rick Warren in particular to lead that invocation. For a relaxing end of the year show, they will play some irreverent theatrical clips on religion, including one comedic jibe at homophobic religion, and end the show with a nod to infidel Robert Burns and his famous Aulde Lang Syne.
Topic: What’s an atheist doing conducting The Messiah?”?
Distinguished chorale and orchestral conductor David Randolph, an atheist and the oldest person, at nearly 94, to conduct at Carnegie Hall, will be the guest, talking about how music has no religion, among other topics. The co-hosts will play an excerpt from The Stephen Colbert Show’s coverage of FFRF’s Washington Capitol Winter Solstice display, and discuss FFRF’s just-filed lawsuit over an unlawful creche on courthouse grounds in Manitowoc, Wis., including lively media coverage clips.”
Comedian and actress Julia Sweeney talks about the long-awaited recent release of her brilliant one-woman show, Letting Go of God,” as a movie, and the hosts play clips from lots of national TV coverage of FFRF’s solstice display at the Washington State Capitol in covering that ongoing saga!”
Topic: The Winter Solstice – The Reason for the Season
Dan and Annie Laurie will announce various Winter Solstice initiatives of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, air news clips about FFRF Winter Solstice Displays at State Capitols and its new Reason’s Greetings” billboards (including Bill O’Reilly ranting against them), and play a little tongue in cheek seasonal music. They will also interview scholar and author Barbara G. Walker, about the real meaning of the season and everything they didn’t teach you about the origins of “Christmas” in Sunday School! Walker is Freethought Today’s columnist and author of the monumental Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets.”
