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Features an interview with Prof. Daniel C. Dennett, eminent Tufts University philosopher and author of the new book explaining the natural phenomenon of religion, Breaking the Spell. The show also excerpts a short highlight of Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg’s recent talk urging other scientists at the Salk Institute to help him wake up the world to the nightmare of religion. Freethinkers Almanac pays homage to Mark Twain. (MP3, 51 min, 23.1 MB)
Features an interview with Ron Reagan, who talks about what it is like to be the atheist son of Ronald Wilson Reagan, and about why he is working for stem-cell research. The show also gives a nod to the recent atheist pronouncements of entertainer Elton John. (MP3, 50 min, 23 MB)
Features an interview with Tom Reed, formerly a Roman Catholic priest, now a longtime Freedom From Religion Foundation member and atheist. In his honor, the featured song is Dan Barker’s version of Tom Lehrer’s Vatican Rag.” The November birthday anniversaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Robert Louis Stevenson are celebrated in Freethinkers Almanac. Photo by Brent Nicastro (MP3, 47 min, 21 MB)”
Features a memorable interview with distinguished TV journalist and author, Betty Rollin. The award-winning former NBC correspondent is now a reporter for PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. Author of First You Cry” and “Final Wishes,” Ms. Rollin talks movingly about the need for physician-assisted suicide and the Oregon law. Phil Och’s song “When I’m Gone” is performed by folksinger Kristin Lems, and famous freethinkers born this week are discussed along with a little referendum news. (MP3, 52 min, 24 MB)”
Features an interview with Mike McCabe, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, who has filed a complaint to the State Election Board about electioneering by Bishop Morlino, Madison (Wis.) diocese, among other church electioneering concerns about upcoming referenda. The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s major victory ending a proposal to start single faith” prison programs in federal penitentiaries is discussed. The show features reaction to Chuck Colson’s recent defamation of groups seeking to end public-funded ministries in prisons. (MP3, 50 min, 22.5 MB)”
Features an interview with author and science popularizer Ann Druyan, who was married to Carl Sagan, and co-wrote and co-produced the movie, Contact,” based on Carl Sagan’s novel. Ms. Druyan has written the foreward to a new book by Sagan appearing in November, The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God, based on the newly-discovered transcripts of his Gifford Lecture Series. The show includes a little news, a little music (Lena Horne singing the irreverent “Ain’t It the Truth,” by atheist lyricist Yip Harburg), and sound bites from the recent FFRF convention by participants from around the country. Dan Barker’s Pagan Pulpit addresses The Golden Rule. (MP3, 51 min, 23 MB)”
Features two guests: FFRF Life Member Jean Gams, an 87-year-old atheist, who will discuss how she and the Foundation averted a proposed state/church violation in Oshkosh, Wis.; and Arthur Thexton, with the Wisconsin Coalition for the Death Penalty, for a quick look at secular reasons against the death penalty. Also featured: snippets from the Colbert Report’s interview with Richard Dawkins and The O’Reilly Factor’s interview with George W. Bush, Theocracy Alert, freethought music, a disbelief pop quiz and other news. (MP3, 50 min, 23 MB)
Features an interview with Jan Nicolay, spokeswoman and co-chair of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families. Ms. Nikolay was in the South Dakota Legislature for many years and is a Republican who is part of the nonpartisan group. The Campaign spearheaded the referendum on Nov. 7 to overturn the draconian ban on abortion passed by the South Dakota legislature this spring at the behest of the religious right. The show features secular news, Theocracy Alert, a pop disbelief quiz, and a song celebrating grassroots fury” by the celebrated folksinger Malvina Reynolds. (MP3, 53 min, 24 MB)”
Features an interview with attorney Jim McCollum, whose experiences as a 4th grader in his Champaign, Illinois, public classroom with illegal religious instruction caused his mother, Vashti Cromwell McCollum, to challenge the violation in court. The result? The landmark 1948 decision, McCollum v. Board of Education, which is prevailing precedent against religion in public schools. The show includes rare audio clips of Vashti McCollum talking about the case. Vashti died in August 2006 at age 93. The show includes a Theocracy Alert, news, a pop disbelief quiz, and music. (MP3, 54 min, 24.5 MB)
