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This week we talk about the novelist John Irving, Christian supremacy, and the Respect For Marriage Act. After hearing the debut of the Godless Gospel song “I Don’t Need Jesus,” we talk with scientist and author John C. Wathey about his new book, The Phantom God: What Neuroscience Reveals about the Compulsion to Believe.
After hearing the good news (and a little not-so-good news) after the midterm election, we listen to the freethinking Irving Berlin song “Pack Up Your Sins (And Go To The Devil in Hades)” 100 years after its 1922 debut on Broadway. Then we speak with playwright Marin Gazzaniga and qualitative researcher Linda LaScola, producers of the new off-Broadway play “The Unbelieving,” about clergy who no longer believe in God.
We hit some of the highlights of FFRF’s 45th annual convention in San Antonio, Texas, including welcoming remarks by U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman(CA) and Jamie Raskin(MD). Then we listen in to the live performance at that convention of the world premiere of the Godless Gospel musical concert.
Iranian-born Maryam Namazie, with “Ex-Muslims of Britain” and “One Law For All,” describes the dire situation in Iran where protesters of the patriarchal regime are being persecuted and killed; she also tells us how we can help. Then we speak with Harvard student Aidan Scully, who writes a secular bi-weekly column for the student newspaper The Harvard Crimson called “The Free Exercise Thereof” that combats Christian Nationalism and advocates for state/church separation.
After state/church news, we hear a sneak preview of the Godless Gospel song “You Don’t Need to Be Ashamed,” written by Andre Forbes, soloists DeAngela Morant and Rogiérs Fibby, with Godless Gospel singers in the chorus. Then we speak with New Hampshire state Rep. Sherry Dutzy, who formed the Secular Values Legislative Caucus in her state and who is on the board of the new Association of Secular Elected Officials.
New “I’m an Atheist and I Vote!” billboards are announced. After hearing the late Loretta Lynn sing the feminist song “The Pill,” we hear freethinkers Joni Mitchell and James Taylor perform “Circle of Time,” about the changing seasons. Then we speak with Minnesota state Rep. Mike Freiberg about the new “Secular Government Caucus” he co-founded in the state Legislature with the purpose of “resisting Christian nationalism and defending state/church separation.”
We announce the final victory in our lawsuit challenging the reciting of “The Lord’s Prayer” at a West Virginia city council meeting. Constitutional attorney Liz Cavell joins us to describe FFRF’s new “Know Your Rights” campaign educating students about their right to be free from government-sponsored religion. Then we hear the historic Opening Statement by Christopher Hitchens, author of god is not Great, debating mathematician John Lennox on the topic, “Is God great?”
We celebrate International Blasphemy Day by highlighting challenges to Christian Nationalism and the violation of state/church separation by senators and governors. Former Mormon Ray Matthews tells us why he agreed to appear on FFRF’s “I’m an Atheist and I Vote” billboard in Salt Lake City. Then we speak with Adrienne Martin, who testified before her Texas school board in protest of religiously motivated book banning in the public school.
FFRF’s Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Elliott describes the new lawsuit we filed this week challenging 1.5 million dollars in the South Carolina budget to start a Christian school. Then the award-winning author, photographer and lecturer Marty Essen discusses the column against censorship he wrote for Banned Books Week: “Christian Nationalism and Book Banning.”
