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Is the separation of church and state “absolute,” as JFK said, or does it make you want to vomit (as Rick Santorum said)? This week we talk about FFRF’s challenge of Alabama school board prayers, and then interview Jim McCollum, whose family’s landmark 1948 Supreme Court victory is the bedrock of modern law regarding religion in the schools. We also hear the song “I Don’t Believe in Fairies” by atheist Australian singer/songwriter Shelley Segal.
Jessica’s victory, Santorum’s intolerance, Green Bay prayers, Annie Laurie’s open letter encouraging liberal Catholics to exit “en mass,” and an interview with Katherine Stewart, author of the eye-opening investigative book The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children.
What don’t we talk about on this week’s show? God at the Grammys, atheism at the Golden Globes, Jon Stewart and the “attack on religion,” prayers at county board meetings, Ten Commandments in City Hall. We also talk with Canadian professor Christopher DiCarlo, author of How To Become a Really Good Pain In The Ass: A Critical Thinker’s Guide to Asking the Right Questions.
This week we look at religion in politics, applaud Bill Maher and boo Denzel Washington for their comments on atheism, congratulate “The Book of Mormon” musical, and talk with First Amendment champion Ellery Schempp about how his 1963 Supreme Court victory over religion in high school compares with Jessica Ahlquist’s current fight in Rhode Island.
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” This week we talk with the intrepid freethinking Connecticut florist (of Glimpse of Gaia) who delivered flowers to the victorious teenage Rhode Island atheist litigant Jessica Ahlquist after nobody in Rhode Island would do it. We also celebrate a victory 30+ years in the making, and announce the filing of FFRF’s newest lawsuit challenging the Jesus Statue on federal land in Montana.
This week we’ll celebrate Roe v. Wade with journalist Sunsara Taylor. Then, we’ll interview Jessica Ahlquist, the besieged 16 year old litigant in a Rhode Island school prayer lawsuit. Her harassment is an object lesson in why religion does not belong in our public schools.
To celebrate a court victory, you’ll hear teenager atheist and champion of the first amendment Jessica Ahlquist, who was defamed by her legislator as an “evil little thing.” Then we’ll talk with the author George Levine about joy of secularism. Tune in for an uplifting show celebrating secularity.
Dan and Annie Laurie are back from one vacation, learn why they have been invited to some place a LOT warmer. This week we’ll talk with a fifth generation minister who saw the light is now a nonbeliever. John Compere’s book is called Towards the Light: A fifth generation minister’s journey from religion to nonbelief.
Wishing all you heathens, skeptics and hell-bound atheists a happy new year! Steven Pinker is quite the thinker. The Harvard professor and evolutionary psychologist has a new book on the decline of violence. We’ll hear from Prof. Pinker and the good news of why rationality reduces violence.
