Atheist Roundtable

As soon as I realized I was an atheist, I came out.  I was lucky.  My wife became an atheist at exactly the same time.  I no longer lived at home.  There was no threat of losing a job.  it was easy, painless, and simple.  Indeed, the easiest part of losing my faith was coming out as an atheist. But that's not always true.  Sometimes, people are forced to be in the closet.  They cannot tell people about this, and face real concequences when they do. Let's chat about that damned closet, and what to do with it. Plus your calls. Prepare for awesomeness!!

The news has lit up this past week with stories of sexual assults at the hands of religious leaders, and some of them are not even catholic!!  I guess everyone saw all the grand press the catholics get for this kind of nonsense and didn't want to be left behind. I noticed that there are two phrases that are absent from the bible:  "Thou shall make certain all of thy sex partners are consenting adults," and "Thou shall not in any way ever abuse thy children."  Why is that?  Some moral compass. I'll rant on and on about how this crap burns my britches. Plus your calls. More burnt britches than you can handle! Links: http://tinyurl.com/nwccpuz http://tinyurl.com/pw7mpzn http://tinyurl.com/p6wy4qq http://tinyurl.com/npy5qbt http://tinyurl.com/na6mqfz  

As a believer, whenever I screwed up, I could turn to god, or jesus, or confess my sins to a priest.  I could pray.  I could turn to the doctrine of grace and forgiveness.  What do I do now that I don't have that?  I still make mistakes, that's for sure.  I still screw up.  Do I cower in a corner?  Do I cover it up and hope no one notices?  How do I cope?It's easier than ever before.Plus your calls.

How much faith does it take to be an atheist?  Is faith a virtue?  Are science and faith compatible?  Is science a form of faith? I think it's time for a 30 mintue rant about how much I flipping despise faith.   Plus your calls. The awesomeness will runneth over. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130829092845.htm  

Michael Sherlock is the author of the three volume series:  I AM CHRIST.  The first volume, The Crucifixion - Painful Truths, has just been realesed.  Get your copy NOW!! Strap yourself in for what is going to be a bumpy ride.  Michael is going to crucify your beliefs and show you how your biases are blinding you to the truth.  He may even teach your host a thing or two! No calls this show, I'm afraid.  Still there will be no shortage of eargasms! Find Michael Sherlock online:  http://www.michaelsherlock.org/index.html Find Micheal Sherlock on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MICHAELSHERLOCK.AUTHOR Friend me:   https://www.facebook.com/Andrewtheatheist Like the fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/AtheistRoundtable

When people ask what book I'd recommend they read to become an atheist, I always say, "Read the BIBLE!"  This is hands-down the best way to become an atheist.  Just read it.  Don't let a preacher read it to you.  Don't use a study guide or concordiance or whatever.  Just use your third grade reading skills and READ IT. What's in the bible that makes people lose faith instead of gain faith?  We'll explore that question in the show. Plus your calls. Equals eargasms of biblical proportions. Bible verses for this episode provided by: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/index.htm Friend me:  https://www.facebook.com/andrewtheatheist Fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/AtheistRoundtable Thanks to Dick Richards for the theme music.  Find his work here:  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Flabtoymusic.bandcamp.com%2Falbum%2Fn-y-x-presents-evil-sinema-volume-two&h=yAQFkGQbN

So what's it like trying to raide freethinking kids in this religious society?  I have an 8 year old and a 4 year old.  My son, the 8 year old, has been dealing with thoughts of the afterlife since his great-grandma died.  I'll talk about how we talk to him about our beliefs, how we deal with the hard issue of death and loss.  And what we do without very religious families.Plus your calls.It will be awesome!!

This episode is a request from a fan.  When I was growing up Catholic, it was common for me to take small, random objects to the priest for a belssing.  Mostly religious objects, like crosses, or prayer cards, or rosaries were blessed, but the ocassional wrist watch and bicycle got thrown in.   I'll tell the story of getting stuff blessed for no reason.  Like a scene from Dogma. Plus your calls.    

There's a new development in the atheist movement:  churches.  Atheists are gathering in congregations.  We are having secular services.  ls this a good thing, or does it lend too much to the idea that atheism is a religion? Let us reason together. Plus your calls. Friend me:  https://www.facebook.com/Andrewtheatheist Like the show:  https://www.facebook.com/AtheistRoundtable

I've scheduled a make-up episode with Rob Everhart.  I'm sure he'll show this time. We'll take on the reactions from the religious right to the DOMA and Prop 8 rulings last week. Plus, your calls. Another gay old time!!   http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3cca22e7-9915-5d26-b0b2-3980aa91afaa.html http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2013/07/rep-tim-huelskamp-files-constitutional-amendment-b.html  

By the time this show airs, we should have some seriously groundbreaking news from the Supreme Court.  Prop 8 and DOMA are on the table. I'll be joined by my good friend, Rob Everhardt.  Rob's been on the show before, and we usually talk about the gay rights issue.  This should be fun! Plus your calls. Equals a bigger, better gay old time. Rob didn't show, so here's the link from my actual guest, Walter Beck: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.polarimagazine.com%2Fopinion%2Fdo-defense-marriage-act-californias-proposition-8%2F&h=AAQE7TQMv

Believers are better than their religion.  Christians are better than christ, muslims are better than allah.  We know this.  People are kind, loving, compassionate and wonderful.  The gods of religion are evil, spiteful, vengeful and just plain nasty. How do believers square their goodness with the evil of their beliefs?  How do good people worship the diety Dawkins called the worst character in all of fiction? I'll give my thoughts on how this is.  If you have an opinion, call in and give it. It will be better than god.   Like the page:  https://www.facebook.com/AtheistRoundtable   Friend me:  https://www.facebook.com/andrewtheatheist  

Ever have a Near Death Expirience?  It's when you come close to death, but don't actually die.  People see lights, old relatives, or even their entire lives flash before their eyes. People think NDE's are proof of an afterlife.  What if an atheist has an NDE? Once, I believed in an afterlife.  Then I had my own NDE.  What does an atheist do with the afterlife after faith? Plus your calls.

You know what burns my britches?  Abstinence only sex education!  What a load of bologna!!   Tune in for a rant about the dangers of this insane nonsense taught to children about their bodies, and how they should work. Plus, your calls. Everyone will orgasm by the end of the show.   Friend me:  https://www.facebook.com/andrewtheatheist Like the show:  https://www.facebook.com/AtheistRoundtable   Links for tonights show: http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/05/06/elizabeth-smart-abstinence-only-education-can-make-rape-survivors-feel-dirty-filthy/   http://www.chicagonow.com/feminist-christian/2013/05/why-christians-should-give-up-abstinence-only-sex-education/   http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2004/03/facts-about-abstinence-education   http://www.siecus.org/

It could be your host is getting lazy and won't commit to a topic.  Or he is being generous and letting callers set the pace.  You decide. Call in and share your thoughts.   Friend me:  www.facebook/andrewtheatheist Like the show:  www.facebook/atheistroundtable