John Loftus is a former evangelical preacher. He studied under William Lane Craig and earned Master’s degrees in divinity and theology. He is currently an adjunct professor of philosophy, an author, the creator and primary blogger of the popular website, Debunking Christianity, and the founder of the Skeptic Ink blogging network. He is the author of Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity, a co-author of the book God or Godless, and the editor for two books: The Christian Delusion and The End of Christianity.
John Loftus joins Atheists Talk this Sunday to discuss his newest book, The Outsider Test for Faith: How to Know Which Religion Is True. This book seeks to help readers view religion from an outside perspective, to better understand the irrationality of believing in one god (or set of gods) over all others. And it encourages believers to apply the skepticism they have toward other religions to their own.
Atheists Talk is produced with funding from the Minnesota Atheists and the Humanists of Minnesota. We also wish to thank Q. Cumbers restaurant for purchasing on-air advertising and for providing a great place to eat and gather. This radio program is put together by dedicated volunteers and the generous donations of listeners. If you are able to help with a donation please consider doing so at our Radio Fund page.
Listen to AM 950 KTNF on Sunday at 9 a.m. Central to hear Atheists Talk, produced by Minnesota Atheists. Stream live online. Call in to the studio: 952-946-6205, or send an e-mail to radio@mnatheists.orgduring the live show.
Climate denialism operates on a scale and with funding that would have made an old-school tobacco executives green with envy. This makes the climate wars a perfect venue for learning about all the tricks of denialists.
Greg Laden stumbled onto climate denialism through a combination of concern for the environment and studying what climate history can tell us about human evolution. He has documented lies, threats and simple misinformation while working to get good information on climate change out to audiences on his blog and elsewhere. In the process, he's received legal threats, death threats, and more factually incorrect comments than he can count.
This Sunday, Greg will join us in the studio to help us learn to spot denialism in the wild and to tell us what to expect from climate change denialists in the next few months.
Atheists Talk is produced with funding from the Minnesota Atheists and the Humanists of Minnesota. We also wish to thank Q. Cumbers restaurant for purchasing on-air advertising and for providing a great place to eat and gather. This radio program is put together by dedicated volunteers and the generous donations of listeners. If you are able to help with a donation please consider doing so at our Radio Fund page.
One of the questions for the ages is the origin of human morality. Some ascribe it to a god or gods. Some would prefer a more empirical approach.
In his work with primates, Frans de Wall has explored the evolution of those traits we used to consider uniquely human. His latest book, The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates, he tackles morality. Small spoiler: We're not as special in this regard as we tend to think.
From the publisher's description:
In this lively and illuminating discussion of his landmark research, esteemed primatologist Frans de Waal argues that human morality is not imposed from above but instead comes from within. Moral behavior does not begin and end with religion but is in fact a product of evolution.
For many years, de Waal has observed chimpanzees soothe distressed neighbors and bonobos share their food. Now he delivers fascinating fresh evidence for the seeds of ethical behavior in primate societies that further cements the case for the biological origins of human fairness. Interweaving vivid tales from the animal kingdom with thoughtful philosophical analysis, de Waal seeks a bottom-up explanation of morality that emphasizes our connection with animals. In doing so, de Waal explores for the first time the implications of his work for our understanding of modern religion. Whatever the role of religious moral imperatives, he sees it as a “Johnny-come-lately” role that emerged only as an addition to our natural instincts for cooperation and empathy.
Atheists Talk is produced with funding from the Minnesota Atheists and the Humanists of Minnesota. We also wish to thank Q. Cumbers restaurant for purchasing on-air advertising and for providing a great place to eat and gather. This radio program is put together by dedicated volunteers and the generous donations of listeners. If you are able to help with a donation please consider doing so at our Radio Fund page.
Roger Scott Jackson was raised in a Pentacostal family, but left religion at early age. Throughout his life he has been a high school English teacher, a journalist and a comedy writer. Mr. Jackson is also a performance artist, and perhaps his most famous creation is the fictional firebrand, Sam Singleton Atheist Evangelist.
Brother Sam has been known to deliver an atheist sermon or two for high-profile atheist conferences and events, and both he and his creator, Roger Scott Jackson are sought-after speakers listed among the Secular Student Alliance and Center For Inquiry speakers bureaus.
Sam Singleton has delivered many different experiences for those who gather to hear his gospel. His shows include Patriarchs and Penises; Cats, Sheep and Goats: The Taxonomy of Atheists, Believers and Preachers; Revival;If The Ocean Was Whiskey and God was a Duck; and Too Big For God. Brother Sam also sends out e-homilies via his Atheist Evangelist YouTube channel
Join Atheists Talk this Sunday when we speak with Roger Scott Jackson about his life, his atheism, and his portrayal of Sam Singleton, Atheist Evangelist.
Atheists Talk is produced with funding from the Minnesota Atheists and the Humanists of Minnesota. We also wish to thank Q. Cumbers restaurant for purchasing on-air advertising and for providing a great place to eat and gather. This radio program is put together by dedicated volunteers and the generous donations of listeners. If you are able to help with a donation please consider doing so at our Radio Fund page.
