Atheists Talk

Roger Nygard was our guest in January, but due to a time zone mix-up only joined towards the end of the program.  We have invited him for a return call-in and he has agreed to do so, this time from an Eastern Daylight Time location.  We will let Roger catch up on some sleep and he will be on the phones with us from 9 am to 10 am.

 

The Nature of Existence is the film Roger produced in order to get at the best answers that religion and philosophy can provide to answer an age-old question:  Is  there a reason that we are here on Earth at this time?  Is there a Grand Purpose to life?  How can we know the answer, and if we do find the answer, what can we do in order to fulfill this grand purpose?  

 

Some day that wrestling for Jesus is the way to find one's purpose.  Others say that it is simply a matter of finding Your Happiness and Living It. 

 

Since the first show, I have had the opportunity to watch the movie and found it thought-provoking and at times funny.  Very funny in some spots.  I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sergeant Justin Griffith was aghast that the U.S. Army had organized and supported a Christian Rock festival for soldiers at North Carolina's Fort Bragg Army Base.  In response, he organized an event for secular soldiers and officers to give the non-Christians an event "For the rest of us."  He lined up great speakers including Richard Dawkins, Margaret Downey, Hemant Mehta, Jen McCreight and Mikey Weinstein along with performers Roy Zimmerman, Baba Brinkman and Spoonboy. The event was all scheduled and set to go, and the Command had approved the venue; but on March 4 the brass made some disheartening changes.  They changed to a much smaller venue and pulled financial support.  Due to these unacceptable changes, the Justin and his fellow organizers canceled the event.

 

The military has been slowly taken over by fundamentalist Christians.  Chaplains overstep their mission and proselytize rather than provide support to the troops.  The military has been requiring members to submit to a "Spiritual Fitness Test," sending them the message that if they don't believe then they are not full members of the services.  

 

Now, instead of surrendering to the Christianists in the military, more atheists and non-Christians are standing up to be counted among the honorable men and women who serve our country in the military.  The Military Atheists and Secular Humanists (M.A.S.H.), Operation Foxhole Atheist, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation , the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers and other groups are bravely telling command that the military is a place for all those who are willing to sacrifice.

 

Justin is reorganizing Rock Beyond Belief. Now it's on!  He will be talking to about the event, about Rock the Fort, about the move to end the unofficial policy of "Don't Pray, Don't Say."  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Kane will interview Sandhya Bathija, who is the Communications Associate for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. She joined the AU staff in May 2008. Sandhya previously worked as a reporter for the legal trade publication The National Law Journal, and practiced law for a small civil rights firm in Detroit. She holds a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

 

George Kane is the Chair of the Minnesota Atheists. 

 

George and Sandhya will discuss both the National Day of Prayer and the secular alternative, The National Day of Reason. They will also discuss current issues regarding separation of government and religion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atheists Talk is produced with funding from the Minnesota Atheists, the Humanists of Minnesota and the generous support of our members and donors.  We also wish to thank Q. Cumbers restaurant for purchasing on-air advertising and for providing a great place to eat and gather.

Today's show is produced by Mike Haubrich.  Scott Lohman is the host.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Dalton is the writer, producer and director of the slyly subversive webcast comedy series "Mr. Deity."  Mr. Deity has created our Universe with love and affection; mostly.  This was not a simple production, you see, and there are many aspects to Creation of which we humans are not capable of understanding.  Dalton's "Mr. Deity" is all too human, avaricious and behind his lovable exterior he hides a deep need to be worshiped.  He is not above throwing a bunch of natural disasters in our way to get us to pay attention without "violating our free will."  Mr. Deity is a funny look behind the scenes of Creation.  Sure, things could have been done a bit differently.  But would that have made as good of a story?

 

Brian Dalton is the featured speaker for the Humanists of Minnesota's Spring Banquet on April 17th.  He will be in our studio on Sunday and Scott Lohman, the President of the Humanists of Minnesota will be talking to him about the series.

 

 

 

 

 

Atheists Talk is produced with funding from the Minnesota Atheists, the Humanists of Minnesota and the generous support of our members and donors.  We also wish to thank Q. Cumbers restaurant for purchasing on-air advertising and for providing a great place to eat and gather.

Today's show is produced and hosted by Mike Haubrich.