Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Episode 4


Join us for a discussion with Eddie Tabash current chair of the national legal committee of Americans United for separation of Church and State as well as the Council for Secular Humanism's First Amendment Task Force. In addition to his better known role as an official campaign speaker and debater for numerous presidential candidates (including Bill Clinton & Jimmy Carter) Tabash is also a professional counter-apologist having debated such world famous Christian philosophers as: Peter van Inwagen, Greg Bahnsen, William Lane Craig and Richard Swinburne on the existence of God. In an extended interview, Tabash discusses a wide-range of topics: from disarming the arguments of Christian philosophers to the "unholy alliance" between the religious right and the postmodern academic left. The show concludes with a disturbing glimpse at the difference just one Supreme Court justice could make for American secularists...and the very real possibility that we might be on the verge of a theocratic America.

Episode Links

Story 1: Skepticism towards Christianity on the rise amongst youth.






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Episode 3


Our third episode features a new segment: The Skeptics Sunday School. In this segment we draw upon biblical criticism, archeology, comparative mythology and the bible itself to present biblical stories and doctrines as you may have never seen them before. Fascinating , sometimes disturbing, facts you would never encounter at church. But facts which are nevertheless common knowledge amongst reputable biblical scholars. In this segment we take a look at some intriguing passages from the Hebrew bible referring to child sacrifice...and ask the difficult question: did the ancient Israelites actually preform the "detestable" practice that their scriptures so passionately condemns?

Also Featured

  • The Religious Right is divided on which Republican candidate to endorse.
  • Is Arnold Schwarzenegger "mentally molesting" California's children?
  • Counter-Apologetics: Our resident Professor of Psychology exposes the flawed "science" behind the family research councils attacks on homosexual parents.




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Click here for sources/relevant articles to this episode. All episodes are available for download at no cost. Simply subscribe to our podcast using itunes or a similar podcast client using the feed links above. You can also listen to the episode here by using the player above or you can download the episode by right-clicking this link and selecting "save link as...".

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Episode 2

Our second episode features an interview with CFI On Campus organizer and Point of Inquiry editorialist Lauren Becker. Lauren shares the story of her transformation from Park Ranger and education enthusiast to secular activist and organizer. She explains the mission of CFI On Campus--their strategy to promote critical thinking and oppose religious dogmas. She also discusses the challenges facing non-religious students on college campuses and how anyone can help promote free inquiry at their local college.

Episode Links

Story 1: Sharia law conference
Story 2: Virtual evangelists try to redeem my "Second Life"
Counter Apologetics: What Atheists Can't Answer
Props/Shit-list




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All episodes are available for download at no cost. Simply subscribe to our podcast using itunes or a similar podcast client using the feed links above. You can also listen to the episode here by using the player above or you can download the episode directly by right-clicking this link and selecting "save link as...".

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Episode 1


Episode 1 Features an interview with Dr. Wesley Elsberry, former Information Project Director for the National Center for Science Education who is currently a Visiting Research Associate at Michigan State University, where he works with Robert Pennock studying the evolution of intelligence through computer simulations. His enlightening discussion focuses on the state of "Anti-evolution after Dover"--how creationists have been adapting their arguments after the devastating legal blow they received during the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial in late 2005.


Episode Links

Story 1: Catholic Clergy Abuse

Story 2: Faith Night
Story 3: Turkish Creationists
Props Shit-List

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Monday, January 1, 2007

Our Message to the "Courageous Faithful"

We call religious believers who welcome a good challenge to their faith the "courageous faithful". We want you to know that above all else the authors of this website and podcast are dedicated to critical thinking. We are not dogmatic ministers of atheism, agnosticism, or secular humanism. We just happen to think skepticism towards theology and the supernatural are the necessary result of thinking critically about these issues. But our minds could be changed if presented with sufficient evidence. We know there are many religious believers who strive to be good critical thinkers (like yourself, for example. Why else would you be reading this?) We know this because we have been raised and educated by thoughtful religious people. They are our co-workers, relatives and friends. Everyone who contributes this website/podcast once considered themselves a "born-again" Christian. We are intimately familiar with what we are criticizing, and we know that even the worst actions of fundamentalists and religious extremists begin with good intentions. That is why we attack ideas and not people (except maybe a few who really deserve it-which shouldn't trouble you. Even the bible holds knowledgeable people to a higher standard). We think we have more in common with the "courageous faithful" than some of the so-called "skeptics" who know little to nothing about the character or beliefs of the people they are attacking. That doesn't mean were open-minded though; not if "open minded" means looking favorably on a position which has poor or no evidence supporting it. We have very high standards for what passes for truth. We take pride in our commitment to reason and we wont compromise our standards to spare anyones feelings. We do, however, strive to be fair-minded. We endeavor to always give the other side a fair hearing and to never misrepresent a position just because we disagree. So we may not always seem nice, and you are sure to be offended by some of what we say. But we trust you wouldn't have it any other way. We know from personal experience how much courage and emotional strength it takes to seek out critiques of a belief that you care about--so we know you don't need us to sanitize or sugar coat it for you. Because we respect you as a critical thinker, and we value debate over diatribe, its only fair that you be able to challenge us in return. We encourage you to take part in our conversation by e-mailing us your questions and comments, and arguments and rebuttals as well as posting comments to our blog. Who knows, you might just change our minds (ok, so thats not too likely...but it's happened before). And even if you don't, we know that everyone who is dedicated to truth will have gained something from the exchange (iron sharpens iron). Please CHALLENGE US. We do not want to just preach to choir. Please HELP KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE. We want to have a reputation for being firm but also fair. We look forward to hearing from you, as we participate together in one of the greatest dialogs of our time.

E-mail us at doubtreligion@gmail.com

P.S. Just so you know, what is said above is only intended for religious believers with respect for reason, evidence, and fair-minded dialog. Uncritical dogmatists, un-apologetic enemies of reason/science, and most southern baptists can disregard this message...if mouth breathing de-evolved cave-dwellers such as yourselves are even able to read it.

Ask a Skeptic

Just curious?

If you're wondering what atheists/agnostics believe but haven't ever asked one yourself, please send us your questions. There are no stupid questions. Ok, actually there are plenty. But it's even more stupid to never ask them. Respectfully submitted questions will receive respectful answers

Think we're wrong?


Want to challenge us with some reasoning and evidence of your own? Good. We don’t want to just preach to the choir...and believe it or not, we can even admit it when we got something wrong! Respectfully submitted challenges will receive respectful answers. We encourage believers of all stripes to take part in the great debate by submitting questions and comments and challenges.

Need ammunition?

We got plenty for you. If "water-cooler" theology is wearing you down...
Send us your questions and we'll do our best to supply you with encouragement and arguments/resources to use against your annoying fundamentalist co-workers, friends, and relatives.

You can send your questions directly to us at doubtcast@gmail.com
or remain anonymous by posting your question, challenge, etc. to this entry.

We ask permission before reading any questions on air and we never give out names (unless specifically told by the author to do so) Anonymously posted questions/comments might be read on air, at our discretion.