Thank God I'm Atheist

This week, Frank and Dan dig into the shocking story of a Florida pastor who ran a $50 million call center cult, complete with forced labor, starvation, and abuse in the name of God. They also cover: Kristi Noem funneling Homeland Security funds to churches, the Taliban refusing to let men rescue women after an earthquake, a chaplain abusing detainees in ICE custody, and a Mormon columnist caught in a predator sting. Listener emails tackle everything from schizophrenia stigma to Dobson's "strong-willed child" legacy. And in the final segment: the Wall Street Journal's profile of ex-Mormon TikTok influencers—and why Utah Senator Mike Lee is losing his mind over it. 👉 Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/tgiatheist 📺 Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/tgiatheist Epsiode 716

This week on Thank God I'm Atheist, Frank is joined by Rachel (with Dan off at Burning Man!) for a lively dive into religion's latest absurdities. Trump's bizarre new obsession with "getting to heaven" makes the headlines, Kentucky churches are stealing library books in the name of morality, Quebec wrestles with prayer bans in public spaces, and a nurse swaps her grandmother's medication for "vitamins and prayers" with tragic results. In the second half, Frank and Rachel tackle the empty ritual of "thoughts and prayers" in the wake of yet another school shooting. Why do politicians keep offering platitudes instead of solutions? And what does it say about a country that can't figure out how to protect children? 👉 Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/tgiatheist 👉 Watch more episodes + shorts: www.youtube.com/@tgiatheist

This week Frank and Dan take a long, hard look at the legacy of James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and one of the most influential figures of the Religious Right. He spent decades pushing child abuse as "discipline," spreading anti-LGBTQ hate, and shaping the culture wars that still drag us down today. With his passing, we're not exactly breaking out the hymns… We also dive into: Mormon women going wild over new, shoulder-baring garments An Episcopal priest who turned psychedelics into his new ministry A Catholic money man trying to steer investments away from LGBTQ rights and Planned Parenthood Bible verse sneakers making their way into the Museum of the Bible Mormon leaders panicking as church members turn to AI to write their sacrament talks 💸 Support the Show Help us keep the show going! Donate at thankgodimatheist.com/donate or join us on Patreon at patreon.com/tgiatheist. ▶️ Watch on YouTube Catch weekly episodes and Shorts: youtube.com/tgiatheist

Oklahoma's Ryan Walters loses in court while doubling down on Christian victimhood, Pastor Doug Wilson's growing extremist empire in Idaho gets national attention, and Lindsey Graham warns that "God will pull the plug on America" if we stop funding Israel. Also in the mix: Marjorie Taylor Greene picks a fight with Lindsey Graham A Christian charity fires a pregnant gay woman and wins in court New York pushes back against political churches with a bold new bill A Pennsylvania priest rigs a Corvette raffle And in Arizona, a young candidate who says women shouldn't hold office is… running for office 💙 Support the Show If you enjoy Thank God I'm Atheist, help us keep it going! Join our community on Patreon and get access to bonus content, early releases, and more. ▶️ More Ways to Listen & Watch Find full episodes, clips, and extras on YouTube: youtube.com/tgiatheist

This week, the Christians found us… and they came in swingin' (well, typin'). The YouTube comment section lit up with righteous fury after last week's episode, and we couldn't resist talking about it. We've also got the story of a megachurch pastor returning to the pulpit after prison, a psychedelic mushroom "church" that just beat the state of Utah in court, ICE raids inside places of worship, Missouri's open push for "Christian conservative" gerrymandering, and the Mormon Church heading back to court over child sex abuse cover-ups. And to top it off, we tear into the most tired, cliché lines believers love to throw at atheists—yes, including Pascal's Wager.

What do a religious sex club, the Shroud of Turin, and a pedophile at a church fair have in common? They're all part of this week's wild ride through religious absurdity. Frank and Dan dig into: The airline controversy over booted Jewish teens—anti-Semitism or just unruly French kids? The Shroud of Turin gets debunked with 3D modeling. A Tennessee pastor uses food bank funds to pay for prostitution—and lands in prison. Guess who got kicked out of the state fair? Not the church with the pedophile. The Vatican quietly reinstates a convicted priest after child porn charges. Plus: A Salt Lake City sex club registers as a religion to dodge the law. Is this the ultimate hack to freedom in a theocracy? Watch full episodes + Shorts: YouTube.com/@TGIAtheist Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/tgiatheist

Oklahoma's ultra-conservative education chief Ryan Walters wants to keep schools "smut-free"—but apparently forgot to turn off his retro porn before a state board meeting. Frank and Dan break down the jaw-dropping hypocrisy and the political fallout. Also in this episode: Indiana's lieutenant governor proposes the death penalty as a condition for abortion in cases of rape A prominent Christian activist pleads guilty to child porn charges Clergy are quietly letting AI write their sermons Mike Johnson celebrates the IRS giving up on church-politics enforcement And an entire Welsh diocese is caught binge-drinking for Jesus 🍷🍺🍸🪩 Plus, Dan attends Utah's most Mormon parade and wonders… should atheists crash it with a float?

Ever wondered what it means when a church goes full corporate? Frank and Dan wrap up the episode with a deep dive into the Mormon Church's 26-story office tower and the billions behind it. But first: witches selling spells on Etsy (and why it violates Etsy's own rules), Texas making it illegal for secular celebrants to perform weddings, the Magnolia Network featuring a gay couple and triggering conservative outrage, Pride organizers in Newfoundland banning Recovering From Religion, Japan moving to classify forced religious participation as child abuse, and Billy Graham's family suing over his words being used against Trump.

The IRS just made a quiet but explosive decision: it will no longer enforce the Johnson Amendment, effectively giving churches a tax-free license to play politics. Frank and Dan break down how this opens the floodgates for dark money, bribes disguised as "donations," and full-blown corruption in America's pulpits. Also this week: The bizarre satanic panic over viral Labubu dolls Baylor University rejects LGBTQ research funding after backlash A church publicly shames an abuse survivor Pope Leo XIV keeps same-sex blessings—but is it really progress? Catholics promotes a convicted child rapist priest in France And pandemic relief funds mysteriously flow into a Catholic trade school It's religion, politics, and jaw-dropping hypocrisy—served with a side of laughter and disbelief. Support us on Patreon... www.thankgodimatheist.com/donate

Christian influencers are bringing fatphobia back in the name of Jesus—and Frank and Dan are not having it. This week, they dive into the toxic rise of Christian diet culture and how it ties into purity, control, and righteousness. Plus: Iran issues a fatwa targeting Trump and Netanyahu, Canterbury Cathedral starts handing out indulgences, Americans try to evangelize North Korea via plastic bottles, a Michigan teen sues her school over the Pledge of Allegiance, Utah's governor asks the state to pray for rain (again), and the Dalai Lama stirs up international drama by announcing his reincarnation plans.

The LDS Church just quietly published a long-suppressed 1886 letter from prophet John Taylor—declaring polygamy an eternal commandment. Frank and Dan dig into the implications for Mormon doctrine. Also in this episode: A Catholic diocese in the UK fires an atheist accountant after she adopts a child Pennsylvania considers declaring a "Day of the Bible" A Saudi journalist is executed for tweets criticizing the regime Pew Research shows disturbing levels of support for school prayer in US Rastafarian prisoner's dreadlocks cut by prison guards And the World Humanist Congress ditches Washington, D.C. Stick around for emails, voicemails, and some truly unhinged Christian nationalism.

A failed preacher is arrested for the shocking murder of a Minnesota state senator. Frank and Dan dig into the disturbing religious and political motivations behind the crime—and the dangerous rhetoric fueling it. Also in this episode: • Jimmy Swaggart is somehow still alive • A surprising number of Christians are "cheating" on their churches • A UK town removes a Pride flag after bookstore complains • Louisiana's Ten Commandments law hits a legal wall • Mike Huckabee sends a terrifying message to Trump • Atheists barely register in federal prison stats Listener mail, petty flags, big questions, and more. Email us: [email protected] Support us on Patreon: www.thankgodimatheist.com/donate

A shooting at a Salt Lake City protest. Two state legislators are shot in Minnesota. As political violence grabs headlines across the country, Frank and Dan reflect on a disturbing new reality—and explore the religious rhetoric fueling it. Also in this episode: Iran expands its ban on dog walking Arkansas and Illinois fight to post the Ten Commandments Southern Baptists target gay marriage A far-right Christian gets a top U.S. religious freedom post Faith-healing parents sentenced after their newborn's death Pope Leo gets worried about AI… and Dan lets ChatGPT suggest how to fix Catholicism Plus, a listener email about Mormonism and modern revelation, and a final segment reflecting on how close we may be to a breaking point—and why peaceful protest still matters. Support us on Patreon... www.thankgodimatheist.com/donate

This week on Thank God I'm Atheist: A Republican lawmaker freaks out over a Muslim prayer in Congress—except it turns out the man praying wasn't Muslim at all. Frank and Dan break down the ignorance and bigotry on display. Plus, a new study explores what happens when clergy take psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms). The results? Surprisingly spiritual. Also in this episode: Denmark pushes stricter bans on burqas and niqabs in schools Christian nationalism is thriving in Moscow, Idaho A Texas pastor demands access to Pride events to spread his anti-LGBTQ message The Community of Christ church names its first female prophet Final segment: AI-generated Bible videos go viral—what happens when religion looks like a fantasy movie? Link to video... https://youtu.be/zzDZeNhmqeg?si=dTwG6dziuQ0BJHDo Support us on Patreon! www.thankgodimatheist.com/donate

Frank and Dan tackle a full slate of religious absurdities this week: a Halloween costume sparks Christian outrage in Arizona, Utah quietly buries its own study on gender-affirming care, and a UK teacher sues for the right to misgender students. Meanwhile, school cancels a student play for being too "controversial," and Delaware legalizes medical aid in dying. In the second half of the show, the guys dig into why young men are turning to conservative religion—and what secular folks can offer instead.

Frank is joined by guest host Rachel to unpack a week's worth of religious overreach, political absurdity, and moral panic dressed up as righteousness. From Oklahoma's conspiracy-laced curriculum changes to France's proposed hijab ban for girls under 15, this episode explores how authority figures use "values" to mask control. Plus: the Pope's childhood home might be seized, Rushdie's attacker is sentenced, and new data reveals why more people are leaving belief behind. 👉 Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and visit thankgodimatheist.com for more content and ways to support the show.

It's our 700th episode! Frank and Dan celebrate the milestone with some reflection—but first dive headfirst into the usual madness. Catholic bishops in Washington state refuse to comply with mandatory reporting laws for child abuse. Trump's appeal to Jewish voters is falling flat. The Episcopal Church is cutting ties with the federal government over sham refugee policies. Plus, attacks on Catholic churches are on the rise, and Jehovah's Witnesses are suing a whistleblower. There's also listener email, mosh pit therapy, and a game idea involving a MAGA punching booth.

Jim Bakker begs for $1M, NJ town wants to bulldoze church, Christian crowdfunding service defends racist woman's campaign, Texas give Christians an entire month, televangelist given 'gold-plated' AR-15, Southern Baptists continue to hemorrhage members, and the Catholics have a new pope.

Bibles exempted from Trump's tariffs, Trump health adviser cites "demonic forces" as source of childhood diseases, more bad news for Kim Davis, Sikhs shut down Pride parade in northern India, Mormons defeat Texas town, Utah governor says America should be more like Utah, and Donald J. Trump is a ridiculous buffoon who also wants to be pope.

This easter egg roll has been brought to you by, Veteran Affairs Administration joins crusade against anti-Christian bias, Target boycott continues past lent, state resolutions declaring Christ is king, cardinal who oversaw child sex abuse oversees the closing of Pope Francis' coffin, a Mormon education building on school grounds in Arizona, and apparently there's going to be another pope.

Cholera outbreak linked to holy water, BYU grad student deported, a rundown of Mormon numbers, Washington state makes clergy mandatory reporters, architect Gaudí on path to sainthood, quite the Easter costume contest in San Francisco, and those Mormons win in court once again.

Vicar has a theory about why church attendance is down, IRS actually investigates church over Johnson amendment violations, Catholic hospital argues fetus isn't a person (wait, what?), Heritage Foundation drafts new law in Tennessee, US State Department encourages employees to rat each other out for anti-Christian bias, church rasslin', and we hold a vigorous debate about debating.

Most American Christians don't believe in the trinity, Oklahoma's Ryan Walters sues FFRF, Trump supporters just noticed who's getting deported, reverend sues for discrimination, Poland releases shocking numbers about child sex abuse, shadow Catholics in Ireland, and Frank and Dan have a problem with Easter.

Preacher in hot water after asking congregation for $40k, tech CEO starts Christian services company, Mel Gibson's got a new Jesus movie, Japan shuts down dangerous church, Pete Hegseth's Islamophobic tattoos, a cracker miracle has been disproven, and why not let some woo in if you know it's woo (and it makes you feel better)?

Catholic Archbishop accuses Satanists of stealing consecrated host, Arizona jumps on school chaplain bandwagon, school board amends religious release policy, evangelicals don't believe in science (surprise!), federal judge in Utah sides with psychedelic sacrament group in freedom of religion case, LDS podcasters in trouble with church after being a little too honest on their show, and the terrifying stance of many conservative Christians against empathy.

Minneapolis cancels religious event on government property, Southern Baptist investigation update, pastor regrets money-back guarantee on tithes, Oklahoma bible update, Catholic Church faces setback in efforts to keep clergy sex abuse secret, water fraudsters held accountable, and what to do when someone starts telling you about a miracle.

Gay marriage denier Kim Davis faces another legal setback, airline attempts to serve non-Kosher food to Jewish passengers, Islam is the fastest growing religion in American prisons, Missouri tax break, legislative roundup, a new book, and our latest take on the measles outbreak in Texas.

'Cussing Pastor' is dead, a tale of two skizzes, the wedding cake strikes again, a congressman has a message for the soon to be unemployed, decline of US Christianity slows, some kind of good news from Oklahoma (for once), and the role of Christianity in America (and how we think we're fine without it).

Christians work to get a cross on the moon, mystic uses own blood for bleeding madonna statue, measles outbreak hits religious community hard, gay imam shot and killed, comparing religious nationalism around the world, renaming the West Bank, and the Mormon Church revises cartoons meant to teach children about polygamy.

Pope Franky gets cranky with JD Vance, states are suing to take away the rights of the disabled, a black church has fun with Proud Boys logo, U.S. schools are under attack by Jesus, Utah bill says you can fly the Nazi flag, but not the pride flag, a girl who was assaulted for not saying pledge of allegiance gets justice, and Kate fills in for Frank to discuss parenting in the new American theocracy.

Frank went out of town, and Dan forgot that means he's supposed to post the show. Now it's just a mad dash to get this out to you, so NO SHOW NOTES!

The Mormon cricket might be getting a new name (like all good Mormons [tee-hee]), faith healing follow-up, Oklahoma state senator proposes total ban on porn, priest gets fired after nazi salute, Quran burner shot dead, FFRF sues about tax exempt apartments, and the Mormon church issues statement about caring for the needy.

Churches are no longer off limits to US immigration officials, Freethought Caucus welcomes newest member, US Supreme Court takes up case to consider publicly funded religious schools, radical lawmakers attempt to change Oklahoma constitution, Iraq adopts law allowing child brides (as young as nine years old), a Russian tradition is threatened by global warming, and the entire political right is ticked off at an Episcopal bishop.

Spanish mayor in trouble for imitating the pope, some Christians actually are persecuted, Oklahomans answer poll about Ryan Walters, Mike Johnson offers another offensive prayer, update about the Mormon tithing lawsuit, how much did the Catholics spend on clergy abuse cases, and Christians waste no time fabricating miracles in the wake of the Los Angeles fires.

Special inauguration edition of the "God Bless the USA" bible, Mike Johnson recites fake Thomas Jefferson prayer, gay men allowed to become Catholic priests in Italy, televangelists mass resign from Daystar, Muslims convert to Christianity in Kosovo, West Virginia gives money to Ohio school, and how BYU's "loyalty oath" has finally ruined the school.

"Prophet" foresaw Jimmy Carter's death, Episcopal dustup and its resolution, Taliban announce two new policies affecting Afghan women, Christian "sociologist" links atheism to suicide and rape, the new congress' religious makeup, big trouble in little FFRF, and a new purity culture is sweeping the nation.

Christian realtor found guilty of hate speech, upheaval at Church of England, pay-to-pray scheme at Trump's inauguration, new guidelines for social studies education in Oklahoma, Malaysian man caned for violating Islamic law, Texas book ban leads school librarian to ban bible, and what's the deal with being "spiritual but not religious" and does the word "spiritual" have any use for atheists?

Christian porn use skyrockets, Christian university enslaves students, Vatican nears bankruptcy, Biden administration issues strategy to fight islamophobia, Catholic league posts billboard protesting atheists, Iowa says 'no' to Satan, and the Mormons get on board with the rent-a-Jesus family photo trend.

Ugh... it's true and here's what we talked about: Upcoming LGBT pilgrimage, a nativity at the Vatican (appropriate), a nativity at the US Capitol (less appropriate), a call to Biden, revealing cellphone data about church attendance in US, Noah's ark update, and we offer up once again our Christmas survival guide.

Bible sales are booming, anti-woke crusader targets Christian nationalists, Atheists are more likely than Christians to treat the other fairly, group kicked out of Christmas parade, Village People frontman comes out as homophobe, Christian lawmaker wants to rollback gay rights, and a health insurance CEO is gunned down in NYC and the internet breaks.

This week, Kenneth Copeland sentences us heathens to eternal boredom, India proves that Christians actually are oppressed somewhere, the UK tries to do the bare minimum for dying folks, Ohio takes further steps toward theocracy, an Iowa pastor shows contempt for atheists by depicting a jewish king as a badass, corrupt Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton proves he can be an a$$hole to Christians too, and Andrea and Dan discuss the many [not really] wives of Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith.

First millennial saint canonization date announced, Texas approves Christian curriculum for public elementary schools, Iranian protestor released from mental hospital, small town Scottish supermarket now open on Sundays, Pope Francis makes changes to papal funerals, AI Jesus debuts in Switzerland, and the very mundane reasons people leave religion.

Episode 674: Muslims who voted for Trump already feeling betrayed, head of the Church of England steps down, Iran tries new approach to convince women to wear hijab, Oklahoma bible update, retailer caves to Christian pressure, Louisiana Ten Commandments update, and Mormons just aren't as strict as they used to be (and that's upsetting to many former Mormons).

Church foolishly offers money-back guarantee, human rights orgs cry foul over Iran's execution of Jewish man found guilty of murder, neighbors say NIMBY to cold nights in Fruit Heights, CEO of Christian org is worried about children except the ones he harms, magician tries to make new Christians appear out of thin air (in public schools), JWs are NOT doing well in Eritrea, and Dan and Kate try to figure out how to deal with friends and family who believe stupid things

So... there was a HUGE miscommunication and this show didn't get posted at the correct time! Our deepest apologies! Anyway, You don't get any show notes this week. If you want to know what happened on the show, you're just going to have to listen to it! Thanks for understanding.

Suspicious 'Catholic' newspapers spew right-wing propaganda, Catholic Church attempts to cancel transgender rabbi's play, polio surges in Pakistan, a 'solution' to some bad publicity, Kamala Harris goes to church, an unexpected walkout at a speech, and the Mormon Church announces big change to their magic underwear.

Taliban bans images of living things, new 'Tree of Life' garden open in Utah, radical Christians say Kamala Harris has a 'Jezebel spirit', archdiocese to pay largest settlement ever in child sex abuse case, Islamists call for caliphate in Germany, 'Utah hair' makes waves on TikTok, and things might be about to get very bad in America.

Night of sex, drugs, and Catholic priests ends badly; school district rescinds policy; 'Trump Bible' headed for Oklahoma classrooms; does being Christian count when pleading insanity?; California sues Catholic hospital; and a discussion about how sometimes it's not Christian Nationalism, it's just Christians being annoying.

Jesus appears in unlikely place, unexpected results from Latin American poll, angry Christians call for Coke boycott, prominent Louisiana pastor convicted, anti-Trump political ad features Billy Graham, Oklahoma state superintendent seeks $6 million for classroom bibles, and the Catholic Church's attempts to find evidence for miracles.

Pope says 'all religions are path to God' ticking off other Catholics, the country of Georgia curbs LGBT rights ('cause religion), UK enacts buffer zones around abortion clinics, shocking percentage of Australian Catholic clergy accused of abuse, Pope urges Catholics to choose the 'letter evil' between Harris and Trump, Mormons in Arizona might swing the state toward Harris, and president of Mormon Church turns 100.