Thank God I'm Atheist

Decapitated Jesus Halloween display disturbs neighbors, drama continues for Jerry Falwell Jr, Turkish president might be a little too sensitive, pastor privacy lawsuit, Indonesian TikToker eats pork on camera, a tale of two high schools, and the founder of OUR gets in trouble with Mormon Church and things might get ugly.

Kim Davis ordered to pay $100,000 in same-sex marriage case, new podcast about surviving Bob Jones University, Belgian public schools set on fire, Florida recognizes alternative college admissions exam, ultra-Orthodox Jewish pilgrims enter war zone, a lawsuit against American Family Association, and the Michigan state legislature recently passed a law recognizing an assortment of religious holidays.

Weddings are a huge deal in our culture, but they can be deeply problematic. This week, along with our standard news stories, guest host Andrea is here with Dan to discuss the worst wedding traditions, and their deeply sexist religious roots.

NYC approves Muslim noise pollution, proposed law in Denmark would ban burning of "holy" books, France bans Muslim robes in schools, New Jersey town harasses Jewish residents (and is forced to pay), Michigan lawmaker wants "Christian foundations" taught to school children, Christian school lawsuit, and the Mormons have some wacky beliefs but this one is a doozy... Adam-ondi-Ahman.

Texas chaplains urge school boards not to use chaplains; amputees in Oregon can keep their parts, thanks to native tribe beliefs; Christians invade artist retreat because of om symbol in a chapel; San Francisco archdiocese declares bankruptcy; and BYU updates honor code, and the unique mix of religion and spirituality at Burning Man.

School board member fights against inclusive classrooms, indicted pastor in Trump RICO case, the poor are going to hell, the great chicken nugget caper, church computers used to view porn (at an alarming rate), religious schools exempt from the law, and the Mormon Church behaves like a giant bully.

A snake falls from heaven (onto woman), Christian eBay retailer arrested, the Quran gets burned (again) causing riots (again), sham charity raises money to send Bibles to China, Jesus films are all the rage these days, an new AI app responds as Jesus, and Christians seem to be souring on Christ.

"In God We Trust" foisted on school children, company settles religious discrimination lawsuit, court rules Connecticut can enforce vaccinations for school children, AI in the military, Muslims stab gay man to death in NYC, new song tops Christian music charts, and we've had it with Richard Dawkins.

Jews and Muslims unite, Jewish stock photos, Texas church firebombed, belief in spiritual entities, update on the hijabless Iranian chess player, Fox News and the devil, and Sinead O'Connor was right about the pope and was canceled for it.

Muslims protest LGBT movement in Canada, Christians design chatbot with biblical worldview, man arrested in Turkey for looking gay, Fort Worth rejects Atheist groups banners, court blocks religious prison program in West Virginia, Einstein letter for sale, and a chat about Utah's Pioneer Day holiday.

Sweden is the place for religious book burning, Trump delivers a bunch of dog whistles, LDS Church pushes Constitution celebration, transphobic salon owner in Michigan, the UN enters the discussion about Qur'an burning, a school clinic closes, and a new museum in Scotland prompts us to talk about witches.

Minneapolis City Council dust up, religious chalk art at Arkansas governor mansion, Taliban outlaws beauty salons, denied dean, turns out Josh Hawley might be a Christian nationalist, a proposed satanic concert, and the crazy things we do when we leave religion.

Frank really ties to give us all some good news this week: US church attendance officially lower than before the pandemic (and continues to fall), SCOTUS and the mail carrier, German Catholic Church hemorrhages members, amendments to military code, atheists emerging as an important voting bloc, Mormon mom sues school district, and some confusing protests in Iraq over something an Iraqi did in Sweden.

AI-gerenated images stoke more satanic panic, a fake priest takes confessions at California restaurant, the road to Hel leads to a very beautiful place, survey in the UK, Muslim majority city council acts just like you'd expect (unless you're one of the town's liberals), Catholic hospitals, and a discussion about religions getting super fussy over the minutiae.

Prankster Democrat angers Arizona Republicans, Southern Baptists in upheaval over female clergy, study shows many American Atheists hide their non-belief, states remove statute of limitations, Utah city bans Pride Month Displays and then threatens employees, an AI clergy delivers sermon, and a conversation about the usefulness of the word "cult".

AI images of fake Satanic products at Target cause stir, pope's heirs say nope to inheriting his money, Mormon Church issues warning about voting straight Republican, Oklahoma school board approves public funding for religious school, domestic terrorists demolish abortion clinic, Baptist seminary ran up huge deficit, and our little celebration for the passing of Pat Robertson.

Parents win fight to name son Lucifer, Salt Lake suburban school district bans Bible, school board "denies" lease to church, pride flag on film shoot causes stir, India revises school textbooks, and a Q&A with out listeners.

American Atheists get Mississippi to change their license plates, Catholic priests in Chicago, Mormon Church makes large investment in UK, dorm managers fired for specifying genders, Target pulls some LGBTQ+ merchandise after conservative backlash, those shunning Jehovah's Witness, and the Mormons and their billions get the "60 Minutes" treatment.

Lauren Boebert files for divorce, California's hate speech law, Americans are switching religions, a bishop gets fired, Proud Boys are planning Pride Month disruptions, getting kicked out of the ballgame, and Betelgeuse really needs to blow up right now.

School cancels play so students produce it themselves, Florida crosses yet another anti-LGBTQIA line, Christians object to 'three-parent' babies, Pope Francis scolds the childless, Southern Baptists bleed members, IRS hikes taxes on private jets, and assigning divine meaning to dreams is a little annoying.

Leather daddies worship Jesus, professor loses her job, Anglican 'cult' leader, prisoners get new choice, Libyans face death penalty for converting to Christianity, street pirates clean up, and the Ten Commandments are just plain terrible.

"It's okay to be single," a new Christian music gets some serious funding, Mormons get outdoor lighting code changed for new temple, finally a successful lawsuit against the Mormons, a starvation cult in Kenya, a unique Mormon mission, and what to do when kooky ideas interfere with life.

Please be advised that there are trigger warnings during this episode: A church gets its power cut off for not paying their bills, a cardinal is charged for his crimes, a ritual suicide in India, an anti-trans lawmaker in Missouri, the upcoming coronation is a religious service, surprising gay violence, and a visit by Dan (ours) and Dan (not ours) from a new podcast called "Data Over Dogma."

California church fined $1.2 million for violating COVID health orders, Mormon Church gets away with not reporting child abuse, HBCU honors Mormon leader, Christians in the 'Holy Land,' Minneapolis and the call to prayer, the polygamists are pissed off, and the role of secular groups in interfaith organizations.

Catholics in the Philippines just won't get down from their crosses (literally), Christian mom denied right to adopt, Catholic charter school tests the public funding waters in Oklahoma, Jewish school principal in Melbourne charged with abuse, Mormon leader given medical excuse, a new official at NASA sworn in, and the absolute mess caused by three (mainly two) ancient religions whose followers just can't get along.

Christians make such good hypocrites, Vatican rules against itself, LDS Church keeps tearing down historic buildings, religious high schools in Maine sue state, a Connecticut miracle, Ukraine evicts monks, and Happy Jesus' Murder, everyone!

The miracle of the toes, Catholic views on the Jews, parent requests for Bible to be removed from school library, NYC Christian college in financial trouble, Catholic Church takes action against priest for advocating for victims, magazine sues over trademark infringement, and principal gets fired for allowing 'pornography' in school.

Mormons drop in the polls, Christian university sues public school district, Oklahoma school abuse disabled students (and cite the Bible), teacher uses physical violence to make student recite Pledge of Allegiance, anti-gay Mormon leader to speak at public university commencement, dioceses declare bankruptcy instead of paying victims of clergy abuse, and supposedly there's an anti-Christian bias in Hollywood.

Catholic group tracked gay priests using hookup app data, French church victims, Tennessee tries to ruin gay marriage, white supremacy on the rise, Christian charity angry they have to hire nonbelievers, John Paul (the pope and saint), and getting pretend magic right on TV.

Video surfaces of an anti-LGBTQ legislator in drag, legislation stalls in Utah, Australia schools see massive drop off in religious education enrollment, Biden administration scraps rule, some Iowa legislators propose ban on gay marriage, a holy city in peril, and our take on Lent and what it means to give stuff up (for a little while).

Superspreader event in Kentucky, Southern Baptists kick Rick Warren out, Catholic university to cut theology program, San Diego diocese hides assets to avoid paying abuse victims, how the LDS Church hid its investments, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod makes surprising announcement, and Christian nationalists poised to win another culture war battle: prayer in schools.

Utah lawmaker looks to allow pregnant women to drive in commuter lane, he Anglicans gear up for a potential skiz, Mormons revise temple ceremony, a canceled concert, lesbian teacher fired at Catholic school, a long overdue exoneration, and the Mormons are upset that the "religiously illiterate" don't know more about them.

Mormon Church investigated by SEC, kinda cool Christian school shuts down, Dutch prosecutors go after IS member, church in Southern Utah offers ayahuasca ceremonies, Democrats condemn Christian nationalism (by another name), a Pew poll, and holy days turned holidays (like Saint Valentine's Day).

West Virginia bill to require 'In God We Trust' displays in schools, Colorado baker loses appeal over transgender birthday cake, George Pell gets a funeral and one final protest, church punishes investigator they hired, BYU takes another step away from academic freedom, US Hispanic Protestant churches, and Utah's new law banning gender-affirming health care.

Minneapolis church buys gas station to stop crime, Pope Francis says something nice about gays and lesbians, Mormon Church extends birth control coverage to employees, an update about Nick Fuentes and Twitter, Scientology leader disappears amid human trafficking allegations, an ad campaign about Jesus, and a conversation about sex trafficking.

Church of England offers an empty apology, Mississippi considers a trigger law about school prayer, right wing nut job burns Quran, Hamline University reconsiders position about islamophobia, an eight year old enters monkhood, the worst country in the world for Christian prosecution, and the value of virtue signaling.

Imam blames women for drought, pastor gets away with major crime, pastor story hour, report about Kansas Catholics, SCOTUS to hear postal worker's religious claim, Cardinal Pell is dead finally, and Christianity has gotten forgiveness completely wrong.

Trans woman denied health care by "Christian" manufacturing company, new data about church attendance, US Congress doesn't represent America religiously, professor in trouble after showing image of Mohammed, man found guilty of heinous sex crimes finds Jesus, another fine product from the Trumps, and a chat about superstitions.

Utah Supreme Court sides with polygamist father, NY governor vetoes law allowing alternative to court-ordered AA, US Marines ordered to accommodate Sikh beards, Orthodox Jewish schools in NYC defraud city, in Iranian woman competes at international chess tournament without hijab, Christmas in Ukraine, and Pope Benedict XVI is dead (not that you'd notice).

Churches cancel services for Christmas, religious schools legally doxxed, New York City councilman's home attacked, Catholics defrock priest (in a good way), selling of unused churches, Amy Grant in trouble for hosting gay marriage, and over 70% of human beings live in a country that discriminates against the non-religious.

Pastor and son arrested in $8 million COVID scam, a nativity on government grounds, a darling Baphomet now adorns the Illinois Capitol, a school district's book banning policy, an attempt to outlaw porn nationwide, new baptism theme park, and Dan's evolving attitude about Christmas.

Homeless man breaks into Mormon temple to stay warm, South Dakota legislature and christianity, restaurant cancels reservations for Christian hate group, polygamous prophet with child brides caught, Christmas at the Vatican, and traveling drag queens come to Utah and get the passive aggressive treatment.

Believers' health and happiness benefits might be as fake as their god, Rideshare drivers try to ruin everyone's day, BYU Idaho fires professors, Scientology cares more about celebrities than the safety of their members, happy demographics in the UK, a Thai Buddhist monastery that knows how to PARTY, and Frank and Dan discuss [Kan]Ye's love of Hitler.

Evangelical leaders turn on the Donald (what will they do when he's the nominee?), Christian pastor raises money for theme park, Christian hate group's headquarters vandalized, legislators introduce anti-drag bill, US Religion Census has some problems, counter terrorism in Ukraine, and the terrifying rise of antisemitism in America.

Rachel sits in for Dan, and we discuss drag brunch, Iranian protests, the Mormon Church backs gay marriage, religious Americans' attitudes about the environment, and our response to the not so bad midterm elections.

Americans know very little about the Mormons (despite gobs of marketing money spent by the LDS Church), and our review of "God Forbid," the Hulu documentary about Jerry Falwell Jr's pool boy.

Possible rifts between Christian nationalists, congregation responds to anti-gay sermon, houses of worship beef up security, murder trials in Australia, atheists and political engagement, the Mormon church and their dodgy tax practices, and you might just want to brace yourself for the post midterm world.

Jewish schools in NY are failing but at least some people were getting rich in the process; meanwhile, Yeshiva University tries to placate the queer community with a non-club; poll asks if America should be a Christian nation; a Catholic diocese agrees to extreme measures; a cannabis-based church shocks the world by being bad at their job; the Canadian census shows a good trend-line; and Kate and Dan discuss the depths to which they'll sink to get rid of a political toad.

'Pornographic' mural tears Utah city apart, podcasters have (bad) advice for women, Christians react to Falwell 'pool boy' documentary, fetuses and personhood, pastor steals $900k from church, Mormon father really wants his son to serve a mission, and Christian pastors just cannot let Halloween be fun.

German mosque sounds first public call to prayer, lawyer's good deed does not go unpunished, a few BYU students stage walkout, Satanic Temple donation to school refused, Muslim parents shout down LGBTQ+ speakers at school board meeting, youth pastor hands out questionable swag, and damn, Jesus is looking good!