Thank God I'm Atheist

Let's talk exit polls, the ten wealthiest US pastors, why queer people leave religion, United Arab Emirates relaxes laws, counties with worst virus surge also were worst by voting for Trump, lots of uses for old Catholic school, and thank god those prophets were wrong about Trump.

Current Supreme Court case bodes poorly for separation of church and state, Mississippi makes progress (but not for us), two recent exorcisms in America, 'flights to nowhere' go nutty, pastors preach against COVID and get sick and/or die, Trump supporters vandalize Michigan cemetery, and Andrew Seidel from the Freedom From Religion Foundation joins us to talk about Christian Nationalism and the need to un-f*ck the courts.

Muslim world boycotts French products, Franklin Graham responds to pope's call for civil unions, school sends girl home for the wrong reason, witches try their best against Trump, a representative's tweet, farewell to James "Amazing" Randi, and Andrew Gold—journalist and podcaster—joins us to talk about his BBC documentary that follows an Argentine exorcist and the people he casts demons out of.

Sham health coverage plans under fire, pastor leaves ministry over Trump, a survey about 'nones' leaving religion, a millennial saint, possible anti-abortion sit-com, new university policy, and a discussion about news that Pope Francis supports civil unions for same-sex couples.

Uncle Mark from The How To Heretic sits in for Frank and discusses the week's news with Dan. They also have a conversation about Christians and their obsession with being persecuted all while holding all the keys to power in America.

Evangelical leaders getting sick with COVID-19, Chinese textbook fixes Bible story, Donald Trump 'literally' saves Christianity per Eric, Catholic diocese files for bankruptcy, Orthodox Jews pissed at Cuomo and de Blasio, Mormons for Biden continues their work, and Utah State Senator Derek Kitchen joins us in an inspiring conversation about the need for atheists to run for public office.

Trump mocks religious Americans, Muslim man sues employer over bottle of cognac, Christian groups march on Washington DC, cops in Idaho arrest protesters flouting mask order, COVID restrictions in UK, Icelandic church has a new take on Jesus, and a discussion about the power of religions requiring weird actions by members. Watch the speaking in tongues clip: https://youtu.be/68rEbWfOsBo Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tgiatheist

Politically active congregations, study on spirituality, Oman tells shoppers to cover up, young minister gets the boot, two "young and dumb" party promoters cause epic COVID-19 outbreak in Utah, Methodists face trouble over logo, and Frank and Dan have an idea.

Southern Baptists consider dropping 'Southern' from their official name, Wisconsin archbishop warns that skipping mass (even during COVID-19) is a 'grave sin,' a 'million' moms bothered by fruit commercial, the strange story of Utah lawmaker Steve Urquhart, a surprising survey of Iranian religious beliefs, Trump finds new way to insult Jewish Americans, and when oh when will atheists get the respect from politicians they deserve? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tgiatheist This episode's cover photography by Phil Roeder (Creative Commons): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Husband and wife in court over right to die, Senator Mike Lee upset at Mormon-owned news outlet, Pope Francis takes off his mask, LDS women form group to appose Trump, town handles disagreement with aplomb, police handle situation poorly, and it might not the be apocalypse, but it sure feels that way.

Research about religious prejudice by public school administrators, surprising results from sleep study, street preacher breaks man's leg, Eric Metaxas in trouble, survey about Christian attitudes about sex, parking lot dinosaur targeted by Christians, and what in the hell is going on with Evangelicals and QAnon?! http://foundationbeyondbelief.org/news/it-takes-a-village http://www.polkatheists.org

LDS leader defends Brigham Young, Donald Trump talks to god and god talks back, Jerry Falwell Jr. steps down from Liberty University, immigrant detention facilities refuse Muslims halal food, good news from atheists, Mormon father urges son to go on mission (by choking him), and what to do with all these churches!

South Korean Christians put nation at risk, Trump speaks the truth (but only when he shouldn't), Catholic school teachers forced to sign COVID-19 waiver, California megachurch defies court order, Kenneth Copeland canceled, social distancing in Brazil, and why we are forced to talk politics on a show about religion and secularism.

A Bible burns in Portland and wreaks havoc on the internet, Ding dong Jerry Falwell Jr. unzips his pants, a Nigerian singer blasphemes against Mohammed, a shocking truth is revealed about Americans, theories on the cause of the Beirut explosion, trouble in an Arizona school district, and the Mormon Church takes secrecy to a new level.

Billy Graham statue headed to US Capitol, Baptist pastor speaks at party for KKK leader, the Satanic Temple adopts abortion ritual, nuns face gag order, hajj numbers hit record low during COVID-19 restrictions, Florida pastor joins up with lawmaker to promote facial autonomy, and a conversation about doctors and our expectations about their personal beliefs.

New research on atheists reveals something about our nature, a beach revival, Alaska Supreme Court protects woman from religious daughter, Jason Rappoport gets COVID-19, a new scholarship, a member of Congress faces consequences, and your taxes just went to propping up the Catholic Church.

Hundreds exposed to COVID-19 at church camp, couple sues state to allow their large wedding to go forward, Bible reading down during pandemic, trans-man denied operation at Catholic hospital, the military and chaplains, Jehovah's Witnesses bully religious watchdog group, and the appeal of Trump's toxic masculinity to white evangelicals.

Flight forced to land, Mormons shirk leaders request to wear masks, the story of a church that opened too soon, the Hagia Sophia, Sudan protects some human rights, Brazilian beer brand draws ire of activists, and maybe it's time for the end of the world.

Churches that must sing, summer camps spread COVID-19 (surprise, surprise), god calls Kanye West to run for president, religious appropriation in night clubs drawn into question, Satanic Temple makes sense about Mississippi flag, US Supreme Court update, and what we grew up believing about America.

HUD threatens to pull protections for homeless transgender people, Mississippi drops racist flag (but there's a catch), more about White Jesus, a pastor in Mississippi does the right thing, recent US Supreme Court decisions, God-TV gets pulled from Israel, and a new member of the ex-Mormon community proves she's way better than the rest of us by shitting on some made up ideas about all of us.

Conversion therapy network shuts down, hajj limited due to COVID-19, Americans uncomfortable going back to church, city tries to stop muslim cemetery, Graham vs. Fauci, newspaper ad causes stir in Tennessee, and a discussion about depictions of White Jesus and the white supremacy that follows.

Supreme Court surprises nation, Vatican issues investment advice, Brigham Young was a vile racist, Trump and Uighur Muslims, a stained glass window in Boise, Washington National Cathedral lays off workers, and your in-group might be making you a bad thinker.

Catholic archbishop warns Trump, porn star rallies sex workers against Lindsey Graham, new poll on Trump and faith, a hashtag gets banned, parolee files lawsuit, Tanzania, and a discussion about believers who over-claim.

Asking what Jesus would do might not be the right question, Supreme Court rejects bid for churches to reopen, Trump and his Bible photo op, a prophet fails at prophesy, faith leaders call racists to repentance, Jerry Falwell Jr. might actually be in hot water, and a Christian father writes a horrible letter.

Churches reopen across America, conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccine reach church leaders, a wedding in Wisconsin, tithes drop off threatening survival of small churches, priest beheads man to end COVID-19, a baptism lawsuit settled, and what happens when a high profile Christian joins the atheist ranks.

LDS Church loses $8 billion, Jane Roe's deathbed confession, Texas mayor only lets men pray, yet another problem for the Museum of the Bible, a TV station in Israel, and what does it mean for churches to be reopening and how many churchgoers will stop going?

Salon tries to convince authorities it's a faith-based business (and therefore essential), Vatican faces financial woes, olive oil used to sanctify stairs, wedding venue in trouble, Australia takes action against bleach church, a theater opens, and a discussion about what happens when your beliefs become your identity.

Apparently some Christians want their very own Underground Railroad, Minneapolis violates own ordinances allowing a mosque's call to prayer, an Ohio lawmaker comes up with unique reason not to wear a mask, cardinal not okay with new rules, an update about the Russian Orthodox Church, a court ruling, and American Atheists is out with a new poll about how non-believers identify and the results are very interesting.

Pakistan cleric blames women for coronavirus, Muslim call to prayer heard in Minneapolis, Saudi Arabia introduces another reform, NYC mayor in hot water, an arrest in Nigeria, pastors dying from coronavirus at high rate, and Frank and Dan take up a hypothetical: if forced to join a religion, which would it be?

Mass funeral in Bangladesh risks lives, LDS Church pushes "Fairness for All Act" promoting discrimination, BYU gets COVID-19 relief funds, traveling flames, a pastor in Louisiana gets arrested, an ultra orthodox charity, and a discuss about Samaritan's Purse and their medical charity work.

Pastor who refuses to social distance dies from coronavirus, poll about shifting opinions in America about LGBT rights, Jim Bakker faces financial consequences for peddling bunk, a court ruling on school prayer, church showdown Ukraine, LDS think they invented Good Friday fast, and predictions from the 1990s about Mormon growth don't pan out.

Mormons hold "solemn assembly," a good time for religious leaders to get away with bad stuff, Melbourne cathedral vandalized in wake of George Pell acquittal, pope has comment about coronavirus, Jerry Falwell Jr. presses charges, landlord in California locks up church building, and what a couple of crappy holidays are Easter and Passover.

Hajj on hold, abortion during Coronavirus, COVID-19 cases linked to church gatherings, religious people getting together in defiance of lockdown orders, evangelical hospital tents set up in NYC's Central Park, zoom bombing online church services, and what we're all being forced to give up this lenten season.

Bangladeshi imam performs funeral for sex worker and later regrets it, priest give communion with shared spoon, Trump's personal bible instructor clarifies God's wrath, Irish government denies religion change, Mormon missionary fiasco at SLC airport, a proposed resolution in Pennsylvania, and our guide for not going crazy during a quarantine.

"Halal" hand sanitizer, Angel Moroni statue damaged, Muslim pilgrims refuse to self-isolate, churches refuse to close for COVID-19, European nurses, the news for the Bible Museum keeps getting worse, and cataclysmic events and our need for comfort.

American church engagement down by half since 2000, Coronavirus boosts "culture of life" according to cardinal close to pope, Alex Jones gets DWI, opposition to new burial technique, American cities rebuke India's prime minister, high school coaches still can't pray with teams, and a rundown of different religions' response to Covid-19.

Update about Iran's coronavirus situation (hint: it's bad), Lourdes denies pilgrims its healing waters (because it doesn't work against coronavirus?), rabbi indicted of charlatanism, priest denies first communion to autistic child, church-based coronavirus prevention, Argentina set to legalize abortion, and is there a difference in how to treat Mormon missionaries vs. Jehovah's Witness when they come knocking on your door.

Iran responds to Coronavirus to comedic effect, Indonesia tries the pray-it-away approach to Coronavirus, US Supreme Court turns away religious bias case, Pakistani court rules horribly, secular day at Arizona state capitol, Ash Wednesday and Coronavirus, and is there value in practicing Lent?

Jaegermeister sued over logo, trouble in the Holy Land, Hinduism and mensuration, the wacky Utah state legislature, the Southern Baptist Convention does something right, tiger widows, and does Brigham Young University's policy change about gay and lesbian students actually change anything?

Utah attempts to decriminalize polygamy, a Bible that secretes oil, a new law in Virginia, demographic update on Gen Z and nones, University of Texas receives endowment, Republican lawmaker wants to cut funding to public broadcasting over appearance of gay man on "Sesame Street," and a discussion about white supremacy and religion.

Antisemitic carvings allowed to stay on German churches, Texas attorney general's religious beliefs cited in refusal to do his job, Malaysian pilgrim arrested in Mecca for being trans, Franklin Graham's world tour stymied, international religious freedom alliance, federal court rules on the side of defendants' religious freedom, and Mitt Romney surprises the nation by showing some integrity.

Kevin Bolling from the Secular Student Alliance joins us to talk about their work on school campuses, and we do a rundown of the week's news including a bill to end bishops' automatic right to sit in House of Lords, the religious make up of the Republican and Democratic parties, Jerry Falwell Jr. has an idea, news from Central and South America, and Paula White casts a spell for "Satanic pregnancies" to miscarry.

A new eternal standard for Mormon temple clothing, China finds a new use for Uyghur Muslims, BYU hosts dancing competition featuring same-gender dance partners, bishops in France adopt new rules for baptism, Utah bans so-called LGBT conversion therapy (sort of), poll reveals public's level of knowledge about the Holocaust, and a discussion about the Doomsday Clock.

Trump defends school prayer, "anti-Catholic" laws that are about to be struck down, religious sect kills seven during ritual, Christians cede all rainbows to LGBTQ+ movement, women reach new heights in religion, trouble for the two popes, and the FFRF hit by religious judge.

Public grant to protect churches, English courts offer same protection to ethical veganism as religious belief, United Methodists separate over LGBT issues, anti-gay pastor blamed Australian fires on his being denied entry into the nation, atheist are cat people, a muslim's perspective on fake pork, and the case of the very strange lawsuit against the Mormon church.

Pope Francis gets slappy, fried chicken restaurant sends hijab wearing employee home, Brazilian production company firebombed for "gay Jesus" Christmas special, Mormon fanboy makes trailer for upcoming General Conference (see it here... https://youtu.be/UL5YojeR598), man who quit job over 666 on his paycheck doing fine, and a discussion about the status of the atheist movement and the religious right's response at the start of a new decade.

A look back at the stories we covered in 2019: Saudi phone app for men to track "their" women (from 2/9/2019); foster agencies allowed to discriminate against LGBT community (from 2/3/2019); measles outbreak among Orthodox Jews in NYC (from 4/20/2019); the distribution of religious materials at Veteran Administration hospitals (from 7/13/2019); China harvests organs from religious and political prisoners (from 06/22/2019); members of attacked synagogue oppose death penalty for shooter (from 8/31/2019); and a discussion about the rise of antisemitism (from 5/26/2019). Happy New Year, everyone!!

Christian couple looking to raise $100k for daughter's resurrection, church elder offers Arby's for sex, new guidelines for Muslim inmates at federal prisons, Pope Francis issues new rule about secrecy, Netflix releases new Christmas classic featuring a gay Jesus (Christians respond), prominent evangelical publication sides with Donald Trump's impeachment, and news breaks about Mormon Church's $100 billion stash.

Millennials' flight from religion appears permanent, men go on trial under Nigeria's anti-homosexuality laws, flight crew rejects passenger's 'Hail Satan' t-shirt, inappropriate speaker at White House Hanukkah event, trends in baby names, Vatican keeps charitable donations for themselves, and what to do when a display of devotion happens right in front of you.

Roy Moore back from the dead, family hopes for dad's resurrection (while keeping him in the other room), Jesus' manger makes a grand return to Bethlehem, a prison chaplain pleads guilty to sexual abuse, atheists take over holiday display, Jewish schools in UK try to avoid sex ed, and a talk about letting Christmas get you down.