Atheist Roundtable

In a new format, the Atheist Roundtable is back!  Now, with more of a roundtable format.  Tonight, Kelsey joins me to discuss morals and ethics in atheism, and I bring a story about the separation of church and state.

Join in the fun!  The awesome is overflowing!

I've talked about the evidence for god a lot.  And I've talked about how I don't find these arguments convincing.  Tonight, I'll talk about why I am not convinced and perhaps what it would take to convince me.

I want to go over a few things I used to find convincing, and why I changed my mind.  How can something that once convinced me that god was real fail to do so now?

Plus, your calls.

It's just plain awesome.

Recently, I listened to an eposode of the Thinking Atheist podcast.  Seth was doing an interview with some Christian radio hosts.  More than once, the Christian hosts asked Seth what evidence would it take for him to be a believer again.  While I thought Seth handled the question well, this question comes up often, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Plus, I want to talk about some of the reasons why I find the evidence I've seen presented for the existence of god so unconvincing.  

Plus your calls.  It's so awesome to be back!!

I got the idea for this show from my friend, Frank, who tweets at @Atheism_Tweets.  He told me to listen to the last caller on a recent episode of the Atheist Expirience.  The caller, Dana, told a heartbreaking story about her sister.  On her deathbed, Dana's sister calls to tell Dana she will go to hell for being an atheist.

I talk a lot on this show about the atheist community.  The hosts of the show did a good job of trying to surround the caller with support and love.  I'm glad Dana was able to find some suport and help.

But she shouldn't have to.  And so I want to talk about hell, the fear it causes, and why all superstitions about the afterlife are harmful.

Plus your calls.

We bring the awesome!!

I've changed my thinking since I was a believer.  Before, penance was something I did to make up for sin.  It was a way to show my desire to heal a broken relationship with the god I thought was real.  Now that I no longer believe, what does the concept of penance hold for me?

I want to talk about how the idea of penance has evolved for me.  I think it's especially important in light of recent political events.  Now more than ever, we need more voices to be heard.

Plus, your calls.

Making the awesome saucy again.

I recently listened to the debate between Matt Slick and David Smalley.  The topic was the morality of the god of the Old Testament, but since the topic dealt with morality, I already knew what Matt Slick would say.  He's been saying it for years. 

Perhaps you'll be surprised to find I agree with just as much of what Slick said as I do with what Smalley said.  I actually think they are both right, and also they are both wrong.  I think the difference is so subtle, it's hard to find.  I'll try to suss it out tonight.

Plus your calls.

The awesome is legion.

I've been a secular wedding officiant for a while now.  I've done a couple of weddings, even one for a christian couple.  Sometimes, people ask what the importance of getting married is for the atheist.

I've been married for 18 years.  I'll tell you why I'm married, why I think the atheists I've married wanted it, and why it's important.  

Plus I got a couple other things on my mind.  

Do you have something on your mnd?  Call and be part of the awesomeness!!

"You can't reason someone out of a position they did not reson themselves into."  Or so the saying goes.  You've heard it over and over from your atheist friends.  Well, I disagree.

Not entirely.  I don't think religion is a position one uses reason to reach.  But at the same time, I also don't think that means people who have faith are unreasonable people.  I just think they hold ideas to be true for bad reasons.

I'll give my perspective on how reason and logic work when we land on beliefs, and how they help us when those beliefs need to be challenged.

Plus your calls.

Let the awesomness begin.

It's hard to find a conversation with a christian believer that does not involve the bible at some point.  Sooner or later you will have some quote thrown at you.  I find it less interesting in what the quote says, and more intersting what the choice of quote tells me about the person who chose it.

We all know people cherry pick the bible, but what are the cherries?  When two people go to this book and come away with such varying views, it says less about the book than it does the pickers of the cheries.

Plus, a brief conversation I had on Facebook this week.  Very brief.

Look!!  The awesomeness comes two weeks in a row!!

I think it's about time I talked about this election.  I don't do a lot of politics, but I think this election is crazy enough to talk about it some.  While this may not have much to do woth atheism, it's what's been on my mind lately.

I hear so much from people who are skeptical about our candidates.  And with good reason.  But is that a good enough reason to stay home or vote for a third party?

I'll give my thoughts tonight.

Got 2 cents?  Call and give 'em!

Oh, the awesomeness!!