Send us a text

This segment explores one of the most difficult questions atheists face: what do you say to someone who is dying when you don’t share their faith in heaven or an afterlife? Our panel shares personal experiences with parents and loved ones, the challenge of offering comfort without false promises, and why listening often matters more than words. It’s a candid conversation about compassion, authenticity, and doing no harm at the end of life. 

💬 Viewer Question
How would you comfort a loved one who is dying if you don’t believe in heaven or an afterlife?

📑 Relevant Topics / Chapter Headings

• The Question: Comforting Without Afterlife Promises
• Shared Experiences and Memories as Comfort
• Personal Stories: Parents, Deathbeds, and Difficult Goodbyes
• Why “Do No Harm” Matters in Grief Conversations
• Religion’s Pressure vs. Secular Compassion

📚 Suggested Reading List (with inline links)

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande — A profound exploration of aging, medicine, and how we confront death with dignity and compassion. https://amzn.to/4p1gGXN

The Worm at the Core by Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, and Tom Pyszczynski — An evidence-based look at how the fear of death shapes human behavior and culture. https://amzn.to/3HxKx9o

Mortality by Christopher Hitchens — A candid collection of essays written during Hitchens’s own battle with terminal cancer. https://amzn.to/4m5zXol

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan — A defense of scientific thinking and skepticism, full of tools for navigating belief systems with clarity. https://amzn.to/3IL1QUt

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

What does the concept of sin mean if you remove God from the picture? In this episode, atheists wrestle with the idea of sin, exploring whether it should be redefined or abandoned altogether. They discuss cultural norms, ethical responsibility, and the role of sin as a tool of control in religious communities.

The conversation also dives into institutional abuse, forgiveness at the “11th hour,” and how secular ethics provide a stronger framework for justice and compassion than theology ever did.

💬 Viewer Question
 Do you think the word “sin” has any place outside religion, or should we abandon it completely?
 
 📑 Relevant Topics / Chapter Headings
 
 Defining “Sin” Beyond Christianity
 
 Morality as Social Norms and Mores
 
 Ethics vs. Religious Rules
 
 Sin as a Weapon of Control
 
 Institutional Abuse and Forgiveness
 
 Secular Alternatives to “Sin”
 
 📚 Suggested Reading List
 
 Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel Dennett — Examines religion from a scientific perspective, explaining how natural processes shape belief.
 https://amzn.to/45JWYZf

Godless Americana: Race and Religious Rebels by Sikivu Hutchinson — Explores race, gender, and atheism, focusing on the Black atheist experience.
https://amzn.to/45iA2yD

Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible by Jerry A. Coyne — A sharp look at why religion and science clash, especially on origins and evidence.
https://amzn.to/3IUdXib

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

This episode examines prayer from a psychological rather than theological perspective. While prayer doesn't produce supernatural results, it does provide genuine benefits through mechanisms like structured self-reflection, ritual comfort, and social connection. We explore the placebo effect in religious practice, the neuroscience of repetitive ritual, and why understanding prayer's natural benefits doesn't require dismissing its value entirely.

Topics covered include intercessory prayer studies, the dangerous side of replacing action with prayer, and how secular practices like meditation tap into the same psychological mechanisms that make religious prayer effective.

💬 Viewer Question
How has prayer—or any quiet ritual—helped you feel more grounded or connected in a difficult moment?

📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings

Placebo Effect of Prayer

Structured Self-Talk and Ritual

Psychology Behind Prayer’s Comfort

Harm When Prayer Replaces Action

Prayer and Mindfulness Overlap

Group Prayer as Social Bonding

Reframing Prayer Without Supernatural Claims

📚 Suggested Reading List (3–5 resources, from your spreadsheet)

Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett — Examines religion through science and explores the natural processes behind spiritual experiences. https://amzn.to/45JWYZf

Grief Works by Julia Samuel — A therapist shares stories of grief and shows how structured reflection supports healing. https://amzn.to/4oCYaEQ

Godless by Dan Barker — A former evangelical shares his journey away from belief, showing how meaning survives without supernatural claims. https://amzn.to/3T0toY5

Faith Versus Fact by Jerry A. Coyne — Looks at why religious belief and science often clash, and how secular thought offers alternative grounding. https://amzn.to/3IUdXib

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

This Roundtable asks big questions about life after faith. What does “sin” mean when you leave religion behind? How do atheists define morality, deal with religious influence in medical spaces, and navigate the pain of deconstruction? The panel unpacks hypocrisy, cultural double standards, and the struggle to speak openly about unbelief.

Topics Covered:

• Redefining sin through secular ethics
• Religious influence in healthcare and counseling
• The pain of leaving ministry and losing community
• Double standards: why believers proselytize but expect atheists to stay silent
• Building supportive spaces for deconstruction and doubt

📚 2. Recommended Reading & Resources

1. The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
   Author: Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan
   Description: A defense of scientific skepticism against superstition and religious control, tying directly to themes of “sin” and ethics.
   URL: https://amzn.to/3IL1QUt
   
   
2. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
   Author: Christopher Hitchens
   Description: A sharp critique of religion’s moral authority and its hypocrisy, echoing the panel’s discussion of sin, forgiveness, and abuse.
   URL: https://amzn.to/3ZVLSg9
   
   
3. Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion
   Author: Marlene Winell
   Description: Practical help for those experiencing pain and loneliness after deconversion, matching the panel’s focus on former clergy and believers feeling lost.
   URL: https://amzn.to/3COhu8F
   
   
4. Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
   Author: Daniel Dennett
   Description: A philosophical exploration of how religion evolved and why its claims about morality need reevaluation.
   URL: https://amzn.to/45JWYZf

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

In this powerful conversation, we explore the deep contradictions between Christian scripture and the lived Black experience, especially when it comes to slavery. Our guest shares her personal journey from belief to atheism, shaped by critical questioning within the church and a confrontation with biblical passages that justified slavery. What happens when a faith tradition used to oppress is also the one embraced by the oppressed?

This isn’t about attacking individuals, it’s about examining dangerous ideas with honesty, curiosity, and humanity.

Relevant Topics / Chapter Headings
The Same Bible, Two Churches: How Segregation Was Justified

The Slavery Verses That Broke My Faith

Religious Institutions That Profited From Slavery

When Black Faith Meets Black History

Why Critical Thinking Is Not Encouraged in Church

Slavery in the Bible vs. Slavery in America—Does It Matter?

Is God Moral If He Allows Slavery?

Can Religion Truly Uplift the Oppressed?

Engaging Religious Ideas Without Attacking People

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

Meet Larry Warren, a man whose journey from Episcopalian choir boy to confident atheist mirrors the experience of countless Americans who quietly questioned their faith for decades before the internet gave them the tools to understand their doubts. Larry's story is refreshingly relatable—no dramatic deconversion moment, no religious trauma, just a gradual realization that began in his teenage years and crystallized in his late 40s.

What makes Larry's perspective valuable is how he represents the "casual Christian" experience that so many Americans share. Raised in the mild Midwestern Episcopalian tradition, Larry sang in the choir, got confirmed, and went through all the religious motions—until adolescent questions met with divine silence made him slowly drift away. Unlike many atheist stories, Larry's journey wasn't triggered by tragedy or scandal, but by the simple accumulation of unanswered questions and logical inconsistencies.

Larry's candid discussion reveals how the rise of the internet fundamentally changed the atheist experience. For the first time, people like Larry could access debates, essays, and communities that validated their long-held doubts. His realization that he'd "probably been an atheist since age 13-14" but just never had the tools to explore it speaks to thousands of viewers who may be in similar situations.

As a husband and father who raised two children without religion—successfully, as both are now confident non-believers—Larry offers practical wisdom about secular parenting in a religious society. His approach emphasized facts, science, and critical thinking rather than anti-religious indoctrination, showing that children can develop strong moral foundations without supernatural beliefs.

What You'll Discover:

-How "casual Christianity" often masks deeper doubts and questions

-Why the internet revolutionized the atheist coming-out experience

-Practical strategies for raising confident, moral children without religion

-How to handle family friction when religious parents become more fundamentalist

-The difference between "I don't believe in God" vs "I believe there is no God"

-Why atheist social groups matter more than skeptics might think

-Common misconceptions about atheist morality and meaning-making

-How losing faith can actually reduce stress and increase confidence

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

This episode examines the tragic Catholic school shooting and the reactions that followed. We unpack the immediate framing of the suspect’s identity as trans and atheist, and the way partisan lines shape the headlines. We also reflect on questions of justice, punishment, and personal morality in the aftermath of violence. 

Viewer Question:

Do you think the media focuses too much on a suspect’s identity instead of the root causes of violence?

📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings

Opening Reactions to the Shooting

Justice, Punishment, and Personal Morality

The Suspect’s Identity in Media Coverage

Partisan Splits: Right vs. Left Narratives

Bullying, Mental Health, and Root Causes

📚 Recommended Reading & Resources

(Please provide your Atheist Reading List link so I can pull in raw Amazon URLs where they exist. For now, I’ll flag links as missing.)

God and Guns in America
Author: Michael W. Austin
Brief Description: Explores the intersection of religion, culture, and America’s gun obsession, offering context for tragedies like this.
URL: https://amzn.to/4mul8fQ

The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic
Authors: Jillian Peterson and James Densley
Brief Description: Research-based insights into mass shootings in America, with data on who commits them and how to prevent future violence.
URL:: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419752952


Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics
Author: R. Marie Griffith
Brief Description: Examines how religious narratives about gender and identity feed into wider cultural conflicts, often amplified in crises.
https://amzn.to/47R8eUB


Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
Author: Kristin Kobes Du Mez
Brief Description: Shows how masculinity, Christianity, and gun culture intertwine, shaping attitudes that fuel both extremism and scapegoating.
URL:: https://www.amazon.com/dp/163149905X

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

In this Mike Drop episode, Mike Smithgall explores Penn Jillette’s sharp observation that courts recognize insanity as a defense, but never “God told me to do it.” Why? Because the law must rest on evidence, not revelation.

Mike unpacks the secular foundation of law, the distinction between mental capacity and religious belief, and the dangers of allowing divine authority into legal defenses. Drawing on history, cultural context, and real-world cases, this episode shows why secularism protects fairness and accountability for all.

💬 Viewer Question
Do you think the justice system handles religion fairly, or does it still give faith too much influence?
________________________________________
📑 Relevant Topics or Chapter Headings
• Intro: Why “God Told Me To Do It” Isn’t in Courtrooms
• The Secular Bedrock of Law ⚖️
• Mental Capacity vs. Religious Conviction 🧠
• The Problem with Divine Authority ✝️
• Examples and Consequences 🔥
• Power, Control, and Responsibility ⚡
• What This Tells Us About Secularism 🌍
• Outro
________________________________________
📚 Suggested Reading List
1. The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan — https://amzn.to/3IL1QUt
A powerful defense of science and skepticism, showing why evidence must guide our beliefs instead of personal revelation.

2. Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett — https://amzn.to/45JWYZf
Explores religion from a scientific perspective, analyzing why humans believe and how belief systems shape society.

3. God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens — https://amzn.to/3ZVLSg9
A sharp critique of religion’s influence on law, politics, and morality, arguing for secularism as a safeguard of freedom.

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

What happens when faith and identity collide? Cynthia McDonald shares her powerful journey from Christian belief to unapologetic atheism—and how that decision sparked unexpected reactions within her community. In this episode of "Ask an Atheist," we talk about religion in Black culture, breaking free from indoctrination, and what it really means to be true to yourself. Cynthia also shares her work with Black Nonbelievers and the Atheist Community of Austin.

Question of the day:
Have you ever felt like leaving religion made others question your identity? How did you handle it?

Relevant Topics / Chapter Headings:
Introduction to Cynthia McDonald and Black Nonbelievers

Religion and Leadership in Black Communities

Cultural Identity and Atheism: “Am I Betraying My Blackness?”

From Episcopal Roots to Gospel Choirs

The Role of Emotion and Performance in Church

The Biblical Justification of Slavery: A Turning Point

The Impact of Church Doctrine on Self-Worth and Health

Social Consequences of Leaving Religion

Myths and Misconceptions About Black Atheists

Church Hurt: The Unspoken Catalyst

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media

Send us a text

In this episode, we explore the question many wrestle with while deconstructing: What if I’m wrong? We look at Pascal’s Wager, the idea of being deceived by Satan, and how authoritarian religious systems discourage critical thought. The discussion ranges from absurdities like Noah’s Ark to the deeper problem of outsourcing reasoning to leaders who claim to speak for God.

This is a raw, thoughtful, and often humorous look at the mental journey out of belief, the role of evidence, and why being genuine matters more than pretending to believe.

💬 Viewer Question

When you started questioning religion, were you ever told it was “the devil working in you”? How did you respond?

📑 Relevant Topics / Chapter Headings

The Fear of Being Wrong

Pascal’s Wager Revisited

“It’s Just the Devil” — A Common Response to Doubt

The Absurdities of Noah’s Ark

Critical Thinking vs. Authoritarian Control

Rejecting Men Who Claim to Speak for God

Absurd Beliefs and Atrocities

📚 Suggested Reading List

God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens — https://amzn.to/3ZVLSg9
A sharp critique of religion that highlights contradictions, authoritarianism, and the dangers of belief.

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan — https://amzn.to/3IL1QUt
A powerful defense of critical thinking and scientific skepticism in the face of superstition.

Breaking the Spell by Daniel C. Dennett — https://amzn.to/45JWYZf
An exploration of why religions command belief and how questioning them opens paths to reason.

The Portable Voltaire by Voltaire — https://amzn.to/41LfaPk

Classic writings, including the famous line: “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

Faith vs. Fact by Jerry A. Coyne — https://amzn.to/3IUdXib
A clear argument that religious belief and evidence-based reasoning are fundamentally incompatible.

Visit us at www.Atheistville.com for more great content
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville
💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACT
Check us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Atheistville
🔥 New episodes weekly—Mike Drop, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable
© 2025 Atheistville Media