Peter Lugten explores the origins and absurdity of the Religious Right's "culture wars." He traces the rise of Christian nationalism, including the impact of movements like Dominionism, which seeks to impose a Christian theocracy, and critiques the theological misinterpretations that fuel such efforts, arguing that the Bible does not support the politicization of religion or the attempt to create a Kingdom of God on Earth.

About the Author: Peter Lugten graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1979. His professional practice has been an unrelenting exercise in problem solving for the sake of the welfare of his patients. His philosophy has sought to solve problems related to animal, human, and planetary welfare. His paper solving the "hard problem" of consciousness has been accepted as a poster presentation at "The Science of Consciousness" conference May 2023.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/05/picketh-up-thy-marbles-and-go-home-the-origin-and-absurdity-of-the-religious-rights-culture-wars-and-why-they-should-call-them-off/

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Chris Orlet argues that the brevity of human life is a blessing, making the case against extending lifespans beyond 80 years. He critiques the push for anti-aging technologies, noting the societal, environmental, and personal drawbacks of extreme longevity.

About the Author:

Chris Orlet lives in St. Louis. His essays have appeared in Utne Reader, Philosophy Now, Hedgehog Review, The Guardian, The Smart Set, and Salon.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/05/eighty-is-enough/

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Eric Shaver explores the phenomenon of the total solar eclipse and makes a case for why secular humanists should celebrate this celestial phenomenon.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/03/gather-the-shadow-lovers/

About the Author:

Eric Shaver is outreach coordinator for the Center for Inquiry and he produces Free Inquiry Audio Edition and Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition. He has a master's degree from SUNY Buffalo, where he studied cultural anthropology and philosophy.

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry and is produced at the CFI headquarters in Amherst, NY.

Robyn E. Blumner criticizes Speaker Mike Johnson's promotion of Christian Nationalism and his efforts to undermine the separation of church and state, citing his ties to the New Apostolic Reformation and history of advocating for religiously-driven public policies. The Congressional Freethought Caucus has raised concerns about his views, especially his support for teaching young-earth creationism and pushing for a nationwide abortion ban, urging him to clarify his stance on imposing religious law over constitutional principles.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/03/speaker-mike-johnsons-christian-nationalism-gets-congressional-attention-not-the-good-kind/

About the Author:

Robyn E. Blumner is the CEO of the Center for Inquiry and the executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and, Science. She was a nationally syndicated columnist and editorial writer for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times) for sixteen years.

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Peter Uetz challenges several myths about overpopulation in his article, arguing that the real problem is excessive consumption rather than population growth alone. He emphasizes that, despite fertility rates dropping in many parts of the world, rising consumption, especially among the growing global middle class, continues to drive ecological crises like climate change and biodiversity loss.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/03/myths-about-overpopulation/

About the Author: Peter Uetz is a professor of systems biology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and a collaborator of Milton Saier. His research focuses on complex systems, such as protein networks, but also biodiversity. He received his master's degree from the University of Heidelberg in Germany for his work at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research before he was awarded a PhD for his work at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany. Uetz considers himself an environmental fundamentalist with a strict one-child policy, no car, no meat consumption, and 100 percent renewable energy in his house.

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Nicole Scott presents a portion of Benjamin Radford's lecture on 'Solar Superstitions and Moon Myths'.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/03/celestial-myths-and-superstitions/

About the Author:

Nicole Scott is the managing editor of Free Inquiry.

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry and is produced at the CFI headquarters in Amherst, NY.

Phil Zuckerman explores the complexity and moral ambiguity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drawing on his personal experiences and observations.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/03/reflections-on-a-death-spiral/

About the Author: Phil Zuckerman grew up in Southern California, but has lived in Oregon, Israel, and Denmark. He is a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College, in Claremont, California. He is the author of several books, including What it Means to Be Moral (Counterpoint Press, 2020), Society Without God (NYU Press, 2008), and Faith No More (Oxford U. Press, 2011).

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Ronald A. Lindsay critiques Gary Francione's argument that veganism is a moral imperative.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/01/is-veganism-a-moral-imperative/

About the Author:

Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine.

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Richard Dawkins reads his essay "Science, the Poetry of Reality, Jewel in Humanity's Crown," live at CSICon 2023.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/01/science-the-poetry-of-reality-jewel-in-humanitys-crown/

About the Author:

Richard Dawkins is an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and bestselling author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008. In 2006, he founded the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science, now a division of the Center for Inquiry.

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Paul Fidalgo examines the importance of "safe spaces" in secular humanism, where individuals can explore ideas, express themselves, and learn without judgment, advocating for inclusivity in humanist communities to welcome diverse perspectives and beliefs.

Read this article and find accompanying references at:

https://secularhumanism.org/2024/01/safe-to-be-weird-and-wrong/

About the Author:

Paul Fidalgo is former editor of Free Inquiry and executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism. For ten years he served as communications director of the Center for Inquiry. He holds a master's degree in political management from George Washington University, and his writing has appeared in outlets such as Religion News Service, CNN, USA Today, Dark Mountain, and Android Police. Fidalgo is also an actor and musician whose work includes five years performing with the American Shakespeare Center.

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Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.