Freethought Radio

Harvard cognitive psychologist, linguist and popular science author Steven Pinker (The Language Instinct, The Blank Slate, The Better Angels of Our Nature) gave his very first public talk about his new book, Enlightenment Now, at FFRF's 40th annual convention in Madison, Wisconsin. His optimistic talk is replayed in full on this week's show while Dan and Annie Laurie are traveling to the Central Florida Freethought Community's cruise to the Bahamas.

What's wrong with evangelist Billy Graham lying in state in the nation's capitol? Nonbelief Relief awards $75,000 in spring grants, FFRF announces four student essay contests, and unveils the new Avijit Roy Memorial Award in honor of the Bangladesh-American freethought author who was hacked to death by Islamic extremists in 2015 for his nonbelief. Then we talk with champion swimmer and freethinking Olympic athlete Rada Owen, who competed for the U.S. Olympic swimming team in Sydney, Australia in 2000.

"Thoughts and prayers" are no response to the tragedy of gun violence. Billy Graham's death leaves a legacy of divisiveness and disrespect for state/church separation. After discussing the Russians using religion as a tool to meddle in US policies, we talk with the founder of Jordanian Atheists, Mohammed al Khadra, about the challenges of being a nonbeliever in a country that outlaws blasphemy and apostasy.

Is Vice President Mike Pence delusional when he thinks Jesus is talking to him? Is a Georgia senator's proposed law (in response to FFRF victories) to allow public school teachers to pray with students constitutional? After discussing the recent Florida shooting, FFRF's "In Science We Trust" billboard in Atlanta, and hearing a child prompted by parents to call FFRF to tell us we are "going to hell," we talk with novelist Tova Mirvis, whose newest book, The Book of Separation, is a moving memoir about divorcing not only her husband, but her entire Orthodox Jewish faith.

We analyze the "Christian nationalism" remarks made by President Trump and others at today's National Prayer Breakfast. After reporting an FFRF state/church victory in Tulsa, Oklahoma, stopping police and firefighters from raising money for the Salvation Army while in uniform, we celebrate poet Philip Appleman's 91st birthday by hearing his poem "Fleas." Then we talk with Muhammad Syed, president of Ex-Muslims of North America, a group that is helping those who have left the faith and working for secular government.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson goes after FFRF on his Facebook page after we filed a lawsuit in response to his dodging of FOIA records requests relating to a White House bible study. FFRF attorney Colin McNamara tells us about another FOIA lawsuit we just filed over a Kentucky jailer who is refusing to provide documents in our investigation of prayer services at a county jail. Then we talk with Camille Beredjick, author of the new book, Queer Disbelief: Why LGBTQ Equality is an Atheist Issue.

After analyzing President Donald Trump's unctuous, divisive and erroneous remarks at a right-wing "March For Life," we dissect Vice President Mike Pence's biblically based address to the Israeli Kenesset where he mistook myth for historical fact while embracing the "people of the book." FFRF attorney Sam Grover tells us about positive developments in our lawsuit challenging a Texas judge who forces people in his courtroom to pray. Then we speak with Debra Deanne Olson, granddaughter of a California governor. Her biography (with co-author Dr. Craig Wilkinson) is The Honorable Culbert Levy Olson: Governor of California 1939-1943, Humanitarian, Ex-Mormon, Atheist.

FFRF Senior Attorney Patrick Elliott tells us about the federal lawsuit we filed today demanding that HUD Secretary Ben Carson waive fees in our FOIA request for information related to White House Bible Studies. We discuss evangelical hypocrisy, Trump's racism, FFRF's "In Science We Trust" billboard in Atlanta and Ron Reagan's FFRF ad running on MSNBC. Then we talk with 11-yr-old Bailey Harris and her father Doug Harris about their beautiful new book, I Am Stardust, introducing science to children.

Dan Barker announces the publication of his new book, Free Will Explained. After hearing about FFRF in the news and complaining about a Tennessee pastor who sexually molested a high-school girl and then apologized to his church to a standing ovation, we learn the connection between the anniversary of Otis Redding's "Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay" and Dan Barker's piano playing. Then, after hearing world-renowned classical pianist Jarred Dunn play Chopin, we speak with him (on the phone from Poland) about his freethought views, and about the views of Chopin.

The first-ever Atheist Flag, erected by FFRF member Richard Gagnon, appeared this week in Somersworth, New Hampshire. We announce the debut broadcast of FFRF's new TV Show, "Freethought Matters," beginning Sunday on CBS in Madison, Wisconsin. FFRF attorney Ryan Jayne tells us about stopping a $5,000 city grant to a church in Sitka, Alaska. Then we speak with former Southern Baptist minister John Compere, who is now an atheist working with The Clergy Project, helping other preachers and priests to leave the ministry.