This week we’re joined by Krystal Moore from the Jack Mormon Comedy Hour. We have a lot of theocracy at all levels of the US government, thoughts and prayers are not enough, YouTube taking on Nazis, and more.Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message using htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeINTROThis week we’re joined by Krystal Moore from the Jack Mormon Comedy Hour. We have a lot of theocracy at all levels of the US government, thoughts and prayers are not enough, YouTube taking on Nazis, and more.NEWSThe State Department wantsto base human rights on ‘Natural Law’The US State Department is creating a new commission promoting human rights around the world. This sounds like a good thing, right?Since this is the Trump administration you would be right to be skeptical. The commission will be defining human rights based on “Natural Law”, an old concept co-opted by the Catholic Church in the middle ages. In modern Christian Nationalist usage, “Natural Law” is marriage is between one man and one woman, abortion is murder, the only appropriate place for a woman is at home with the kids, and basically any and all conservative Christian dogma they want to push.Utah school board members compare themselves to Galileo while trying to block teaching Earth is billions of years oldThe Utah state school board overwhelmingly approved the new science standards by a margin of 11 to 4. The four conservatives who voted against the standards wanted “both sides” to be presented on evolution and climate change. One member tried to get the age of the earth removed from the standard and another wanted students to study whether water vapor was responsible for climate change rather than carbon.To justify her vote Lisa Cummins said “Galileo was mocked and ridiculed. If we shut down that discussion, that’s not critical thinking.”Tennessee prosecutor: Gay people not entitled to domestic violence protectionsCraig Northcott is the District Attorney of Coffee County, Tennessee and special prosecutor investigating the state’s House speaker. He’s already gotten some scrutiny for claiming that Muslims don’t have constitutional rights, but NewsChannel5 from Nashville found a video from a Bible conference with some interesting views for a prosecutor.Watch “Virginia Governor Ralph Northam asks for ‘votes and laws, not thoughts and prayers’12 people died last week in a Virginia Beach mass shooting and in response Governor Ralph Northam is proposing a number of rather reasonable regulations to try to stop mass shootings and doesn’t think thoughts and prayers are enough.YouTube just banned supremacist content, and thousands of channels are about to be removedIdaho’s first case of measles since 2001 confirmed in Latah CountyFEEDBACKRandy via FacebookSUPPORTThis episode is brought to you by:Jimmy NinetoesDaniel MRebecca PPat Acks from the Humanists of IdahoDarryl GRachel BGeorge GKim BSoJoJenErik from WyomingThe Flying SkepticAnd by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward.You can find us online at www.htotw.com, follow us on Twitter @AtheistNomads, like us on Facebook, email us at [email protected], and leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe.Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred.DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Support the show

This week we’re joined by Jason Ward. We wrap up with the Russian Orthodox Church. In the news Russia is fueling the antivax movement, SCOTUS gets one wrong and one right, Theocrats in Alabama are destroying marriage, and more!Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message using htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeDustin’ off the Degree - Russian Orthodox Churches in the USThis week we’re resuming the Dustin off the Degree series on Orthodox Christianity. That started in Episode 297 and continued in episodes 298 and 299.The Russian Orthodox Church’s history in Russia is long and it’s history in the United States is convoluted. Why? Empire, revolution, and immigration. The end result is the various Russian churches within the US.Orthodox Church in AmericaThe oldest is the Orthodox Church in America which got its start when a priest was sent to Kodiak Island where a Russian colony was being established in what was then Russian Alaska in 1794. Part of why the priest was sent was because there were already Russian Orthodox Christians among the Alaskan Natives in the Aleutian islands, having been converted during trade contact with Siberian fur traders. By 1796 one of the priests was consecrated a Bishop and just two years later he returned to Russia to report to the Imperial authorities about how the natives were being treated in the colony. He died during his return and he was not replaced. In 1811 the episcopal see in Alaska was officially closed.In 1824 another priest was sent to Alaska and in 1840 he was made Bishop of Kamchatka, the Kurile and Aleutian Islands, taking the name Innocent.In 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire, which prompted the Diocese to be reorganized as the Aleutian Islands and Alaska and after a church was established in San Francisco and the episcopal see moved to San Francisco the diocese was renamed Aleutian Islands and America.Once they were in the continental United States the church quickly became multiethnic as other Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic immigrants joined with them. This all continued until the Bolsheviks took over in Russia. Many of the non-Russian churches joined with their own national churches, such as Greek churches moving to the Greek Orthodox Church of America and the Antiochian Orthodox churches that has been founded by a Syrian priest and under the support and funding of the Russian Orthodox Church.Patriarch Tikhon, who had previously been the Archbishop in the US, resisted the communist government. Before he was sent to prison he directed churches outside of Russia to become self governing until normal communication and relations could be restored. However, when communication was restored this group in the US refused to give up their self governance calling themselves the American Metropolia. Finally in 1970 they were able to patch things up with the Moscow Patriarchate which agreed to grant them Autocephaly, making them an independent Orthodox Church taking the name Orthodox Church in America.They are recognized by the Russian church and a few other Slavic churches, but not by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople who objects under the claim that the Russian Patriarch did not have the right because he under Soviet control.The Orthodox Church in America continues to this day and considering a possible merger with the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Diocese in the United States and they are part of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, which churches under the Russian Patriarchate have left as a result of the schism between Moscow and Constantinople over Ukraine.Most of the members of the OCA today are not ethnically Russian. They have a proportionately large number of members from Alaskan Native and non-Russian Slavic populations within the US and a decent number of m

Support the show

While recording the opening Kylie took her first steps!!! This week we talk about the strategy behind the abortion bans and have the fourth hour from the episode 300 live stream with Merry Cole with talk about babies and answering listener questions. Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message using htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeThis episode is brought to you by:Jimmy NinetoesDaniel MRebecca PPat Acks from the Humanists of IdahoDarryl GRachel BGeorge GKim BSoJoJenErik from WyomingThe Flying SkepticAnd by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward.You can find us online at www.htotw.com, follow us on Twitter @AtheistNomads, like us on Facebook, email us at [email protected], and leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe.Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred.DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Support the show

This week we are joined by local comedian Chris Sundberg and talk about the variety of Christian worship services, Pence whining at Liberty University, vaccine exemptions, MMS, abortion, head scarfs, and a bigot pastor being excluded from Ireland.Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message using htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeAnnouncementsAds are coming.New membership platform will be launching soon, along with some other website changes. There will be a member feed that will always be ad free.DUSTIN' OFF THE DEGREE - Worship differences between Protestant, Catholic, and OrthodoxMega ChurchBlack EvangelicalWhite Low Church ProtestantWhite High Church ProtestantRoman CatholicEastern OrthodoxNEWSMike Pence Whines to Liberty Graduates: It’s Now “Fashionable to Ridicule” FaithParents no longer can claim personal, philosophical exemption for measles vaccine in WashingtonUS pastor runs network giving 50,000 Ugandans bleach-based ‘miracle cure’Alabama state Sen. Bobby Singleton says near-total abortion bill passage ‘raped women last night’Ontario’s highest court rules doctors must give referrals for services they opposeAustria bans Muslim head scarfs in primary schools but not Jewish yarmulkes and Sikh patkasAnti-gay preacher is first-ever banned from Ireland under exclusion powersFEEDBACKPetra via emailSUPPORTThis episode is brought to you by:Jimmy NinetoesDaniel MRebecca PPat Acks from the Humanists of IdahoDarryl GRachel BGeorge GKim BSoJoJenErik from WyomingThe Flying SkepticAnd by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward.You can find us online at www.htotw.com, follow us on Twitter @AtheistNomads, like us on Facebook, email us at [email protected], and leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe.Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred.DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Support the show

This week we have the second hour of the episode 300 live stream with Jason Ward. We talk about the science of religious fundamentalism, the effect of religion on child development, caffeine, and more.Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message using htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeThis episode is brought to you by:Jimmy NinetoesSallyDaniel MRebecca PPat Acks from the Humanists of IdahoDarryl GRachel BGeorge GKim BSoJoJenErik from WyomingThe Flying SkepticAnd by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward.You can find us online at www.htotw.com, follow us on Twitter @AtheistNomads, like us on Facebook, email us at [email protected], and leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe.Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred.DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Support the show

The views expressed in this episode absolutely do not in any way represent the view of my employer. Which is in part why I am looking for a new job.Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message using htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeDustin’ off the Degree - “I’ll see your jihad and raise you a crusade”On my birthday we saw a sticker on a car that read “I’ll see your jihad and raise you a crusade” among other, equally troubling stickers. As the disgust faded I realized this was a great topic for a Dustin' Off the Degree. What do Jihad and Crusade mean, and what is worse?Jihad is a holy struggle in the defense of Islam. The concept requires that it be a defensive war and has to be to protect the faith. Examples would be what the Muslim kingdoms fighting against the Crusades were doing and the Afghan mujaheddin defending against the Soviet Union’s invasion and occupation in the 1980s. After the Soviet Union withdrew some of the mujaheddin formed Al Qaeda.Al Qaeda viewed western influence in the Arab and Islamic world as an attack on Islam, so they viewed their terrorist attacks as holy jihad, defending Islam against outside threats.A Crusade is a Christian holy war and the First Crusade was theoretically supposed to defend pilgrimage routes in the Levant, but when the armies arrived they killed Muslims, Jews, and Arab Christians indiscriminately and established crusader kingdoms that subjugated anyone who didn’t follow the Roman church. This was followed up with three other Crusades and ended with Muslim kingdoms back in control of the region.However, the crusades continued. There was the reconquista, a holy crusade to aid the Christian kingdoms in what is now Spain and Portugal drive out the Muslim emirate ruling most of the Iberian peninsula. The same year the reconquista was completed Columbus arrived in the Caribbean and Conquistadors began crossing the ocean on a crusade to convert and conquer the heathens.German crusaders, namely the Teutonic knights, were sent to the east for the Slavic crusades to convert and conquer the heathen Slavs in the lands between the Holy Roman Empire and Russia. This resulted in the establishment of crusader states and eventually lead to the establishment of Prussia.Since then Protestants have taken the term and used it to mean evangelism as in an evangelistic crusade or Campus Crusade for Christ.I do have to say that I’m glad that Christians have taken and watered down the concept, but that hasn’t been universal. George W Bush publicly and repeatedly described the War on Terror as a crusade. And the pickup I saw the sticker also had an Iraq War sticker, so it would appear that this soldier got the message loud and clear.So did a lot of Muslims, this was only confirmed when Christian Armies from the west invaded Iraq as part of this Crusade. Sure, Saddam Hussein was a bad guy and needed to go, but this provided evidence to some that the extremists who had already started the Jihad were right.After Saddam Hussein had been overthrown Al Qaeda in Iraq formed to fight against US and coalition troops as well as the government they backed, all as part of a jihad, since if history has any lessons, then jihad is the response to crusader armies.Of course this goes both ways. The September 11 attacks claimed to be a jihad, which caused a lot of Americans to view it as Islam attacking them. Using this kind of language has a tendency to push people to more extreme views and being okay with more extreme responses.NEWSCalifornia man drives into pedestrians he thought were MuslimAn Iraq War veteran with PTSD was on his way to a Bible study when he saw brown people he thought might be Muslim in the crosswalk ahead of him. Rather than stop and let them cross he stepped on the gas and plowed his car into the crowd injuring 8 people of South Asian descent.

Support the show

The first half is Dustin and Lauren catch up on the news and the second half is some of the last hour of the 300 minute live stream with Erin.Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message using htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeNEWS2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombingsJewish effigy hanged and burned in ‘disturbing’ Easter ritual in PolandNotre Dame fireBrunei sends letter to EU asking for ‘tolerance’Emperor performs ritual to report abdication to Shinto godsMueller ReportBachmann thinks Trump is the most “godly, biblical” presidentAs Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish communities merge in Israel they are debating about whether or not legumes are okay during PassoverFEEDBACKVinny from New York via emailDanielle via PatreonThis episode is brought to you by:Jimmy NinetoesSallyDaniel MRebecca PPat Acks from the Humanists of IdahoDarryl GRachel BGeorge GKim BSoJoJenErik from WyomingThe Flying SkepticAnd by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward.You can find us online at www.htotw.com, follow us on Twitter @AtheistNomads, like us on Facebook, email us at [email protected], and leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe.Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred.DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Support the show

This was recorded as the first hour of our 300 minute Episode 300 live stream.We break from the normal format and Erin asks Dustin about how this all got started. Dustin talks about starting the show, blogging, and leaving the seminary. At the tail end we are joined by Jason Warde.Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message at htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeSUPPORTNew patron - SallyDonation - Vinny from New YorkDonation - DanielleThis episode is brought to you by:Jimmy NinetoesDanielle MRebecca PPat Acks from the Humanists of IdahoDarryl GRachel BGeorge GKim BSoJoJenErik from WyomingThe Flying SkepticAnd by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward.You can find us online at www.htotw.com, follow us on Twitter @AtheistNomads, like us on Facebook, email us at [email protected], and leave us a voice message using SpeakPipe.Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred.DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Support the show

This week we wrap up on the Russian portion of the history of the Russian Orthodox church and catch up on the news. Sorry this one is a few hours late, Dustin's recovering from pneumonia.Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message at (541) 203-0666 or htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeANNOUNCEMENTSEpisode 300 live streamGive away - Two copies of the SGU bookSend questions, discussion requests, or congratulations via Speak Pipe or emailVoicemail line will be retired after the live streamFacebook page moderationDUSTIN' OFF THE DEGREEVladimir’s Church Part 2: Patriarchs to PutinNEWSRussia has reinstated prison yoga classes, dismissing claim from theologian that it will make prisoners gay and cause riots. Last year two Russian prisons started offering yoga classes, but then a theology professor wrote a paper claiming that it would turn the prisoners gay and lead to riots. This got the support of some right wing politicians and the prison system put it on hold and competed a study into the claims which they found to be complete bull shit and the classes have been reinstated.Texas prisons are banning all chaplains from executionsThe US Supreme Court ruled that Texas could not execute a Buddhist man without his chaplain in the chamber since they do allow Christian and Muslim chaplains to be present. If this sounds familiar, it’s because we covered a similar story from Alabama where the Muslim inmate’s request to have an Imam present was denied with the explanation being that he waited too long.This time to request was apparently made early enough and it was determined that all chaplains or none needed to be allowed. Texas decided on none.Texas bill would classify abortion as homicide and allow for the death penalty. In a stark change in tactics, a Texas bill would classify abortion as murder and eligible for the death penalty. Yes, this is a bill that is so “pro life” that they want the state to start executing women for ending pregnancies.Old Texas bill to prohibit male masturbationWe have a story that’s two years old, but it’s making the rounds again, Erin… Muslim cleric at India’s largest seminary issued a fatwa banning women from watching soccer. One of the top clerics at India’s largest Muslim seminary has issued a fatwa against women watching soccer. The rational is that women would get so distracted and aroused by all the bare thighs that they probably wouldn’t even notice if someone scores.New York City measles emergency: get vaccinated or face fineNew York City has been dealing with the worst measles outbreak they’ve seen since 1991 that has been spreading through the Orthodox Jewish community since October. Previous efforts to contain the outbreak have failed and now the mayor has, in his latest emergency declaration, ordered that those who have not been vaccinated or have evidence of a previous infection will be fined $1000.About half of voters think Christian Nationalism is a threat. Nearly half of white evangelicals don’t see it as a threat at all. No religion is in a statistical tie with evangelicals and Catholics in new survey This episode is brought to you by:Jimmy NinetoesDaniel MRebecca PPat Acks from the Humanists of IdahoDarryl GRachel BGeorge GKim BSoJoJenErik from WyomingThe Flying SkepticAnd by our $1 patrons and those who want no reward.You can find us online at www.htotw.com, follow us on Twitter @AtheistNomads, like us on Facebook, email us at [email protected], and leave us a voice mail message at (541) 203-0666.Theme music is provided by Sturdy Fred.DOWNLOAD EPISODE

Support the show

This week we are joined by KC Hunt and talk about the origins and early history of the Russian Orthodox Church, cults, thanking God for floods, anti-vax because of the Bible, burning Harry Potter, and more!Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message at (541) 203-0666 or htotw.com/speakpipeSupport the show at htotw.com/donateSubscribe at htotw.com/subscribeDustin’ off the Degree - Vladimir’s Church Part 1: Vikings to MongolsFor this week’s Dustin’ off the Degree we’re going to talk about the Russian Orthodox Church’s history and origin. This organization is not to be confused with the Orthodox Church in America or the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, both of which have headquarters in New York. It is also worth noting that the Russian Orthodox Church has not been in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople since October 15, 2018. We’ll talk about all of this modern stuff next week.By the 750s CE Vikings began to settle in the Volga river region of Eastern Europe. They were known as the Varangian, a term of Greek origin, and also as the Rus’. Over the next century they helped facilitate access to trade with the Byzantine Empire, served as mercenaries for the Empire, and began to rule more and more territory around their settlements. According to legend the native Slavs and Finns rebelled against them in 862 forcing them to return to Scandinavia, but the Slavic and Finnish tribes then began to fight against each other so they invited the Rus’ to return and rule over them establishing the Novgorod Rus’.Once they were back in control the Rus’ continued to expand their power and control across Eastern Europe. After conquering the Khazar Empire they moved their capital to Kiev, giving them the name they are best known for the Kievan Rus’.At the same time as all of this was happening the Orthodox Church was sending missionaries north and in the 860s two Byzantine monks translated the Bible into what would become Old Church Slavonic and that same decade a bishop was sent to Novgorod. Christianity spread quickly enough through the Rus’ that Princess Olga, who was regent for her son from 945 to 960 was the first Christian ruler of the Rus’.Olga’s grandson, Vladimir the Great had to fight his way to the throne with the help of some Norwegian relatives, he then tried to undo some of the Christianiatization of the Rus’ that had been going on, but his reforms turned out not to be popular so he decided he needed a new religion. There are three stories of how he chose which one:The first is that he invited the surrounding religions to make their cases for why he should pick them. He rejected Islam because of circumcision and the prohibition of alcohol and pork, saying “Drinking is the Joy of the Rus”. He then rejected Judaism because the loss of Jerusalem was evidence that they had lost God’s favor.The second story is that he sent envoys out to study the religions and report back. The first went to the Muslim Bulgarians and found them to be joyless. The second went to Germany and found no beauty. The third went to Constantinople and during a religious festival and couldn’t tell if he was in heaven or on earth.The third is that in 988 the Byzantine Emperor was losing a Civil War and needed help, so he reached out to his enemy to the north, the Rus’. Vladimir offered to help and convert to Christianity in exchange for being able to marry the Emperor’s sister, Anna. After they secured victory he was baptized and then married Anna. Upon his return he invited all the people to come down to the river to be baptized and warned them that failing to do so might make them his enemies.The first two stories are almost definitely apocryphal and the third makes perfect sense. He had to get help from Norway to secure the throne because he couldn’t get any support locally since his was the weakest claim. His first big act was to turn the peop

Support the show