Skeptic Generation

-AUDIO WARNING-
The first few minutes of the call with Drew includes an echo. We are able to resolve the echo within a few minutes, but feel free to skip to 3:30 if the echo is unbearable.
Personal friend and fellow YouTuber Drew aka Genetically Modified Skeptic joins the show today! Before we take calls, he shares how he has taken a scholarly approach to trans issues and has been going to bat for the community in responses to seriously bad arguments made by the religious right. Here is a link to the videos that Drew is referring to during the intro. If you haven’t seen them, check them out! They’re fantastic!
https://youtu.be/ABojJ2rW6vA?si=GEOcTJ75tss5FfIA
https://youtu.be/22W7I3yV-NY?si=BTwBYfP9wSxUN2VB

As always, getting the show started came with its technical setbacks, but we were able to get up and rolling for a fantastic show. Here are the timestamps if you’d like to skip to specific calls.


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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 
00:00 - Intro  
03:30 - Drew’s Echo is fixed!
14:58 - Why are there so many denominations? | Ronan (He/Him) - NY
30:33 - How to build interfaith community | Isaiah (He/Him) - South Korea
45:41 - Where do morals come from? | Tug (He/Him) - CAN
55:48 -  Reliability of the Gospels | Phil-oginy (He/Him) - USA
1:06:56 - Atheists shouldn’t cohabitate | Andrew (He/Him) - FL
1:22:48 - Atheism has a branding problem | Brian (He/Him) - CA
1:38:46 - Faith, Community, and Smart Recovery | David
1:56:07 - Understanding our religious neighbors | Connor (He/Him) - VA
2:03:38 - Community building and smart recovery | David (He/Him) - NC
2:10:57 - Superchats

14:58
Ronan was raised in a non-religious household and is really wondering why there are so many denominations even if they are all reading the same bible.
For more resources, we recommend resources like:Dan McCclellan - https://www.youtube.com/@maklelanReligion for Breakfast- https://www.youtube.com/@ReligionForBreakfastDigital Hammurabi- https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalHammurabiAndEsoterica- https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannel

32:03
As a believer, Isaiah is finding it harder and harder to connect with fellow religious friends and family. He wants to know, how can a Christian like himself both connect with more hardcore family members as well as find common ground to engage with nonbelievers? Speaking for the show, this is the exact kind of conversation we hope to have and applaud anyone making the effort!
45:41
I don’t think we’re ever going to get away from questions like what is morality, but at least we can do it serving Kant! In this call, Tug wants to know just how we develop morals and why. We ask ourselves, do we need a transcendent lawgiver to ground our morality? Does objective morality exist? Let us know what you think in the comments!
55:48
Stepping back from the narrative, how much can actually be taken from biblical scholarship? What about secondary sources? Lets talk about what we have, what we want, and what we can hope for!
1:06:56
Andrew thinks that atheists should still wait until marriage to live together. We talk about taboos against divorce, the positives of living together, and what that means with data from religious sources.
1:22:48
Brian sees a shift in the way atheists have talked about themselves in the last 20 years, and thinks a new label would be helpful. Drew has wondered about how useful it could be, and Eric shares the shameful history of atheist rebranding.
1:38:46
John has been on the path to deconstruction for a few months now, and has a few questions. Eric and Drew chime in on reading the room, setting boundaries, and atheist evangelism.
1:56:07
Connor wants to talk about the nature of discourse with religious folks. Drew talks about how our history informs our approach and how former believers have an easier time understanding the other side. Eric talks about respecting people vs respecting ideas.
2:03:38
David follows up to John’s call about secular community building and resources for recovery that don't rely on a higher power. You can learn more by going to smartrecovery.org
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:00am-1:00pm CTCall on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436)  Call online: https://tiny.cc/skepgen
Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Join us after the show on Discord: tiny.cc/SGdiscord
To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com 
Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

No, you read that correctly. This is the last live show of 2022, and we will be going on hiatus after that to figure out what's next for us and for SkepGen.

This episode is a 2.5-hour long extravaganza, with many familiar voices calling in to say hi. We also lifted all previous bans on topics and callers, which makes for some interesting (and heated) conversations before we say goodbye.

If you would like to provide $1/month to support the show as we are on hiatus, please make sure to become a Lifelong Skeptic on our Patreon: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG

Check out our official “SG Hosts DESTROY Callers!” playlist by visiting our YouTube home page or following this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgAFtcRCck1woYD2zC8z4DePc7m6Q4aH6
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish!
11:07 - Should You Sacrifice Yourself for the Greater Good? - Javier (he/him) - SC
20:45 - Thanks For All You’ve Done! - Steven (he/him) - AZ
26:22 - Should We Be Skeptical of Whiteness? - Steve (N/A) - NY
41:25 - This Vegan Caller Says He’d Eat People! - Chase (he/him) - ID
1:04:54 - Merriam-Webster Is LYING About Christmas?? - Sunny (she/they) - IN
1:12:41 - Would You Ever Eat Engineered Meat? - Chris (he/him) - CA
1:22:19 - Repeat Theist Caller Tries ONE MORE TIME… - Connor (he/him) - TX
1:31:26 - “God Is The Answer!” - Xeno (he/him) - SK
1:54:30 - Secular De-Colonization and Spirituality - Rosy (she/they/it) - CAN
2:05:06 - Another Thank You for the Show - Jim (he/him) - OH
2:09:12 - Should We Start a Santa Claus Religion? - Chris (he/him) - SCT
2:13:11 - What Would Convince You of Miracles? - Dean (he/him) - VA

00:00
Eric and Vi discuss the hiatus, address concerns, and talk through what happens next.

11:07
Repeat caller Javier returns to discuss altruism and self-sacrifice. Are they overrated? Are they actually selfish? Why would someone ever sacrifice themselves for the greater good if we only have one life to live?

20:45
Steven calls in to wish us well and tell the hosts how much the show meant to him. We appreciate it, Steven!

26:22
Repeat atheopagan caller Steve asks about how to approach the social construct of whiteness, especially if you enjoy discovering your own cultural heritage as a white person. Vi points out the validity of the concerns around neo-Pagan use of ancient cultures to promote white supremacy, but insists there is a healthy way to learn about yourself while using that knowledge to help others.

41:25
We lifted the subject ban, and we have our first vegan caller! This conversation gets heated and contains a lot of loaded language and appeals to emotion. The hosts call this out, attempting to steer clear of strawmen while getting to the heart of the issue: are honeybees people too?

1:04:54
A dictionary has a really shocking entry and this caller wants to talk about it! Vi says this call both made and ruined their day at the same time.

1:12:41
Another vegan caller appears, and this time the hosts are asked what their thoughts are on lab-grown meat. Eric and Vi are both down with some test tube chicken, and offer their understanding of why some vegans might still be against it.

1:22:19
Repeat theist caller Connor tries one more time to talk about how he came to his Baha’i faith. Eric points out the difference between “faith” and “trust,” and Vi says that a testimony might be riveting but doesn’t hold the evidence they’re looking for.

1:31:26
Yes, we let him back on. Xeno wants to make sure the hosts have the correct takeaway from their multiple calls with him: “God is the Answer!” To what? Everything, of course! The question remains: will we miss Xeno? Well, if we’re being totally honest… God?

1:54:30
Why do so many people use religion and spirituality as a way to “connect to their culture”? Are there other ways of reaching into the past that are more secular? This caller discusses their own experiences trying to reconnect with their Indigenous culture as a secular person.

2:05:06
Jim calls in to thank the hosts for their time on the show and to offer some suggestions about where they might go next. Thanks, Jim!

2:09:12
Repeat caller Chris from Scotland is wondering if we should ditch Christianity and make a Santa Claus religion instead. He seems nicer than God, anyway. Eric advocates for a non-omniscient deity instead. Vi suggests Hermey the Dentist Elf. Hail Hermey?

2:13:11
Finally, we end on a classic: the argument for God from the existence of miracles. Repeat apologist caller Dean is wondering what would make us believe in miracles, and if those hypothetical miracles would then be good evidence for God? Vi points out that if miracles were proven, they’d no longer be called miracles. Eric gets Dean to admit he hates babies.
___________________

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We are talking about New Year's resolutions this week, since it's officially December! Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG.
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Vi leads this show solo and reads from their old Christian journal from nine years ago. What was their deconversion process like? Is it similar to yours? Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to share your story or just vent about the holiday season.
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Vi Is Solo This Week
02:23 - Can People Choose Their Beliefs? - Javier (he/him) - SC
18:13 - Vi Reads from An Old Deconversion Journal
25:44 - My Family Doesn’t Believe I’m An Atheist - Cameron (he/him) - MN
38:16 - What Kind of Culture Should Atheists Build? - Mark (he/him) - CA
55:53 - Why Is It So Easy to Believe In God? - Steven (he/him) - AZ
1:07:04 - My Friend Thinks God Is Punishing Her… HELP? - Caleb (he/him) - MD
1:15:30 - Jesus Wants Us To Be Mean to Atheists - Jim (he/him) - OH
1:22:16 - How Do I Deal with Street Preachers? - Chris (he/him) - SCT

02:23
Can people choose their beliefs? Vi says that answering “Yes” or “No” are both wrong: this is a “yes, and” situation. People both have the ability to choose what beliefs they strengthen, and are ultimately not in charge of the moment one belief wins out against others. That’s why it’s always dangerous to hold harmful beliefs, even if you don’t act on them.

18:13
Vi has brought an old journal that they wrote almost a decade ago. “The Quest for God” laid out how 20-year-old Vi was struggling with belief, parsing apart what was true and untrue about what they’d been told, and trying to figure out what next steps were. A raw, real moment that hopefully resonated with others.

25:44
This caller is having trouble with his family after coming out as an atheist. They are telling him he’s broken, they are unfollowing him on social media, and generally making him feel unwelcome. They also happen to be in an MLM, which makes things even worse! Vi gives this caller permission to kick these folks out on their ear: “Jesus said to avoid you.”

38:16
Now that atheists are growing as a demographic in the US, what should we be focusing on to make sure we aren’t repeating the problems we are seeing with a Christian majority? Repeat caller Mark is wondering what next steps are, and Vi says something shocking: We need to stop talking about religion.

55:53
This caller points out that God is easy to believe in because the idea of God is so baked into our culture. Vi agrees: this is why apologetics work. You have to believe in God already in order to be convinced by any of the major arguments for God. We need to eradicate the idea of a maximally great God before we can truly be free.

1:07:04
What do you say to someone who is convinced that God is punishing them? Vi points out that it’s actually scarier to imagine that things happen for no reason than to imagine a god is punishing you. At least you’re still kind of the main character, and not just an incidental casualty of the universe. Also, landlords suck.

1:15:30
We talked about some atheists having trouble with their families this episode, but isn’t that exactly what Jesus said to do? Didn’t he tell Christians to desert their families, even end things violently, in order to follow him? Vi once again says “Yes” and “No.” If we’re looking at the historical context of Jesus’s words, he’s actually talking about a political rebellion!

1:22:16
Repeat caller Chris asks how to deal with the street preachers that he’s seeing everywhere. He’s tried reasoning with them and he never makes any progress! Vi says it’s a lost cause to try and debate with them, but what this caller CAN do is make them seem utterly ridiculous.

___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

That's right! Vi has endured, healed up, and is ready to take your calls! We'd love to talk about what you believe and why, you can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. We're ready to listen.
___________________
TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Technical Difficulties!
09:48 - Is Voting Skeptical? - Mark (he/him) - OH
16:58 - Can Atheists Experience Wonder & Awe? - Mark (he/him) - CA
32:03 - Is Humanism Logical? - Jason (he/him) - TX
49:18 - Did God Defeat My Depression? - Sour Fruit (she/her) - CAN
56:10 - How Should I Weaponize My Atheism? - Mozzie (he/they) - GA
1:17:30 - superchats

09:51
Can you be a skeptic and think that voting works? What is the role of skepticism when it comes to how our country is run and our ability to change things at the ballot box? This caller asks huge (and important) questions but the hosts might be a bit out of their depth…

17:02
Repeat atheopagan caller Mark dials in to ask whether atheists can experience wonder and awe, and why so many atheists seem to be averse to pursuing those feelings intentionally? This conversation touches on the definition of spirituality, the importance of ritual, and whether or not all the tools used by the Church are inherently bad.

32:09
Is it logical to be a humanist in a world full of terrible humans? How do you reconcile with all the bad structural things you’re forced to take part in, if your goal is to be a good person? Can someone who hunts, drives a big truck, and owns an iphone be considered moral by harm reduction standards? Vi provides some practical advice: the four circles of activism.

49:27
This repeat atheist caller is coming out of depression and realizing that, if she had been a less skeptical person, she’d attribute all her progress to God. Why is she thinking more about God now that she’s feeling more hopeful? And what causes people to gravitate towards narratives of supernatural salvation so consistently?

56:09
A great way to end out Vi’s first episode back, this caller is a conversion therapy survivor and ex-Christian who is looking for ways to help the LGBTQ+ folks stuck in abusive religious environments. How should they go to war for their community while prioritizing their own mental health and optimizing impact? The hosts have some ideas!
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Reading the comments last week, it sounds like people have had a LOT to say! What is a ritual? Does a ritual need to have a supernatural component? If it doesn't, does the word become meaningless?

And then there's the topic of violence. When is violence called for when facing oppression? This call last week sparked a hot debate about whether or not it can EVER be the correct answer. What do you think?

If you disagree with the host or callers, we want to hear about it. You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen.
________

Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

With Halloween just around the corner, let's talk about what it means to celebrate a holiday. As Christians Vi and Eric were told that celebrating Halloween was tantamount to pagan idolatry. As atheists, they still hear many nonbelievers spouting the same lines!

Does celebrating a holiday require one to believe in the supernatural? If you think so, or have an argument against holidays like Christmas and Halloween, we want to hear why! You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen.

___________________
TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Are atheists still harboring religious prejudices?
05:24 - Well that was anticlimactic - Kendall (he/him) GA
07:59 - What is EVIL anyway? Sajid (he/him) CAN
19:15 - “I’ve change my mind” - Jim (he/him) OH
25:16 - God ‘s got some ‘splaining to do! Sajid (he/him) CAN - Part 2
48:43 - When is violence justified? - Austin (he/him/they/them) MD
01:01:10 - It’s too many holidays! - Steven (he/him) AZ
01:15:54 - You should be a sexy cat - Sakura (she/they) NY
01:23:44 - The supernatural solution - John (he/him) PA

00:00
With Halloween a day away, Eric wants to hear what objections non believers have to celebrating holidays.

5:24
It isn’t every day we get such an eager troll! Unlike most other trolls, Kendall shot off just a little too prematurely and got dropped before introductions could even be finished… How embarrassing for him! We at Skepgen have often found enlightening discussions with even dishonest interlocutors, but callers like Kendall can’t help but leave their conversation partners … disappointed.

07:59
Frequent caller Sajid shares with us how he as a Muslim enjoys Halloween too! Eric and Sajid quickly find their way down a rabbit hole when Sajid mentions that he believes in evil, but what is evil? If we should believe that evil comes from a place or person, we should first seek to understand if that concept even makes sense! Unfortunately due to a poor connection, they need to cut their conversation short.

19:15
Jim has watched his last call and realized that he doesn’t want to be the kind of person to wish others suffering, no matter how bad they are. Eric shares that he’s also on a similar journey of self discovery, and that it’s admirable for someone like Jim to change their mind after re-watching the show. To see Jim’s first call, here’s a link!
https://youtu.be/6B5aeAyAuf4?t=1805

25:16
Sajid is back with a good connection! This time we’re facing the problem of evil directly! Sajid recognizes that abuse isn’t undone by reward afterward, and that a loving god still needs to answer for the suffering in the world. He also concedes just how scary it is if there’s no divine purpose, and that is seriously admirable. Even though these conversations are uncomfortable, we seriously respect the mental and emotional labor Sajid is putting in.

48:43
Austin hits Eric with an impossible question right out the gate: When is violent resistance justified? Given current events in the US, it feels ever more prudent to ask! Eric does his best to summarize his understanding of violent resistance, but concedes that he can’t nor shouldn’t be the arbiter of when it is called for. We must listen to the needs of the marginalized, and recognize the context that surrounds political violence.

As an aside, if supporting LGBTQ rights and safety is a problem for you as a viewer, we encourage you to find another channel, because it isn’t changing here.

01:01:10
Do federal holidays tacitly endorse one religion over another? Steven calls in to ask if the government should really be in the business of mandating holidays. This might be a little extreme until we take into account the massive amount of cultural holidays celebrated around the world! Can we as a society walk this tightrope?

01:15:54
Holidays don’t just evolve through generations. Over the course of a lifetime, the same holiday can change exactly what and who we celebrate. Eric and Sakura agree that whether it’s food, presents, or the chance to be a sexy cat, any excuse you can make to live your best life is worth it.

01:23:44
Does AA have a problem with cognitive dissonance? If Alcoholics Anonymous views alcoholism as an illness, should a supernatural solution be the first place we go for a cure? Eric points out that for those who believe in the supernatural, it’s understandable. Even though it can seem rational to a believer, rationality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

________

Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi is back and Eric should be held accountable for his actions... Where is the limit for free speech, civil suits, and how long should we wait to celebrate the downfall of shitty people?

From conspiracies and conspiracy mongers to the existence of God and the supernatural, we want to know if you believe any of it is true and why! You can join the conversation toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why!
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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Eric Explains Himself
12:52 - Is Less Religion Better? - Sajid (he/him) - CAN
30:02 - Vi Dumbfounds Eric with Logic - Jim (he/him) - OH
37:22 - Can You Have Autonomy and Free Will? - Nick (he/him) - TN
56:09 - Should I Stay a Christian? - John (he/him) - LA
1:08:02 - Is It Better to Be Happy or Right? - David (he/him) - NC
1:21:56 - Will My Halloween Ritual Hurt Me? - Sakura (she/they) - NY

00:00
Is Eric a sadist for enjoying watching Alex Jones and his family suffer? Or worse, is he being illogical? Some of you have said so, but how does he defend himself against these accusations?

12:52
Repeat Muslim caller Sajid wants to draw attention to the violent patriarchal systems being done in the name of Islam. The hosts discuss the Iranian hijab protests and how they got started, and commend Sajid for calling out members of his own religion for doing harm.

Watch our last conversation with Sajid here: https://youtu.be/MSo2bia_HCw

Book recommendations from Sajid’s conversation:

The Trouble with Islam by Irshad Manji: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429906937/thetroublewithislam

Red, White, and Muslim by Asma Gull Hasan:
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/red-white-and-muslim-asma-gull-hasan?variant=32205450084386

30:02
This caller agrees with Eric’s statements about the Alex Jones case, but takes it even farther. If Hell existed, he’d be happy to send Alex Jones there. Eric is uncomfortable with this position. Vi nails a point that leaves Eric reeling for the next several calls.

37:22
Is free will necessary for autonomy to be valuable? Vi defends their position that a deterministic universe would not negate the value of autonomy as a moral good. They also come up with the term “spicy determinism” that you can be sure will make future appearances in this broadcast.

56:09
This theist caller still believes in God and Jesus, but is debating whether or not to keep calling himself a Christian. The term, he says, has been hijacked by political extremists and he doesn’t want to be associated with them. Vi and Eric disagree on what next steps for this caller would look like.

1:08:02
Eric lays down some hard truths when it comes to the question about whether it’s better to be happy or to be right. The answer? Healthy boundaries! Meanwhile Vi comes for Boomer comedy.

If you are curious about secular alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous, please follow the caller’s advice and check out SMART Recovery: ​​https://www.smartrecovery.org/

1:21:56
Repeat pagan caller Sakura is about to do their first Samhain (Halloween) ritual, and is a little scared. What advice (if any) do the hosts have for them as they start exploring this new process? Vi describes their own approach to rituals and reassures the caller that they are not in any spiritual danger, no matter what happens.

You can listen to our last conversation with Sakura here: https://youtu.be/6A0Adt_9qsU
___________________
Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT
Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774)
Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG

Love the show?
Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG
Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch
Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist
Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord

To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.