Talk Heathen

In today's episode of Talk Heathen, Richard Gilliver, Doctor Ben, and Jamie The Blind Limey tackle faith, morality, and whether believing scientists counts as religion!yh on TikTok explores whether faith is evolutionarily adaptive and argues objective morality requires God. The hosts challenge whether community cohesion actually depends on religion or just on shared psychology. Does religion create community or does community create religion? If morality comes from God, why do believers disagree so much about what's moral?Georgi in Bulgaria attempts to explain how belief systems shape reality and claims that without historical divisions we wouldn't have concepts like crime. The hosts struggle to follow the logic. If beliefs create reality, why can't we all just believe ourselves into utopia? What does division have to do with defining crime?traffic cone on TikTok argues that trusting the Earth is round without doing experiments yourself is faith, just like religious faith. The hosts distinguish between accessible evidence and absence of evidence. If you can verify a claim anytime you want, is that really the same as believing without evidence? What happens when you actually test the claim?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

In today's episode of Talk Heathen, Scott Dickie and Christy Powell explore secular morality, eternal beings, and the search for meaning in a physical universe.Georgi in Bulgaria believes humans are eternal beings playing a game in physical reality. How do you know we're eternal rather than just seeking meaning? What evidence supports the claim that consciousness exists beyond the physical? The hosts challenge Georgi to demonstrate his reasoning and explore whether the desire for meaning necessarily implies eternal existence. If we're playing a game, who set the rules and why should we accept that framework?Kelly in MN argues morality has an unknown author she calls I Am That I Am and shares her Christian beliefs shaped by a near-death experience. How do we determine which parts of the Bible are corrupted versus corrected? The hosts emphasize that secular morality based on well-being provides a rational framework for ethical decisions without requiring divine command. Why should we accept that morality needs an author when we can ground it in the consequences of our actions?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

In today's episode of Talk Heathen, Christy Powell, Jamie The Blind Limey, and Kelley Laughlin tackle religious trauma, indoctrination, and the question of whether religion causes more harm than good!Anne in CA shares her journey from a large Catholic family to atheism. Growing up, she struggled with contradictions like sins being forgiven yet purgatory and hell still existing. After years of questioning what she truly believed versus what she was told to believe, Anne deconstructed her faith. How do you reconcile doctrines that contradict each other? What happens when you realize fear was the foundation of your belief?Matt in VA argues Christianity does more good than harm, pointing to foreign aid and moral instruction like abstinence preventing AIDS. The hosts challenge his claims with evidence of religious harm and contradictions in his reasoning. Does charity justify institutional cover-ups and anti-science stances? If abstinence-only education fails, why defend it? What moral authority does Christianity actually hold?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Jamie the Blind Limey and Scott Dickie explore the power of empathy and the human need for community! They discuss bridging the gap between faith and secular humanism while challenging the toxic dogmas that divide families and friends.Tony shares his journey of deconstruction and the loss of community after leaving his congregation. The hosts discuss the importance of compassion for believers while acknowledging the irreparable harm caused by religious institutions. Will secular communities provide the support that religious ones often withdraw?Sean in CA seeks common ground between theists and atheists but quickly pivots to a heated debate on bodily autonomy and abortion. The hosts challenge his rejection of basic rights and the medical misinformation used to justify restrictive laws. Can common ground exist when fundamental human rights are on the line?Anne in CA calls in to provide a woman's perspective, sharing her personal experiences with non-consensual pregnancy, termination, and adoption. She critiques the previous caller's entitlement and discusses how comprehensive education is the true key to reducing abortions. How does living through these choices change one's view of bodily autonomy?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, ObjectivelyDan and Jamie the Blind Limey dive into the bizarre world of Star Wars Lego drama and Mormon conspiracies! The hosts debate the merits of internet activism, call out the gerontocracy of the atheist movement, and challenge the semantic games used to define a deity.Luca in Netherlands asks the hosts to define their atheism and questions the source of intrinsic human value. Dan and Jamie explain why value is a subjective construct. How do we prevent atrocities? Hosts argue objective laws lead to hierarchies.Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Jamie the Blind Limey and Doctor Ben are joined by guest host Kelly Laughlin to navigate the intersection of medical ethics and ancient rituals! From the hilarity of Chick Tracts to the sobering reality of public health crises, the hosts challenge listeners to prioritize human safety over supernatural comfort. Can community exist without a pulpit, or are we all just seeking an invisible therapist?Rebecca in CA asks how aid workers should balance religious burial customs with the prevention of Ebola outbreaks. Hosts discuss the tension between individual grieving rights and public health safety. Can logic save communities from faith?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Doctor Ben and the incredible Robotgoat dismantle the top ten worst scientific lies pushed by religion! From faith healing fantasies to the biological absurdity of ribs and sperm, the hosts explore why critical thinking is the ultimate antidote to indoctrination. Can we bridge the gap between ancient myths and modern reality, or are some believers too invested in the "poetry jar" to count their own bones?Luke in FL asks if mocking God speaking things into existence is a good argument. Ben warns against taking an impossible burden of proof. They discuss bear maulings and drowning babies. Is calling God a monster more effective than citing logic?Billy the silly 27 from TikTok argues pastors edit the Bible for comfort. Robotgoat recalls a sermon on David that ignored child illness. Why do believers rely on authority over reading the text? Does the New Covenant mask ancient horrors?Secular Cheese in Canada fears religious immigration. Robotgoat calls this racist propaganda. Ben argues that discriminating by religion violates human rights. Can secularism survive without resorting to the same tactics as theocratic regimes?Kush from TikTok asks about deconstruction and family reactions. Robotgoat discusses shifting from scientific illiteracy, while Ben notes the "elephant in the room" of his past. How do we build a new community based on evidence?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, Scott Dickie is joined by Coach Renz to explore the "mathematics of truth" and the power of family support during deconversion! They discuss how logic provides an essential framework for navigating faith-based assumptions and examine why a supportive environment is vital for exploring one's own identity outside of religious dogma.Cliff in OH compares the moon landing to faith, arguing that answered prayers provide evidence for God. Scott and Coach Renz identify circular reasoning and post-hoc fallacies in his mundane examples. Can coincidences serve as proof for a deity?Colton in PA discusses Biblical parallels to ancient flood and creation myths. Coach Renz highlights how oral traditions evolved into global legends and debates whether universal order is extrinsic or intrinsic. Why must order imply a designer?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.