Dan Barker is the Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the purpose of which, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism. Become a member here. Mr. Barker is prolific author and speaker on the topics of atheism and…

After some obligatory coverage of the sometimes-funny-sometimes-sad antics of Texas Rep. Randy Weber during this year's "Washington - A Man of Prayer" event, Cory and Scott settle in for an exploration of two major chapters of Ethiopian history: a bit of biological anthropology from the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (Lucy!) and the middle of the …

Its a packed episode! We have a lot of news to cover, followed by a conversation about spirituality in the absence of a god belief. We are also excited to bring you another Logic That Fallacy segment (sponsored by Recovering From Religion) What is spirituality without religion? Is nihilism a natural conclusion for atheists? In our second hour, we a…

Our episode begins a bit dark, as we follow up on a serious breach of secularism in Alabama. That state is approving church employed police officers (what could go wrong?) and is still reeling from the resignation of its evangelical gevernor Dr. Robert Bentley. Also, there's something deeply disturbing happening in Chechnya... OK, we admit that cou…

Skepticism: we need more of it. Scott and Cory focus on religious skepticism, and offer a few classic thought experiments as a demonstration of why skepticism is a rational approach to extraordinary claims. Is atheism in line with skepticism? What is the difference between an agnostic and an atheist? Why is it ok to reject claims that cannot be dis…

Blasphemy is among the silliest concepts we can think of, and is antithetical to secularism. In this week's show, we discuss what blasphemy is, and how it is seen from some of the major religions. Where are blasphemy laws in effect today, and how do they affect citizens? How has blasphemy impacted culture in America and abroad? Why is blasphemy a t…

Lots of people attribute colloquialisms and bits of wisdom to the bible that simply aren't there. Why does this happen? What are some famous examples? The bible does, however, include many strange and bizarre things that are rarely mentioned. Scott and Cory have fun (and cringe) while exploring several of these as well. The team also explores a few…

Informed Secular Minds is pleased to welcome Matt Cawthorn on the program for a wide range of topics. What is antitheism, and how does it differ from atheism? Why is religion a bad idea for the world, and in what ways is it harmful? Are the central tenets of theism (belief in an afterlife, the concept of sin, and the narrative of God) inherently ne…

Life after death! So many religions make extraordinary claims about this concept in their doctrines, and the path to getting to heaven (or avoiding hell) is perhaps the greatest carrot-and-stick ever employed. What do the major religions say about heaven and hell? What are the implications of such a reality? What are the prerequisites for acceptanc…

With Cory travelling, Scott is joined by guest host Maris Warfel (@YoungAthlon399) for a discussion on prayer in its many forms. Why do so many religions implement prayer into their theology? What do believers hope to achieve through prayer? Does it work, and how would anyone ever be able to tell? Call in to the show LIVE: 646-564-9551 Follow Scott…

The concept of sin exists in most of the major religions on earth. It is generally defined as "an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law." Many believers think of sin as being anything that impedes a perfect relationship with God. How do believers determine what is and is not a sin? What do religious texts tell us about thi…

Truth Pursuit will set the tone for a larger week long conversation with Scott on social media. You can engage with him on Twitter and Periscope @ELDUDEIRENO as well as on the official Informed Secular Minds accounts @ISMPodcast_ to add your voice to the topic at hand. The first Truth Pursuit centers around one of the most famous myths ever promote…

Cory starts the episode with a brief review of Steve Bannon, the chief strategist inside the Trump administration and helps shed light on some revealing and troubling comments made in 2014. So much left from Part 1 to get to! The second half of L. Ron Hubbard's biography gets a discussion, followed by the rise of the early Church of Scientology inc…

America has a long tradition of customized faiths and notorious cults. In this episode, ISM explores and critiques Scientology, one of the most successful cults in history. What are the core elements of this faith? What defines its theology? Who is L. Ron Hubbard, the cult's founder? What makes Scientology fundamentally American? Call in live: 646-…

President Obama will be leaving office in less than two days. Its been an eventful eight years since he entered the White House: the United States has been through a recession, the end of a war, the passage of landmark legislation, and shifting political and cultural climates. Has secularism been strengthened or weakened under President Obama? Wher…

As our scientific understanding increases, a fascinating hypothesis has emerged: the idea that we exist in a high functioning simulation, indistinguishable from another reality. How is such a thing possible? Who are the scientists investing time into investigating this hypothesis? What would be the motives in creating such a simulation? We tackle t…