Ask an Atheist with Sam Mulvey

Season 6 Schedule

NOTE: Schedule is tentative and may change as schedules, current events, and other calamities require.
Prod. # Date Title Cast
S6E7 11/13 Abuse And Religion Becky, Rich and Jerry
This week, join Becky, Jerry, and Rich as we talk about abusive situations in religion.
S6E8 11/20 Camp Quest Northwest Sam, Nick, Chuck Wolber
Sam and Nick will talk about Camp Quest Northwest, the newly-formed, local branch of the skeptical and secular children’s camp, with organizer Chuck Wolber.
S6E9 11/27 Danger! Death Emails! Sam, Mike, Kyle
Kyle, Mike and Sam answer emails and take phone calls, and talk about an interesting situation facing Ask an Atheist.
S6E10 12/04 Profiles in Insanity: Sun Myung Moon Mike, Deanna, Sam
This week, Deanna, Mike and Sam talk to John Gorenfeld about the famous cult leader and “King of America”, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.
S6E11 12/11 Interview, Other Topic TBA Mike, Becky, TBA
Sam interviews Ashley Paramore (healthyaddict on YouTube, Development Director of the Secular Student Alliance), and (surprisingly) Thunderf00t.
S6E12 12/18 Dating God Sam, Libbie, Joe
A lot of us had to deal with religious people when we go dating. Libbie, Sam and Joe talk about the intersection of religion, atheism, and relationship.
S6E13 12/25 Emails Conquers the Martians Sam, Becky, others
Sam and Becky are alone on Christmas day, a day important to Sam for familial reasons. We’ll hang out, read emails, maybe take a phone call or two, and talk to whoever happens to show up.
Let us know what you think!

About the Author: Sam Mulvey

Sam Mulvey is a producer and the technical brain behind Ask an Atheist. He is a collector of vinegar varieties, vintage computers, antique radios, and propaganda.

Feedback and Commentary

2 Comments 0 Trackbacks
Steve Kluth January 13, 2012 at 6:51 pm

Hey guys,

Discovered your podcasts a bit over a year ago, just before you went to radio. Always enjoy the show, even when it’s not on a topic I’d normally find of interest.

I hadn’t written before, mostly because I had nothing to add to the conversation. But I do have to comment on last week’s episode. You had a letter from a gay listener who was dealing with the term coming out also being used by atheists. As a 55 year old gay atheist, I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, during my lifetime I find it interesting that when I came out it was much easier to come out as an atheist than to come out as a gay person. Not saying either was popular. But while atheists were just anti-social, being gay wasn’t much different from being mentally ill and a child molester in a US Midwest small city. Because of that, I came out as an atheist to my parents at 15. I didn’t even accept that I’m gay until I was 23, and it was another 6 years before I came out.

But that’s not what I’m writing about. My issue was one of last week’s panelists said it was easier coming out as gay because people are gay from the time they are born. I don’t agree. First, sexually is far more fluid than many of us think. There are many people who transition between gay, bi, and straight very comfortably without the “assistance” of ex-gay freaks. Not to say most of us aren’t hard-wired. Just that it’s not a one-size-fits-all reality. Second, for many of us the realization we are gay is as much a process as the realization we are non-believers. And depending on one’s background, the gay part can be much more difficult.

Overall, it’s a minor quibble. I didn’t feel anything remotely hostile or discriminatory in the statement. Just feel I disagree. Keep up the excellent work.

Steve Kluth
St. Louis, MO

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David Houston February 10, 2012 at 6:43 pm

Thanks for great programs. I listen to your podcasts and find them really informative and encouraging. Have you seen Vincent Bugliosi’s Divinity of Doubt? Not the best book I’ve read because he attacks some of my longtime mentors: Christopher Hitchens, Dawkins, and Harris. And it’s laced with an arrogance that, while not necessarily bad in some, is a little offensive here — for me. Nevertheless, he treads through the Christian (and religions’) story with gusto. His recurring criticism is that Christianity is silly. Might seem like a weak word, but I find it apt for the ridiculous dogma, rituals, etc. that encompass this abiding nonsense. I’d like to see a Mel Brooks (The Producers) or a Parker-Stone (Book of Mormon) serve up some similar satire about the Catholic Church, the Baptists, etc.
Keep up the great work!

David Houston

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