Podcast #143 – Cullen Murphy (God’s Jury)

We interview Cullen Murphy, editor-at-large for Vanity Fair and author of God’s Jury: The Inquisition and the Making of the Modern World. For more on Cullen visit CullenMurphy.com.

John also recommends Wanted Women: The Lives of Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Aafia Siddiqui by Deborah Scroggins.

Giveaway! Either join our Facebook group or leave feedback on our new iTunes feed, and you’re eligible to win copies of Christopher Hitchen’s books Hitch-22 and Arguably. A winner will be randomly selected on February 1st.

For the full show notes and to listen to this episode, click here.

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Giveaway! Win two books from Christopher Hitchens

Either join our Facebook group or leave feedback on our new iTunes feed, and you’re eligible to win copies of Christopher Hitchen’s books Hitch-22 and Arguably. A winner will be randomly selected on February 1st.

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Podcast #142 – Jessica Ahlquist victorious in Rhode Island

We look at the aftermath of highschooler Jessica Ahlquist’s First Amendment victory in Rhode Island. After winning a lawsuit to have a prayer banner removed from a public high school, Ms. Ahlquist has received threats and harassment–even local florists refuse to deliver flowers to her house!

The Supreme Court has supported the concept of “ministerial exception,” ruling that religious organizations may hire or fire “ministers” for any reason, even if the reason would otherwise violate laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. Consider it fair warning that if you accept a job with a religious organizations, you could be checking your civil rights at the door.

For the full show notes and to listen to this episode, click here.

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Podcast #141 – The Mocking of Tim Tebow

We’d barely shouted “Happy New Year!” when 2012′s first religious controversy reared its ugly head. In this case, Cee Lo Green changed the lyrics to John Lennon’s classic “Imagine” during the NBC broadcast.

Tim Tebow has been catching a lot of flak lately over his pious kneeling on the football field. The Baltimore Ravens’ Terrell Suggs has mocked him; Bill Maher has posted insulting tweets; and Saturday Night Live took a good-natured jab at how much Tebow loves him some Jesus.

Not everyone is amused at the Tebowing blowback, including CBN host Pat Robertson, who decries the anti-Christian bigotry that’s run amok in America.

And Pat Robertson knows what he’s talking about. Why, God Himself has been talking to Robertson, sharing with him (among other things) secret knowledge of who’s going to win the 2012 presidential election.

Finally, we take a look at the latest overblown “medical miracle” touted by the mainstream media. In this case, college student Sam Schmid miraculously emerged from his coma as he was being readied for organ donation. Only, he wasn’t being readied for organ donation, and the miracle occurred because of the best efforts of a world-renowned neurologist who thought the boy would make it.

For the full show notes, and to listen to this episode, click here.

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Charlie Brown converts to Islam. AI-YAI-YAI-YAI-YAI-YAI-YAI !!!

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Ah, the Spirit of Christmas!

For a full and festive explanation, click here.

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Podcast #140 – Remembering Christopher Hitchens

We mourn the death of journalist and activist Christopher Hitchens, who died December 15th after a long battle with cancer. We’ll read from some of his recent work, share our favorite stories and Hitch quotes, and read what others are saying about him.

For the full show notes, and to listen to this episode, click here.

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Hitch is dead

Christopher Hitchens has died. Despite a long and painful struggle with esophageal cancer, the Hitch remained unrepentant about his atheism; he continued to write regularly; and he made debate and lecture appearances whenever the vicissitudes of chemotherapy allowed.

We were lucky enough to meet Mr. Hitchens on several occasions. He was always jovial, patient and respectful to the inevitable swarm of admirers that gathered around him.

We will miss the Hitch.

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Podcast #139 – War on Christmas Continued

Rick Perry plays the homophobia card in his latest TV ad. Holiday displays in Leesburg, Virginia stir free speech controversy. The co-discoverer of a new earth-like world wants to call it the Christmas Planet. Prosperity gospel preacher Eddie Long’s wife files for divorce. A woman claims she was imprisoned for 12 years on a Scientology cruise ship.

For the full show notes, and to listen to this episode, click here.

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Rick Perry is Strong. Bullshit Strong.

Good grief. Rick Perry is losing support among likely Republican voters, polling just ahead of herpes Rick Santorum. What’s a fella to do? Why, play the religion card, of course! Here’s “Strong,” the new TV ad he’s running in Iowa.

I admit I laughed out loud when he opens with “I’m not ashamed to call myself a Christian.” If there’s one thing candidates can count on to boost their numbers nowadays, it’s to run as fast as they can toward a Bible. Preferably a King James Version.

And what the hell is Perry smoking if he thinks Barack “I’ll attend the National Prayer Breakfast despite revelations on the Family/let’s continue funding of Faith-Based Initiatives/let’s get homophobe Rick Warren to do the invocation at my inauguration/my position on gay marriage is evolving but I’m still agin it/let’s keep IGWT as the national motto” Obama is waging a War on Religion?

Perry’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I don’t think even he believes that kids can’t pray in schools anymore.  I think he thinks that old canard will draw in a lot of hayseeds. And gays serving in the military? You’d think he could make some hay out of the sudden chaos the dropping of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has caused in the US military.  Oh, that’s right, there is no chaos. Anyhoo…I think Perry’s just wants to save face and hang in there until after he loses in Iowa.

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