Chariots of Iron

This week we were very excited to have our buddy Kurt, the co-coordinator of our local CFI chapter in the studio with us to talk about building atheist communities and why he thinks it’s important. We learned a lot about what the CFI does and how one would go about setting up a CFI affiliate in their own town–which appears to be surprisingly easy.

Kurt also brought us some beer, and Eli busted out some bourbon, so we were a little buzzed for the show and giggled like children through the whole thing. We are now wrestling with the sad truth that we are far more entertaining when slightly drunk, and may need to start budgeting for a couple of six-packs every show just to meet our own expectations.

Note to Knitting Posse: Kurt wants to purchase a pirate beanie; your fame is spreading!

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Larry Anderson, star of the 40 minute Scientology film Orientation, joins Joe and Eli for a rousing conversation about the auditing, e-meters, Battlefield Earth, Cult of Xenu and the money they owe him for services not rendered. But, before the interview, Lamar, Eli and Joe discuss current events; namely, they dish on Glenn Beck, the Tea Party morons and wingnut climate change deniers. After that they read listener mail and reexamine the words “retard” and “retarded” when used to describe creationists, faith healers, new-age hippies and the angry white men of neoconservative punditry.

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Brian Dalton, writer, directer, producer and star of the hit webshow Mr. Deity joins us for a fantastic conversation that spans everything from Battered Species Syndrome to cosmic cheesecake and everything in between (whatever that might be.) We talk a lot about the Mr. Deity show and its cast, some other projects they have done as well as a book that Brian is currently working on that is focused on the Mr. Deity universe.

We all had a great time talking with Mr. Dalton. If you haven’t already, go check out Mr. Deity and all of Brian and Co.’s other projects over at mrdeity.com!

In the news: fail-safe fabricated to protect religion’s right to be douchey, brain damage makes you religious and Iraqi government pulls 50% of its head out of its ass.

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Lamar has assembled a toolkit for objectively analyzing the tenability of prophecy. When confronted with a situation in which a prophecy is being used as evidence promoting the validity of a given religion, these guidelines will help you cut through the woo and examine it under the light of reason.

Basically, you’ll be able to run it through the ringer and squeeze out all the BS.

Lamar and Eli go over each step so that Joe can understand it. In a totally unrelated statement: the show did run a little long.

In the news this week: litigating the fate of your child’s eternal soul, biology teachers gone crazy, right idea–wrong reason and OVER 9000 (organic compounds found in space rock)!!!!

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We missed you, too!

After a long and mostly unintentional sabbatical, we are back on track with another episode.

We had quite a back log of listener mail this week, so we tried to cover as much of it as possible. We also have an awesome guest this week, consequently: the news is short and the show over-all is a little on the long side, but hey! We were MIA for over a month, so long is good, right?

The show was worth the wait. For the first time, we have someone who knows little something about Scientology as a guest. Marc Headley (AKA BFG, or BlownForGood) is a former Sea Org member who lived and worked in the Scientology headquarters compound for 15 years. He has recently published a book called Blown For Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology which details the crazy roller-coaster ride that was his life growing up in, working for and ultimately escaping Scientology. And I don’t use the word “escaping” to be glib; he actually had to escape. Marc shares some of his experiences and opinions with us as we discuss his life and work.

If you want to know about the inner workings of Scientology, this book is pretty unique and Marc has a crazy story to tell you. You can pick up Blown for Good in our Amazon store.

In the news: dead goats ward off evil, don’t get raped in Bangladesh and Gayle Haggard made Joe use up his allotted “air quotes” for the rest of the year… bitch.

Also, if you want to buy us a goat, you can do so here. Ahem…

Enjoy the show!

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It’s that very special time of year where we gather ’round the hearth with our friends and loved ones and–after chasing a hearty meal of C-rations with spiked egg-nog–we affectionately oil our rifles and adjust the straps on our helmets. Again this year, members of the media and various religious groups have shared with the world their anxieties about the so called WAR ON CHRISTMAS and so, to allay their fears, we’ve taken the time to craft a mature, sensitive and thoughtful response to their concerns. This show is virtually bursting at the seams with love and understanding. So come; warm yourself by the soft red glow of our incredulity as we gear up for our cheer-laden counteroffensive.

In this episode, we riff on the following videos: O’Reilly Ambushes Elementary School For ‘War On Christmas’, Atheists Are Jealous Of The Holiday, Gap’s Christmas Cheer Makes a Boycott Backfire, Boost Mobile Ad – Mrs Claus’ Infidelity With a Snowman.

In the news: Jim Corbett is left holding the bill, ARMOR PLATED POLAR BEARS face uncertain future, Ray Comfort borrowed some stuff and it’s religious persecution to not allow us to kill our children.

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Back by popular demand: it’s an all-Charioteers, no-guest show where we can let our hair down and cuss like accountants on tax day. This week Eli has put together a little discussion about the Creation Worldview Ministries: “A Primer on the Scientific Reasons that Evolution is Wrong!” AKA “30 Things You Can Say To Make A Biologist Die Laughing.” After securing the veins on our foreheads with our new EXPLODE-PROOF COI-KNITTING-POSSE BEANIE’S/VEINPROTECTORS® we battle our way through a list that is so mind numbing, it became almost impossible to remain coherent.

This week’s news: Suing for the God-given right to be jerks, the Great Homosexual Mandate, lop-sided love from the Australian government and public displays of athiems: lawsuit edition.

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Our guest this week is James “Jesus Glasses” Corbett, a California high school teacher who gained quite a bit of notoriety recently when he was taken to court for making “anti-christian statements” in the classroom. We had a chance to talk to James and get a better picture of why he was sued and what has happened to him since. He also has done by far the best Hitler impersonation we’ve had on the show yet, bar none. We had some good listener mail this week including an update on Tyler’s situation from the mail last show and the best double-blind dowsing test idea of all time.

In the news: the BHA has a change of venue; an army of homeschoolers; trawling for assassins; an example of ID peer review process (hint, it includes lawyers).

(NOTE: The show’s sound quality leaves much to be desired this episode.)

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This week we are joined by Noelle George, Ambassador Director for AAI and founder of the Secular Center. She talks to us about her charity and shares her tactics for helping to get atheists involved in the community to effect positive change.

In our listener mail this week we talk about what you guys thought about the Minute Man printing debauchal of aught-nine as well as what it really means to be a “new atheist” and we go over some letters from a couple of chaps in thorny situations.

This weeks news: People go kooky in the womb, cheaters are damned to hell for all eternity, Jesus wants YOU! (in prison) and “electrostatic magnetic ion attraction.”

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We’re joined by Brian Parra, Communications Director for Atheists United and founder of the Ventura Atheists group, to discuss perhaps the biggest question posed to the “atheist movement”: what do we do now? It’s a question that stumps most of us, but Brian has a few ideas you’ll want to hear. It’s a hefty show–weighing in at a smidge over two hours long–but we cover a lot of ground. Also, since both Joe and Lamar had busted computers, Eli is completely responsible for everything that is wrong with this show. Kudos will be distributed evenly, however.

Links from user mail: http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=70921

News Links: ‘Missing Link’ Primate Fossil Debunked, “A Bitter Rift Divides Atheists”, USA Today Opinion Column on Blasphemy Laws, A good ol’ fashioned Book Burnin’

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