Episode 136: Freedom Isn’t Free

Dale McGowan, executive director of the Foundation Beyond Belief talks about some of the exciting ways the organization plans to put humanist principles into action in 2015. Also, statistics on the public’s attitudes towards the Christmas holiday, the John Templeton Foundation donates millions of dollars to philosophers who study free will and the Norse god Oden might just be the world’s first Christmas ornament.

Interview: Dale McGowan – Foundation Beyond Belief

The Foundation Beyond Belief is attempting to raise 75,000 dollars for its years end fund drive. Executive director, Dale McGowan joins us on the show to share some of the exciting new projects (including the humanist service core and the disaster relief) the foundation is planning for 2015. Please consider donating to Foundation Beyond Belief. You can find out more about what they are doing to advance humanist at the links below.

Links:
Foundation Beyond Belief
Humanist Service Corps
Humanist Disaster Relief 

Listen to this segment, Listen to the entire episode or subscribe to reasonable doubts for free.

God Thinks Like You: The High Cost of Free Will

Philosopher Alfred Mele believes the public has been misled into believing that neuroscience disproves free will. Now Mele is at the helm of a multi-million dollar research project to study the nature of freedom, a project funded by the theological wing of the John Templeton Foundation…prompting the doubtcasters to once again make the case for determinism in response to some of Mele’s objections.

Links:
Alfred Mele’s Big Questions in Free Will Project
Free Will & Punishment

Listen to this segment, Listen to the entire episode or subscribe to reasonable doubts for free.

Polyatheism: Odin

The Norse god Odin is the subject of this episode’s polyatheism.

Listen to this segment, Listen to the entire episode or subscribe to reasonable doubts for free

We are proud to offer Reasonable Doubts without advertisements and free of charge. We rely on your generosity. If you enjoyed this episode please consider donating to Reasonable Doubts to help us cover our costs.

Download RD136

Or subscribe and listen in iTunes or any podcast client:

 Podcast Feed

RD Extra: Debate – “Is the US Government Founded on the Christian Religion?” Ed Brayton vs. Dr. Tim Schmig

brayton_v_schmigThis RD Extra features a debate between Ed Brayton and Dr. Tim Schmig. The debate took place on November 12, 2014 at CFI Michigan in Grand Rapids.

Ed Brayton is the founder and owner of the Freethought Blogs Network and the voice behind the popular blog Dispatches from the Culture Wars. He is the co-founder and past president of Michigan Citizens for Science and the recipient of the Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education and has appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show, The Thom Hartmann Show, and C-SPAN. Ed is also a current member of CFI Advisory Board. Brayton argued for the resolution “That the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”

Arguing against that resolution is Dr. Tim Schmig, the Executive Director for the Michigan Association of Christian Schools. Tim Schmig has taught High School History, Social Studies, Government and Economics for 5 years in two different Christian Schools. He holds a Doctorate of Literature in Ministry from Maranatha Baptist Bible College.Tim spends much time in Washington D.C. and Lansing meeting with elected officials and has earned respect and garnered influence on both sides of the political aisle.

Reasonable Doubts would like to thank Ed Brayton and CFI Michigan for letting us share this debate, as well as a special thanks to Mike Slomka for helping capture the audio. Reasonable Doubts will be back with another regular format episode on December 15th.

Download RD Extra

Or subscribe and listen in iTunes or any podcast client:

 Podcast