Thank God I'm Atheist

What happens to religion if humanity discovers we're not alone in the universe? This week, Frank and Dan explore one of the biggest theological questions imaginable: aliens. Would Christianity survive first contact? Would extraterrestrials need their own Jesus? Could they arrive with a religion more advanced than our own?
Along the way, we also discuss an Iranian singer punished for performing without a hijab, RFK Jr.'s push for faith-based addiction treatment, anti-Muslim opposition to a new Islamic center in New Mexico, Christian nationalism, and a bizarre fight over Bible verses on MLB Pride hats.

With Frank under the weather this week, Dan takes the reins solo for a special live-stream edition of Thank God I'm Atheist. Along the way he digs into Christian nationalists attempting to build a new religious stronghold in Washington state, revisits the ongoing debate over whether Mormons are considered Christian by their evangelical neighbors, and looks at Donald Trump's latest honor from an Orthodox Christian leader.
Dan also checks in on the Ark Encounter as it approaches its tenth anniversary, discusses new Catholic abuse-prevention guidelines, celebrates the return of the infamous Route 666 to Hell, and spends plenty of time chatting with listeners from around the world.
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Are Mormons Christian? It's a question that's sparked debates for generations, and now the Pentagon has unexpectedly weighed in. This week Frank and Dan discuss the Department of Defense's new list of recognized faith categories, which places The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints outside its Christian classifications while simultaneously removing atheists, humanists, pagans, and several other minority belief groups from the list altogether.
Elsewhere, we discuss a Christian employee suing over a Pride flag at work, a Presbyterian debate over polyamory, a Colorado gubernatorial candidate's unbelievable personal claims, the rise of megachurch-run colleges, and a UFO religion's latest attempt to prepare humanity for alien contact. Plus a Pride Month conversation about whether churches belong at Pride events.
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A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh was headed for ritual sacrifice during a Muslim holiday (until people noticed it looked remarkably like Donald Trump). After the buffalo went viral, government officials stepped in, canceled the sacrifice, and gave the animal a new home at a zoo.
Also this week: a Muslim principal loses her job after a backlash campaign in Texas, a Christian job applicant demands protection from Pride flags and pronouns, Oklahoma lawmakers debate whether children should be allowed to marry, Congress considers spending $1 billion on security for houses of worship, and Rome's famous "hot priest" calendar turns out to feature models instead of clergy. Plus, Frank and Dan discuss why atheists are surprisingly expensive targets for political campaigns.
💸 No gods. No guilt. Some hosting fees. 💸 Support the show at www.thankgodimatheist.com/donate

The government dumped a fresh batch of UFO files into the public record, and Christian pastors are already racing to explain what we're seeing. Are they aliens? Secret military tech? Weather balloons? Or… angels and demons?!! Frank and Dan dive into the newly released footage, the religious panic surrounding it, and why "we don't know" remains the most honest (and apparently least popular) answer.
In other news: pastors in Nashville are accused of running a medication rebate scam through a church clinic, a Chick-fil-A franchise gets hit with a religious discrimination lawsuit over Sabbath scheduling, and a former Christian pop star reclaims one of his biggest hits after coming out as gay. Also... protest zones outside houses of worship, student loans for "useless" degrees, and Pope Leo XIV's surprisingly serious warnings about the ethics of artificial intelligence.
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