The Atheist Experience

The Atheist Community of Austin

The Atheist Experience is a weekly show in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist and atheist audience. The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  1. 4 hr ago

    The Atheist Experience 30.34 with Godless Engineer and Sofia Spina

    In today's episode of The Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer, Sofia Spina, and Kelley Laughlin tackle divine command theory, biblical atrocities, and the question of whether God's treatment of children can ever be justified. Quincy-TX argues the Bible proves God because it's a physical book, just like maps prove locations exist. The hosts challenge whether a book's existence proves its supernatural claims. Does the Quran prove Allah? What about biblical contradictions and commands to harm children? Quincy insists atheists choose hell, but can't explain why divine command theory makes genocide moral. Jeff-PA asks why the hosts won't repent and defends Old Testament commands. The discussion turns to Numbers 31's sex trafficking of virgin girls and Deuteronomy 21's war bride laws. Jeff claims the New Covenant supersedes these commands, but struggles when asked if God's nature changed. Why would an unchanging God order child harm in one era but condemn it in another? God's Son-MD claims stabbing babies can be merciful and rape builds character and individuality. He argues God intentionally created suffering to develop human traits. The hosts challenge whether a being who commands evil can be called good. The call ends when the caller pivots to anti-LGBTQ bigotry. Steven-CO insists previous callers were pagans, claims God is balanced rather than purely good, and refuses evidence beyond scripture. He repeatedly makes racist claims about Edomites being white people. When asked for evidence, Steven deflects. Why should anyone accept claims without demonstration? Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  2. 17 Aug

    The Atheist Experience 30.33 with Thinker and Godless Engineer

    In today's episode of The Atheist Experience, Thinker and Godless Engineer tackle the question of whether the God of the Bible is a moral monster, examining divine command theory and the justifications believers offer for biblical atrocities. Maddi in LA agrees that the God of the Bible is a moral monster and explores how morality exists independently of divine command. She discusses how moral values are passed down through generations and vary across cultures. If morality comes from God, why do we see such dramatic differences in moral frameworks around the world? The hosts examine how secular humanism provides a foundation for ethics without requiring supernatural authority. Tariq in GA defends biblical atrocities by arguing that God makes tough choices for the ultimate good, invoking divine command theory. The hosts challenge his circular reasoning and press him on whether he would harm others if commanded by God. If morality is whatever God commands, does that mean anything becomes moral simply because God says so? What happens when divine command conflicts with our deepest moral intuitions about harm and suffering? Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  3. 10 Aug

    The Atheist Experience 30.32 with Jim Barrows and Kelley Laughlin

    In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and Kelley Laughlin dive deep into philosophical arguments, information theory, and the limits of knowing God! Donald in LA presents an argument for an 'unactualized actualizer' using information, actuality, and potentiality. What exactly does 'information' mean in your framework? The hosts challenge his definitions and question whether the law of identity supports his premises. If everything that changes requires an actualizer, what actualizes the actualizer? Donald's complex terminology raises more questions than answers about whether his argument proves what he thinks it does. Bob in NY attempts to discuss the contingency argument and thermodynamics but spends most of his time complaining about the previous caller's airtime. After repeated warnings about staying on topic, Bob is disconnected. Sometimes the most revealing part of a call is what the caller chooses to focus on instead of their actual argument. Allison in MO offers a thoughtful perspective: if God exists, humans could never truly know God's nature because all information would be propaganda from an all-powerful being. The hosts agree this is a genuine epistemological problem. How would we distinguish God's truth from God's manipulation? Without empirical evidence and measurable properties, any claim about God's nature becomes unfalsifiable. This raises profound questions about what it would even mean to 'know' God. Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  4. 3 Aug

    The Atheist Experience 30.31 with ObjectivelyDan and Seth Andrews

    In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, ObjectivelyDan and Seth Andrews tackle the problem of evil, epistemology, and whether math could be God! Darth Dawkins from the East Coast challenges Seth on how anyone can know what a maximally benevolent God would allow. The conversation escalates as Darth repeatedly accuses the hosts of dodging his question and being abusive when muted. If this is the best defense of God's benevolence, what does that say about the argument itself? Can you really claim to know what an all-good deity would permit without defining your terms? Aaron in TX explains how evolution completely undermines the concept of original sin and the entire Christian narrative. He also explores how religious obedience can lead to financial exploitation and poor personal boundaries. If Adam and Eve never existed, what happens to the foundation of Christianity? How does blind obedience to religious authority make people vulnerable to manipulation? Allison in MO proposes that math is the only thing that could be considered God, as it exists outside time and space and governs all physical laws. The hosts struggle to understand the premise and suggest workshopping the argument. Does math exist independently of minds, or is it a tool we invented? If math is God, what does worship even mean? Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  5. 27 Jul

    The Atheist Experience 30.30 with The Cross Examiner and Godless Engineer

    In today's episode of The Atheist Experience, The Cross Examiner, Godless Engineer, and Kelley Laughlin tackle biblical slavery, religious privilege, and the lengths believers will go to defend the indefensible. Julie in CA shares a text exchange with a Christian friend about slavery in the Bible that ended a 50-year friendship. After Julie removed illegal religious signs from public property, her friend accused her of attacking Christianity. The hosts explore how the Bible explicitly endorses slavery while mandating trivial ritual details, and why believers reinterpret these passages only after secular humanists forced moral progress. Why does an all-powerful god fail to prohibit owning humans as property? Stumpy Nubs on TikTok argues that Mark 14:51-52 proves Jesus owned a young slave based on Greek translation and connections to Dionysian rituals. The hosts challenge this interpretation, noting the passage mentions neither ownership nor slavery. Is this careful scholarship or reading your conclusion into the text? The difference between exegesis and eisegesis matters when making extraordinary claims about biblical figures. Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  6. 20 Jul

    The Atheist Experience 30.29 with Thinker and Godless Engineer

    In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Thinker, Godless Engineer, and Kelley Laughlin tackle divine command theory, biblical atrocities, and mystical claims about reality! Andrew in NJ argues that evil is anything outside God's purpose. If God commanded murder, would that be good? The hosts challenge his inconsistent definitions and ask if he'd condemn selling daughters as slaves. When divine command becomes your moral compass, where does accountability go? James in OK claims morality requires God, not human consensus. The hosts confront him on Exodus 21:7 and his rationalization of biblical slavery. Why does God's law permit owning people as property? If God is the source of morality, why does scripture endorse cruelty? Georgi in Bulgaria presents a New Age view that God needs humans for experience and claims ancient structures like Machu Picchu prove supernatural involvement. The hosts explain the known construction methods and redirect him to Truth Wanted for alien topics. Why assume the supernatural when human ingenuity suffices? Juan in Columbia presents a panentheistic view where God is a non-materialistic basis for reality and consciousness. He struggles to clearly define his concept of God. What does it mean to say God is the basis of reality if you can't articulate what that basis is? Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  7. 13 Jul

    The Atheist Experience 30.28 with Justin and The Cross Examiner

    In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Justin DZ and The Cross Examiner tackle biblical authorship, Christian nationalism, and the delicate balance of deconversion within families. Anne in CA asks about the authorship and historical compilation of the Bible. Justin explains the documentary hypothesis, detailing how multiple sources were edited over centuries with political motivations driving the final compilation. The Bible wasn't written by single authors but assembled from various traditions. Understanding this academic scholarship reveals the human fingerprints all over what many claim is divine revelation. How does knowing the Bible's messy origins change how we evaluate its claims? Hidde in Netherlands struggles with whether to deconvert his religious mother, who finds comfort in her faith after losing her own mother to dementia. The hosts discuss balancing truth-telling with compassion, recognizing that not every battle needs fighting. Sometimes causing unnecessary pain to someone vulnerable isn't worth the ideological victory. What responsibilities do we have to protect loved ones from harmful beliefs versus respecting their autonomy and comfort? Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

  8. 6 Jul

    The Atheist Experience 30.27 with Godless Engineer and Jim Barrows

    In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Godless Engineer and Jim Barrows confront callers defending biblical morality, slavery, and genocide! Jeremy in MS claims God is not evil but struggles when confronted with 1 Samuel 15:3 commanding the killing of children and infants. He admits God said it, then deflects by asking if the hosts believe in Satan and oxygen before abruptly hanging up when challenged on his reasoning. Courtney and Rachel in FL call to defend biblical morality. The hosts read Exodus 21:7-11 on selling daughters into slavery and Leviticus 25:44-46 on buying slaves. Rachel shockingly states she would sell her daughter to a rich man, comparing it to Jeffrey Epstein. They claim slavery was acceptable back then and defend beating slaves while appearing intoxicated. Where does this moral framework lead? Glenn in Australia discusses his stepson's dream before dying, interpreting it as having spiritual significance. The hosts struggle to understand how this anecdotal experience proves God exists. Glenn mentions PTSD medication and modern slavery, but the conversation remains unfocused and unclear. Marko in Canada argues God is not evil and the Old Testament law has been replaced by grace. The hosts challenge him with Matthew 5:17-19 where Jesus says he came to fulfill, not abolish the law. Marko claims Paul supersedes Jesus. When confronted with Numbers 31:17-18 and Deuteronomy 21:10-14 about taking virgin war brides, he defends these passages and refuses to answer whether he would kill a baby if God commanded it. Papo in Puerto Rico presents a contingency argument claiming the universe needs a necessary being. The hosts counter that energy is necessary, citing E=mc² and the first law of thermodynamics. Papo claims the first law was created at the Big Bang but admits he doesn't know what E=mc² means while trying to argue physics. Jase in OH claims aliens are proof of God, describing beings around his bed who disappeared when he cried out to Jesus. He references UFO researcher Joe Jordan. The hosts ask for evidence beyond personal experience, noting hallucinations feel real to those experiencing them. Can subjective experience prove objective reality? William in MD argues Christians don't need to follow Old Testament law, citing Acts 15. The hosts counter with Matthew 5:17-19 and reference Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 restricting diets. They cite Galatians 3:29 showing Christians are Abraham's seed. William tries arguing different rules for different people but has to leave. Z in MA calls as a palette cleanser after intense previous calls. He shares his background with a Christian father and atheist mother, asks about agnostic versus atheist, and brings up Ouija boards as proof of energy or the afterlife. The hosts explain Ouija boards are manufactured by Hasbro and thank Z for his reasonable approach. Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

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Hosts & Guests

About

The Atheist Experience is a weekly show in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist and atheist audience. The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals. We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

Information

  • Creator
    The Atheist Community of Austin
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    702
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © ®2024 The Atheist Community of Austin
  • Show Website
    The Atheist Experience

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