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In this episode, we’re joined by Elliot Hanowski, a Canadian historian and author of Towards a Godless Dominion: Unbelief in Interwar Canada (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2023). We discuss the small but vocal atheist and secular movement in 1920s and 1930s Canada. Elliot explains how this period represents an important link between the nineteenth-century freethought movement and the explosive, radical change of the 1960s. We learn how atheist groups developed alliances with socialists and communists and became a part of the free speech movement in “Toronto the Good.” We also reflect on what lessons these past experiences can offer for present-day secularists. Finally, we learn whether a “True Agnostic” can hate religious people. Towards a Godless Dominion: Unbelief in Interwar Canada: https://www.mqup.ca/towards-a-godless-dominion-products-9780228018834.php?page_id=46& Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we’re joined by David Newheiser, a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at Australian Catholic University, and the editor of the book, The Varieties of Atheism (2022). We learn about how David went through a heresy trial when he was a teenager and how this shaped his views of religion. We talk about the complex historical roots of atheism, the potential for a positive atheist identity, and how atheists and theists can communicate better. We also learn whether a True Atheist can have hope for the future. In the bonus section, available to supporters on Patreon, we talk about David’s surprising philosophical influences and how studying atheism helps to understand religion better. For more on David: https://dnewheiser.net/ David’s recent edited book, The Varieties of Atheism: Connecting Religion and Its Critics: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/V/bo182880666.html Find David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newheisereye/ And on Twitter and Threads: @dnewheiser Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we talk with Alex Zamușinski, a PhD Candidate at the University of California, Riverside. Alex stops by to tell us about his research on the Clergy Project, an organization which provides peer support for clergy members who have begun questioning their faith. In addition to the scope and scale of the project, Alex teaches us about what causes religious leaders to lose faith, the risks they face, and why they sometimes stay in their roles. We also ask whether a True Clergy Project Member can still enjoy their job despite their nonbelief. In the bonus section, available exclusively for Patreon supporters, we talk about Alex’s YouTube channel, Religiolog, and his thoughts on religion in the former Soviet bloc. Check out Alex’s YouTube channel, Religiolog: https://www.youtube.com/@religiologEng More on the Clergy Project: https://clergyproject.org/ Listen to the first episode of the Lifestances Podcast, “Being Nonreligious: Matters of Life and Death”: https://open.spotify.com/show/5YBUeYlwr9ePAg4NYgxNzE Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we talk with Srishti Hukku, a humanist chaplain at the University of Ottawa (Canada). We learn about Srishti’s journey out of religion and her winding path to becoming a humanist chaplain. She explains what a chaplain does, why the military needs non-religious chaplains, and why it is important that these positions be filled with secular humanists. We also find out whether a True Atheist can be frightened of artificial intelligence. In the bonus section, available exclusively to Patreon supporters, Srishti asks our thoughts about this quote from Audre Lorde: “Unless one lives and loves in the trenches, it is difficult to remember that the war against dehumanization is ceaseless.” We also talk more about humanist chaplains and what book Srishti would like everyone to read. For more on Srishti: https://www.srishtihukku.ca/ Srishti’s officiant page: https://www.613weds.com/ For how to become a humanist chaplain in Canada: https://www.humanistcanada.ca/chaplains/become-a-humanist-chaplain/ Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we talk with Chrissy Stroop, an ex-evangelical writer, speaker, and advocate. We talk about Chrissy’s journey out of evangelicalism, her creation of the hashtag #EmptyThePews, and her thoughts on Christian nationalism today. We also talk about Christian privilege and how it can be unwittingly maintained even by atheists. In the lightning round, we learn whether a “true atheist” can be a Christian nationalist. In the bonus section, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, we talk with Chrissy about her time studying and teaching in Russia, and how her experience foreshadowed the state of Russia today. Chrissy’s website: https://cstroop.com/ Chrissy’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cstroop Chrissy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/C_Stroop Find Chrissy’s article on Religion Dispatches: https://religiondispatches.org/author/chrissy_stroop/ And on openDemocracy: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/author/chrissy-stroop/ Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we’re joined by Jeremy Schumacher, a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and former Evangelical Lutheran. We talk about Jeremy’s journey to atheism and how to recognize and treat religious trauma through therapy. Jeremy also explains how the male privilege and purity culture in religion often harms the mental well being of those it seeks to elevate. We also learn whether a “true atheist” can have “vanilla” sex. In the bonus section, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, we talk about why Jeremy connected with atheo-paganism, and also his unlikely success as a college volleyball coach. Please consider donating to help Alastair Lichten’s son, who was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer: https://www.solvingkidscancer.org.uk/Appeal/teddylichten For more on Jeremy, see Wellness with Jer: https://wellnesswithjer.com/ Jeremy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswithjer/ Other resources for those navigating religious trauma: https://www.seculartherapy.org/ https://www.reclamationcollective.com/ Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera, the Managing Partner and Research Director at Socioanalítica Research LLC, and the author of Secular Politics, a weekly newsletter exploring the role of secular people in American political life. We talk about Juhem’s recent work exploring secular legislators in the United States, at the national and state levels: who they are, where they come from, and why secular people are so underrepresented. We discuss what atheists and the nonreligious need to do to ensure they get more representation in the halls of power. We also find out whether a “true atheist” can lie about being religious to please a family member. In the bonus section, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon we delve into the underlying systems of power, institution-building, and how the existing secular network can be expanded. We talk with Juhem about the religious politics of the Supreme Court and when he predicts the first atheist president will be elected in the US. Check out Juhem’s newsletter, Secular Politics: https://secularpolitics.substack.com/ And Juhem’s latest article in Interfaith America: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/tamales-secular-candlemas/ Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we have a far-ranging talk with M L Clark, a writer of humanist essays and speculative fiction. We find out why M L moved from Canada to Colombia and how first-hand experience in a new culture shapes, informs, and models the actual practice of global humanism. Along the way, we talk about the political imagination, how to respond when someone wishes God to bless you, and how to develop media literacy in the age of mis- and disinformation. In the lightning round, we learn whether a “true global humanist” can believe people are fundamentally good. In the bonus section, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, we talk about whether we’ve made any progress toward a better world. M L also tells us the best and worst things about living in Colombia. Check out M L’s Substack: https://mlclark.substack.com/ Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we’re joined by David Ames, the host of the Graceful Atheist podcast. David takes us through his own deconversion story and reveals the surprising fact that what led him out of the church was the same thing that led him to join in the first place. He also describes the intense personal feelings that accompany the steps deconverts often face when leaving a faith. We also learn what it means to be a “graceful atheist” and how to meaningfully support people when they begin leaving religion. In the “Can a True [Graceful] Atheist” round, we ask David whether a true graceful atheist can share memes making fun of religion. In the bonus section, available exclusively to supporters on Patreon, we talk with David about his thoughts on deconverting alone and the rapid increase in people leaving religion in the past two decades. Graceful Atheist podcast: https://gracefulatheist.com/podcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GracefulAtheist Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we’re joined by Jonathan Friedmann, a professor, dean, community leader, and now the co-host of the Amusing Jews podcast from AU Studios. After learning about how the Jewish religion can be distinguished from Jewish culture and tradition, we talk about how the Jewish-American experience led to roles in entertainment and how so much of this culture remains hidden in plain sight in broader American pop culture. We also learn whether a True Amusing Jew can think Seinfeld isn’t funny and if rituals need religion to be maintained. In the bonus segment, available exclusively for Patreon supporters, we hear some controversial takes on the vexing issue of Jews celebrating Christian holidays as well as (less controversially) Jonathan’s dream guests for Amusing Jews. Check out the Amusing Jews podcast:https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sharday Mosurinjohn, an Associate Professor in the School of Religion at Queen’s University in Canada. We learn about the current use of psychedelics as well as their links to religion in both the past and present. Sharday talks about the universal connections and spirituality found through mind-altering chemicals. Along the way we meet a few mechanical elves. We also ask whether a “true psychonaut” can believe in an afterlife or attend a church. In the bonus section, available exclusively to Patreon supporters, we talk with Sharday about the aesthetics of psychedelics, issues around drug prohibition, and her current book. For more on Sharday: https://shardaymosurinjohn.com/ Check out her latest book, The Spiritual Significance of Overload Boredom: https://www.mqup.ca/spiritual-significance-of-overload-boredom--the-products-9780228011538.php Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Or on Mastodon: https://zirk.us/@NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

In this episode, Todd and Nathan reflect on the year that was. We talk about the most striking things we learned and the new questions they provoke. Along the way, we discuss atheist and nonreligious people’s growing power in society and how this is reflected in the voting booth, the continuing decline of religion globally and the reasons why, and our move to Atheists United Studios. We also discuss once and for all whether a True Atheist can believe in God. In the bonus section, available exclusively for supporters on Patreon, we talk about plans for future guests and some predictions for the new year. Check out fellow AU Studios podcast Amusing Jews:https://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander Or on Mastodon: https://zirk.us/@NathGAlexander Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/ If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism We are grateful for every contribution. Beyond Atheism is produced and distributed by Atheists United Studios: https://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios