Beat And Battered

Episode 007 Show Notes

Tony Ford and Jeff Pierce join Kevin this week.

This week we examine a new report from the EPA, Explore the impact of medical science on evolution, and address the question of whether or not atheism is a religion.

This week’s The Bible Says WHAT!? comes from Matthew 24:29-34

[T]he sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. . . . They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. . . . I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. If we are to take this verse at face value, I guess we have to assume that we are all leftovers, and the really good people all went up to Heaven a couple thousand years ago. I guess we can all stop waiting for that bus to show up.

As always, we close out the show with the Refrigerator Haiku.

Some people trickle

Only later they blossom

Always happy sleep

Links

• EPA reort on political interference
• Kirk Cameron and a whole bunch of crazy

Download Episode 7

Episode 006 Show Notes

Tony Ford and Thaddeus Schwartz join Kevin this week.

We have a wonderful interview with Jan Meshon from FreeThoughtAction.org. He shares his motivations for their current billboard campaign, some of their plans for the future, and gives some advice for local groups thinking of organizing.

We discuss rampant superstition in baseball
To close things out, we examine a new Refrigerator Haiku.

This week’s The Bible Says WHAT!? comes from Exodus 35:2
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.

We also discuss the overwhelming emphasis on religion in this year’s presidential election.

As always, we close out the show with the Refrigerator Haiku.

Moon song could freeze water
When a blue woman did hear
make a small child laugh

Links

• FreeThoughtAction.org
• Yanks fend off new stadium ‘curse’
• Religion and Progressive Politics in the 2008 Election
• Religion is playing biggest role in presidential politics since 1960

Tony Ford and Jeff Pierce join Kevin to share their essays and thoughts on secular issues.
Tony shares his impressions after viewing Ben Steins Expelled.
Jeff treats us to his new audio series, Willy’s World, in which St. Willy, the patron of sex and religion shares his thoughts on circumcision.
Also, Tony shares an essay about childhood curiosity.
To close things out, we examine a new Refrigerator Haiku.

We introduce a new segment this week, called The Bible Says WHAT!?

This is our own version of bible study. We’ll look at some of the lesser known passages of the bible, and learn what the theists are not telling us about God’s will.

This week, we are looking at a contradiction. You know, those things they say don’t exist in the Bible. Our first verse is,

2 Kings 2:11

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Then, there’s,

John 3:13

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man

Refrigerator Haiku

Through sound Mushrooms fly

Wild concrete garden harvest

Investigate green

Links

• Expelled Exposed
• Interesting link for information about what appologists and ID proponents are really saying

Download Episode 5

Thaddeus fills in as co-host again this week. Tony Ford joins Kevin and Thaddeus to talk about Ben Stein and Expelled, and an IL representative who wants to ban atheists. To close things out, we examine a new Refrigerator Haiku.

Refrigerator Haiku

If autumn roof tear

Every full eye can wander

Winter has wood bark

Links

• Pharyngula: EXPELLED!
• Representative tries to put the fear of God in atheist

Download

Thaddeus fills in for Vania, who is out of town again this week. Jeff Pierce joins Kevin and Thaddeus for a second week.
A discussion about bio-fuels morphs into a debate on universal health care. We talk about a quote from Thomas Jefferson, and we examine a new Refrigerator Haiku.

Thomas Jefferson Quote

I rarely waste time in reading theological subjects… Ridicule is the only weapon that can be used against such unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. If it could be understood it would not answer their purpose. Their security is in their faculty of shedding darkness, like the scuttle-fish, thro’ the element in which they move, and making it impenetrable to the eye of a pursuing enemy, and there they will sulk.

Listen to Thomas Jefferson read this quote in our ‘historical’ recording.

• Iraq War Cost
• Bio Fuels

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Thaddeus, a musician and producer from Nashville, TN, fills in for Vania, who is
out of town this week. Jeff Pierce joins Kevin and Thaddeus to discuss his own
spiritual journey. We discuss the death of Arthur C. Clarke, the health risks of
crucifixion and self flagellation, and the evolution of religious dogma. Also,
we introduce a new segment titled “Refrigerator Haikus.”  Examine the haiku
below, and join us on the forums to tell us what you greater significance you
think is buried in its text.

Jeff, a musician from Chicago, IL (and Kevin’s brother), explains his
personal experiences in exploring Buddhism, and Taoism, by way of Christianity.  He describes the
questions and discoveries that helped him come to terms with the dogma of traditional religions.

Blog Entry

Download the episode

Refrigerator Haiku

Refrigerators
The television melted
An insect journey

Show Links

• 
  Philippine Judge, and his three little friends.
• 
  Crucifixion can be bad for your health.
• 
  God, Man, and Arthur C. Clarke.

Thaddeus Schwartz joins Kevin and Vania this week to discuss current events from a secularist’s perspective.

Thaddeus, a construction manager and musician from Nashville, TN, explains his personal experiences in becoming an agnostic atheist. He describes the questions and discoveries that helped him develop his critical thinking skills.

This was a really fun episode to record. The discussion became pretty heated at times, but in the end, I think everyone left as friends.

In particular, the segment in which Thaddeus brought up some comments in a blog post by Vania sparked off quite debate over where you draw the line between faith and fact.

Vania brought up an interesting article on the latest regulations from the EPA, and set off a discussion on the value of human life, and pragmatism.

In addition, we talk about the Templeton Prize and its implications to science.

Chris A. joins Kevin and Vania to discuss our shared experiences living a secular life deep in the heart of the Bible-belt. We’re also adding this podcast to My Odeo Channel (odeo/b8331d6cb5daef75)