Recovering From Religion

This week on RfRx, Rob Palmer returns to discuss mass psychogenic illness. Have U.S. government employees in Havana and all around the world – even behind the White House gates – been attacked and injured over the past seven years by secret energy-weapons wielded by undiscovered assailants for political reasons? Have thousands of girls in their schools across Iran been poisoned this past year by their Islamic government as retribution for the mass anti-hijab protests? Did a 4-ft tall roller-skating Monkey Man with metal claws and glowing red eyes attack people throughout New Delhi causing injuries and deaths? Believe it or not, there is a connection between these seemingly unrelated headline-grabbing events. This presentation will examine a little recognized and less understood phenomenon that is likely the actual culprit in these and a myriad of similar events that have occurred throughout the world and throughout human history: Mass Psychogenic Illness. Rob Palmer is a retired aerospace engineer. He has been a spacecraft designer, spacecraft tester, computer programmer, and software systems engineer. Rob became a skeptical activist in 2016 upon joining the Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia team, and in 2018 became a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer. To date he has had over 70 articles published by Skeptical Inquirer as well as in other publications, and the Wikipedia articles he’s written have garnered over 13 million pageviews. Rob writes about contemporary skeptical issues, and has interviewed individuals as diverse as Neil deGrasse Tyson, Richard Dawkins, Penn Jillette, Ann Druyan (producer and writer for the modern Cosmos series), Dave Warnock (Of Dying Out Loud), Seth Andrews (host of The Thinking Atheist podcast), John de Lancie (Star Trek’s Q), and even God - eh, Mr. Deity - himself. Rob is registered with the Center for Inquiry’s Speakers Bureau, and has given presentations for various skeptic and humanist groups and conventions, including: We Can Reason, Dragon Con, and three times at CSICon (the annual science and skepticism conference in Las Vegas). He has been interviewed about these subjects on various podcasts and YouTube shows, including The Skeptic Zone, Big Picture Science, Be Rationable, The Phil Ferguson Show, Banachek’s Brain, 502 Conversations, Point of Inquiry, The Thinking Atheist, and here for RfRx. All of Rob’s skeptical work can be found at: https://linktr.ee/thewellknownskeptic. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, Evan Clark joins us to talk about Atheist Street Pirates, local activists who track and remove illegal religious signage littering highways, streets, and neighborhoods with unwelcome and illegal street propaganda across the United States. Evan will share ideas for building and maintaining secular communities using innovative techniques rather than replicating outdated religious models. This episode of (ARR)RfRx is sponsored by the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Evan Clark is the Executive Director of Atheists United. He is a humanist entrepreneur, political consultant, and public speaker with over 14 years of experience tinkering with secular communities. Evan is also the founder and creative director of Spectrum Experience LLC, the North American Coordinator for Young Humanists International, and the California State Director for American Atheists. Previously he was Chair of the Secular Student Alliance Board of Directors, co-host of the Humanist Experience podcast, and co-founder of the Humanist Community of Ventura County. He is also an Atheist Street Pirate. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, Evan Clark joins us to talk about Atheist Street Pirates, local activists who track and remove illegal religious signage littering highways, streets, and neighborhoods with unwelcome and illegal street propaganda across the United States. Evan will share ideas for building and maintaining secular communities using innovative techniques rather than replicating outdated religious models. This episode of (ARR)RfRx is sponsored by the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Evan Clark is the Executive Director of Atheists United. He is a humanist entrepreneur, political consultant, and public speaker with over 14 years of experience tinkering with secular communities. Evan is also the founder and creative director of Spectrum Experience LLC, the North American Coordinator for Young Humanists International, and the California State Director for American Atheists. Previously he was Chair of the Secular Student Alliance Board of Directors, co-host of the Humanist Experience podcast, and co-founder of the Humanist Community of Ventura County. He is also an Atheist Street Pirate. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, John Gleason (Godless Engineer) joins us to talk about his deconversion from religion, dealing with shame and loss of close relationships as a result, and using his background in computer and software engineering to build an online community. John argues that “godless” is a term that signifies religion is a part of our past, a fact of which we shouldn't be ashamed. Godless Engineer is an ex-Christian who has worked to build an online community of secular skeptics that analyze apologist claims to give people the best information so they can stand up and use their voices. He focuses on the intersection of Atheism, secularism, religion, politics, history, and science. Currently creating videos and social media content to educate his audience on these topics. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you need professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, John Gleason (Godless Engineer) joins us to talk about his deconversion from religion, dealing with shame and loss of close relationships as a result, and using his background in computer and software engineering to build an online community. John argues that “godless” is a term that signifies religion is a part of our past, a fact of which we shouldn't be ashamed. Godless Engineer is an ex-Christian who has worked to build an online community of secular skeptics that analyze apologist claims to give people the best information so they can stand up and use their voices. He focuses on the intersection of Atheism, secularism, religion, politics, history, and science. Currently creating videos and social media content to educate his audience on these topics. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you need professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

Losing faith for a person born into the LDS church (aka the Mormons) has been compared to a death by a thousand cuts. This week on RfRx, Stephanie shares her experience leaving the LDS church. Stephanie comes from a family with roots in the early years of the church, and is one of the few members of her family who has officially removed her name from church records. Her journey from a "True Believing Mormon" to full atheist spans 35 years of small cuts and cracks to her former faith. She's relied on her sense of humor and optimism to make it through. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

After leaving religion, many people report experiencing lingering feelings of fear of hell and demonic forces from their former religious traditions. Others have found more creative ways to reinterpret the myth of Satan. For this week’s RfRx Foundation Spotlight episode, we chat with Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, about non-theistic religious expression, what religious liberty really looks like, and the Satanic Temple’s efforts to encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, and oppose injustice. Bring your questions for Lucien and join us for a wicked good time! Lucien Greaves is a social activist and co-founder and spokesperson for the Satanic Temple. Lucien has been involved in varied legal efforts advocating for the acceptance of non-theistic religious exemption and privilege, secularism, and fighting against theocratic encroachments on civil liberties. The organization is best known for its ongoing legal efforts to place a Satanic monument next to 10 Commandments monuments on public grounds, and to oppose reproductive rights restrictions nationwide. Lucien has been featured on numerous national news programs and in the documentary film “Hail Satan?”. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, David Teachout returns to talk about trauma. Religious fundamentalism often wants us to define ourselves through trials and victimization to declare ourselves martyrs to a cause. Let’s discuss getting out of this mindset and into one that celebrates humanistic pride within adversity. David Teachout is a mental health therapist and photographer, focused on and teaching how creativity intersects with mental flexibility. David grew up as a Christian fundamentalist, attending a bible college and receiving a bachelor’s in theology and psychology. During his studies there, David deconverted and has been on a journey of appreciating humanity and all the stories we create to build meaning and purpose. He has a master’s in both forensic psychology and counseling psychology, and is currently at work on a doctorate in clinical psychology. David has been actively working within the field of psychology as therapist, social worker, advocate, and subject-matter-expert, for over fifteen years. In his spare time, David enjoys reading a copious amount, both fiction and non-fiction, exploring perspective through photography, and maintains a blog at www.lifeweavings.com and a podcast at www.humanitysvalues.com. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, we are joined by attorney Geoffrey T. Blackwell to discuss the separation of religion and government. We will have a general discussion about the concept of separation of church and state, the current state of the law in the United States, and some recent relevant Supreme Court cases and victories on behalf of non-religious folks. Bring your questions for Geoffrey and join us for this week’s interactive discussion. Geoffrey T. Blackwell joined American Atheists in September 2016. As litigation counsel, he responds to reports of possible violations of the separation between religion and government. Every year, he volunteers as a judge for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, in which law students from 87 countries compete in a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Humanist Network. While earning his JD from Rutgers, he participated in the school’s Human Rights Advocacy and Litigation Clinic and served as the President of the Rutgers-Camden International Law Society. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, Anthony Dominello joins us to discuss how autism affects deconstruction and deconversion from religion. Anthony will discuss what autism is, describe the diversity of autistic people both in their personal identities and presentations and share his experiences of deconstruction and deconversion as it relates to people with autism. Please join us for this educational presentation and bring your questions for Anthony! Anthony is an ambassador and support group leader for Recovering from Religion who was diagnosed autistic at age 51. He is an IT professional by day, is a veteran of the US Air Force, and has had various other side jobs such as opera singer, film score composer, and singer/songwriter. He was born in Philadelphia and has lived most of his life in nearby Camden County, New Jersey where he currently lives with his wife. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, Andrew Pledger comes on the show to share his experiences of his upbringing in a fundamentalist Christian cult and the level of control and mental abuse he experienced as a student at Bob Jones University as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Andrew will further discuss his experiences with fundamentalism and the intersection of religious trauma and queerness. Andrew Pledger is a content creator, activist, and writer who uses social media to share his story and inspire others. He is a religious trauma survivor who was homeschooled K-12 and raised in a fundamentalist Christian cult (Independent Fundamental Baptist movement). He brings awareness to spiritual and religious abuse. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community and experiencing religious trauma has inspired him to pursue psychology to help survivors. After being homeschooled, he found his way to Bob Jones University. He attended the fundamentalist Christian college for over three years until he was expelled in his last semester for sharing his story and denouncing fundamentalist teachings. Andrew comes on the show to share his experiences of his upbringing and the level of control and mental abuse he experienced at Bob Jones University. He has a limited podcast premiering soon called "Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult." This podcast explores the school's history, the psychology of fundamentalism, the criteria for cults, and survivors' experiences. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, Jason Racheotes returns for the continuation of his presentation on Politics and Civic Engagement After Religion. We will be discussing how our views on politics and civic engagement may evolve and change after deconverting or coming out of religion. We will learn about some different political concepts that are often ignored and get more clarity on tangible actions we can take as individuals to improve our involvement in the political process. Jason Racheotes was raised in a secular household, but was always interested in the relationship between politics and religion. He grew up learning about the cultural significance of religious traditions, and went on to study political science at George Washington University. He has taught social sciences previously and has been volunteering with RfR since 2022. He also hosts the Non-Essential Workers Podcast. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

How can philosophy improve our understanding of secularism and critical thinking? This week on RfRx, join us for a conversation about secularism and philosophy with philosopher, author, and speaker Nicholas Soutter. We will discuss the field of philosophy and its applications to secularism, dogma, controversial social issues, and science fiction. Bring your questions for Nick and join us for this interactive episode! Nicholas Soutter graduated from Clark University with Bachelors' Degrees in Philosophy and Psychology. He has authored several essays and books on politics and social science as well as science fiction, including ‘The Water Thief’ and ‘Confessions of a Sin Eater’. He used to run the Humanist Codex and now hosts a secular news and education Channel called In Time (http://YouTube.com/intimeshow). For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

How do you know if your thinking and decision-making are biased? We encounter so much information on a daily basis that all of us are susceptible to cognitive bias, which is often the result of our brains’ attempts to simplify information processing. This week on RfRx, Richard Gilliver will discuss what cognitive biases are, how to avoid bias in skeptical thinking, and how to make sure we are not unwittingly making these errors when our brains try to take mental shortcuts while doing research or finding resources. Bring your questions for Richard and join us for this week’s interactive Q&A! Richard Gilliver has been having discussions with religious people for thirty years, originally via talking to them in the street, then on internet message boards and more recently on social media. He has studied Buddhist meditation for two decades and took an academic interest in religious scriptures - specifically from Buddhism, Islam and Christianity around a decade ago. He began as a Skeptic educator around two years ago - like many others taking the opportunity during the beginning of the covid pandemic to find a new way of communicating with people. It was around the same time that he began volunteering with the ACA and undertook his degree in religion, philosophy and ethics - a move encouraged by his wife to formalize his lifelong interest. Today he has his own skeptic show on YouTube which looks at different topics with a heavy focus on academia as well as being the co founder and co host of the weekly Skeptic Hangout Podcast and a Host on the ACA’s non Prophet’s show. In addition he has been a regular host on Ethan Micheal’s ‘The Perspective’, International Freethinkers ‘We are parents’ and guest host on ‘Truth Wanted’ and ‘Talk Heathen’ - both produced by the ACA. Outside of Skepticism he has been a regular guest host on the Bloody Good Film Podcast - a weekly Podcast that discusses action and horror movies. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

Religion impacts our brains and nervous systems. The evidence is easy to see and is experienced by many people. Dr. Ray will show how emotions like fear and disgust are used by religion. He will also demonstrate how religion interferes with our normal attachment systems and how religion distorts normal development from childhood to adulthood among many other things. If you have experienced trauma, can't get over fear of hell, feel disgust at things that seem normal to other people, you will find this an interesting and helpful talk. Dr Darrel Ray is the Founder and president of Recovering from Religion. He has been a psychologist for over thirty years and is the author of four books: including "The God Virus-How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture" and "Sex and God-How Religion Distorts Sexuality". Dr. Ray has been a student of religion most of his life and holds a Masters's Degree in religion as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology/Anthropology with a Doctorate in Psychology. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, join us for a conversation with former Shia Muslim, author, and public speaker, Armin Navabi. Armin will discuss his faith and his journey to becoming a secular activist, as well as his book “Why There Is No God”, in which he deconstructs common arguments for the existence of a god. Bring your questions for the live Q&A with Armin! Armin Navabi is an atheist activist, known for his extensive efforts in promoting secularism, atheism, and liberalism among different communities worldwide. As a former practicing Shia Muslim turned outspoken atheist, his experiences lend authenticity to his work. Navabi founded Atheist Republic, a non-profit organization that has grown to provide a safe space for non-believers worldwide to connect, share ideas, and offer mutual support. His influential book, "Why There Is No God," deconstructs common arguments for the existence of God and has established him as a thought leader within atheist circles. He frequently speaks at conferences and events worldwide, spreading his message of liberal and secular values. Armin is also the host of the Atheist Republic YouTube channel, where Armin and Suzanna discuss relevant events from all around the world to attract and connect atheists across borders and promote a global secular movement. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, we are joined by Matt Dillahunty, a well-known activist and lecturer on topics including skepticism, humanism, atheism, and critical thinking. Matt will be talking with us about his experiences examining his own beliefs, explaining how to critically evaluate claims, and answering your questions about religion, faith, and the supernatural. Bring your questions for Matt in this interactive show! Matt was a fundamentalist, evangelical Christian for 25 years and planned on becoming a minister until his studies forced him to abandon his supernatural beliefs. Since leaving his faith he has traveled the world to lecture and debate on skepticism, humanism, and atheism to audiences at conventions and churches. He's spent the past 20 years hosting live, call-in programs to teach critical thinking skills and challenge religious and supernatural claims and privilege. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, we are joined by Ethan Siegel Ph.D., astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" He is a science communicator who has taught physics and astronomy at various colleges and written numerous books. He will share fascinating information about the universe, and discuss the importance of science education and science communication. Bring your questions for Ethan and let’s get nerdy! Ethan Siegel is a Ph.D. astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" He is a science communicator, who professes physics and astronomy at various colleges. He has won numerous awards for science writing since 2008 for his blog, including the award for best science blog by the Institute of Physics. His two books "Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive" and "Beyond the Galaxy: How humanity looked beyond our Milky Way and discovered the entire Universe" are available for purchase at Amazon. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

We are kicking off Pride Month with an intimate conversation with adult content creator Arden Hart. We’ll talk about gender diversity, sex positivity and adult entertainment. We’ll also learn about common arguments used to advance anti-trans laws and where those arguments are flawed in reasoning and evidentiary backing. Bring your questions for Arden and join us for a celebration of queer identities! For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message

This week on RfRx, Rob Palmer is returning to host Part II of the interactive logical fallacies trivia challenge. Bring your A-game and play trivia with us, or just come watch the show and hone your critical thinking skills. Why? Because recognizing these bad arguments can help you do two things: avoid being deceived by false claims made by others, and also stop using them yourself to justify questionable beliefs of your own. Rob will give a refresher on logical fallacies and then we’ll play an interactive trivia game where those in attendance can play on teams trying to outdo their competition in describing and identifying Logical Fallacies! (Game-play participation is optional.) Rob Palmer has had a diverse aerospace engineering career, having worked as a spacecraft designer and tester, computer programmer, and software systems engineer. Rob began writing for Skeptical Inquirer in 2018 and has had over 60 articles published by Skeptical Inquirer and in other publications in 2 languages on 3 continents. Rob writes about contemporary skeptical issues and has interviewed individuals as diverse as scientists Neil deGrasse Tyson and Richard Dawkins, Ann Druyan (producer and writer for the modern Cosmos series), Seth Andrews (host of The Thinking Atheist podcast), and even John de Lancie (Star Trek‘s Q). Rob has also been a speaker for various skeptic and humanist groups, including here at Recovering from Religion. He has spoken at Dragon Con, and thrice at CSICon, (the annual science and skepticism conference in Las Vegas.) Topics have included critical thinking, psychics and mediums, and the international Wikipedia editing project he volunteers for. He has been interviewed about these subjects on various podcasts and YouTube shows, including The Skeptic Zone, Big Picture Science, Be Rationable, The Phil Ferguson Show, Banachek’s Brain, 502 Conversations, and The Thinking Atheist. For RfRx comments, inquiries & topical questions, email us at RfRx@recoveringfromreligion.org. Any time you are struggling with religious doubts or fears you can connect with a trained RfR Helpline agent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To chat online go to http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org. To talk over the phone, dial: (844) 368-2848 in the US & Canada If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at http://www.seculartherapy.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok. Volunteer: http://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer Donate: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recovering-from-religion/message