Skeptic Generation

It's been a LONG year! It's time for Eric to shake off those cobwebs and get back into the show! Please feel free to call and say hi! This episode probably won't have a bunch of callers, so this is the weekend to call up uncle Joe and get them to call in! If you'd like to help us secure the licenses to stream, feel free to buy us a coffee! It's gets delivered immediately and allows us to purchase time in callinstudio & pay for the program fees. If you'd like to get some extra features, early access, member discord and more, check us out on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skepticgeneration ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 09:35 - Javier - Walking Away From the Discussion 22:27 - Bree - Welcome Back! 28:49 - Vi - Good Luck, and What’s Next? 36:51 - Steve - Life Without Meaning? 47:50 - Dan - When Will It Stop?! 1:00:17 - Maria - Can Objective Morals REALLY Exist? 1:17:57 - Roy - Finding your footing. (22 year old trans person) 1:33:24 - Red - Can a non believer celebrate religious holidays? 1:48:33 - Christian - How Do You Get The Pronouns Right? Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 412- SKEPGEN (412-753-7436) Love the show? Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2024 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

No, you read that correctly. This is the last live show of 2022, and we will be going on hiatus after that to figure out what's next for us and for SkepGen. This episode is a 2.5-hour long extravaganza, with many familiar voices calling in to say hi. We also lifted all previous bans on topics and callers, which makes for some interesting (and heated) conversations before we say goodbye. If you would like to provide $1/month to support the show as we are on hiatus, please make sure to become a Lifelong Skeptic on our Patreon: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Check out our official “SG Hosts DESTROY Callers!” playlist by visiting our YouTube home page or following this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgAFtcRCck1woYD2zC8z4DePc7m6Q4aH6 ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish! 11:07 - Should You Sacrifice Yourself for the Greater Good? - Javier (he/him) - SC 20:45 - Thanks For All You’ve Done! - Steven (he/him) - AZ 26:22 - Should We Be Skeptical of Whiteness? - Steve (N/A) - NY 41:25 - This Vegan Caller Says He’d Eat People! - Chase (he/him) - ID 1:04:54 - Merriam-Webster Is LYING About Christmas?? - Sunny (she/they) - IN 1:12:41 - Would You Ever Eat Engineered Meat? - Chris (he/him) - CA 1:22:19 - Repeat Theist Caller Tries ONE MORE TIME… - Connor (he/him) - TX 1:31:26 - “God Is The Answer!” - Xeno (he/him) - SK 1:54:30 - Secular De-Colonization and Spirituality - Rosy (she/they/it) - CAN 2:05:06 - Another Thank You for the Show - Jim (he/him) - OH 2:09:12 - Should We Start a Santa Claus Religion? - Chris (he/him) - SCT 2:13:11 - What Would Convince You of Miracles? - Dean (he/him) - VA 00:00 Eric and Vi discuss the hiatus, address concerns, and talk through what happens next. 11:07 Repeat caller Javier returns to discuss altruism and self-sacrifice. Are they overrated? Are they actually selfish? Why would someone ever sacrifice themselves for the greater good if we only have one life to live? 20:45 Steven calls in to wish us well and tell the hosts how much the show meant to him. We appreciate it, Steven! 26:22 Repeat atheopagan caller Steve asks about how to approach the social construct of whiteness, especially if you enjoy discovering your own cultural heritage as a white person. Vi points out the validity of the concerns around neo-Pagan use of ancient cultures to promote white supremacy, but insists there is a healthy way to learn about yourself while using that knowledge to help others. 41:25 We lifted the subject ban, and we have our first vegan caller! This conversation gets heated and contains a lot of loaded language and appeals to emotion. The hosts call this out, attempting to steer clear of strawmen while getting to the heart of the issue: are honeybees people too? 1:04:54 A dictionary has a really shocking entry and this caller wants to talk about it! Vi says this call both made and ruined their day at the same time. 1:12:41 Another vegan caller appears, and this time the hosts are asked what their thoughts are on lab-grown meat. Eric and Vi are both down with some test tube chicken, and offer their understanding of why some vegans might still be against it. 1:22:19 Repeat theist caller Connor tries one more time to talk about how he came to his Baha’i faith. Eric points out the difference between “faith” and “trust,” and Vi says that a testimony might be riveting but doesn’t hold the evidence they’re looking for. 1:31:26 Yes, we let him back on. Xeno wants to make sure the hosts have the correct takeaway from their multiple calls with him: “God is the Answer!” To what? Everything, of course! The question remains: will we miss Xeno? Well, if we’re being totally honest… God? 1:54:30 Why do so many people use religion and spirituality as a way to “connect to their culture”? Are there other ways of reaching into the past that are more secular? This caller discusses their own experiences trying to reconnect with their...

We are talking about New Year's resolutions this week, since it's officially December! Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com

Vi leads this show solo and reads from their old Christian journal from nine years ago. What was their deconversion process like? Is it similar to yours? Call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to share your story or just vent about the holiday season. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Is Solo This Week 02:23 - Can People Choose Their Beliefs? - Javier (he/him) - SC 18:13 - Vi Reads from An Old Deconversion Journal 25:44 - My Family Doesn’t Believe I’m An Atheist - Cameron (he/him) - MN 38:16 - What Kind of Culture Should Atheists Build? - Mark (he/him) - CA 55:53 - Why Is It So Easy to Believe In God? - Steven (he/him) - AZ 1:07:04 - My Friend Thinks God Is Punishing Her… HELP? - Caleb (he/him) - MD 1:15:30 - Jesus Wants Us To Be Mean to Atheists - Jim (he/him) - OH 1:22:16 - How Do I Deal with Street Preachers? - Chris (he/him) - SCT 02:23 Can people choose their beliefs? Vi says that answering “Yes” or “No” are both wrong: this is a “yes, and” situation. People both have the ability to choose what beliefs they strengthen, and are ultimately not in charge of the moment one belief wins out against others. That’s why it’s always dangerous to hold harmful beliefs, even if you don’t act on them. 18:13 Vi has brought an old journal that they wrote almost a decade ago. “The Quest for God” laid out how 20-year-old Vi was struggling with belief, parsing apart what was true and untrue about what they’d been told, and trying to figure out what next steps were. A raw, real moment that hopefully resonated with others. 25:44 This caller is having trouble with his family after coming out as an atheist. They are telling him he’s broken, they are unfollowing him on social media, and generally making him feel unwelcome. They also happen to be in an MLM, which makes things even worse! Vi gives this caller permission to kick these folks out on their ear: “Jesus said to avoid you.” 38:16 Now that atheists are growing as a demographic in the US, what should we be focusing on to make sure we aren’t repeating the problems we are seeing with a Christian majority? Repeat caller Mark is wondering what next steps are, and Vi says something shocking: We need to stop talking about religion. 55:53 This caller points out that God is easy to believe in because the idea of God is so baked into our culture. Vi agrees: this is why apologetics work. You have to believe in God already in order to be convinced by any of the major arguments for God. We need to eradicate the idea of a maximally great God before we can truly be free. 1:07:04 What do you say to someone who is convinced that God is punishing them? Vi points out that it’s actually scarier to imagine that things happen for no reason than to imagine a god is punishing you. At least you’re still kind of the main character, and not just an incidental casualty of the universe. Also, landlords suck. 1:15:30 We talked about some atheists having trouble with their families this episode, but isn’t that exactly what Jesus said to do? Didn’t he tell Christians to desert their families, even end things violently, in order to follow him? Vi once again says “Yes” and “No.” If we’re looking at the historical context of Jesus’s words, he’s actually talking about a political rebellion! 1:22:16 Repeat caller Chris asks how to deal with the street preachers that he’s seeing everywhere. He’s tried reasoning with them and he never makes any progress! Vi says it’s a lost cause to try and debate with them, but what this caller CAN do is make them seem utterly ridiculous. ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord:...

That's right! Vi has endured, healed up, and is ready to take your calls! We'd love to talk about what you believe and why, you can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG. We're ready to listen. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Technical Difficulties! 09:48 - Is Voting Skeptical? - Mark (he/him) - OH 16:58 - Can Atheists Experience Wonder & Awe? - Mark (he/him) - CA 32:03 - Is Humanism Logical? - Jason (he/him) - TX 49:18 - Did God Defeat My Depression? - Sour Fruit (she/her) - CAN 56:10 - How Should I Weaponize My Atheism? - Mozzie (he/they) - GA 1:17:30 - superchats 09:51 Can you be a skeptic and think that voting works? What is the role of skepticism when it comes to how our country is run and our ability to change things at the ballot box? This caller asks huge (and important) questions but the hosts might be a bit out of their depth… 17:02 Repeat atheopagan caller Mark dials in to ask whether atheists can experience wonder and awe, and why so many atheists seem to be averse to pursuing those feelings intentionally? This conversation touches on the definition of spirituality, the importance of ritual, and whether or not all the tools used by the Church are inherently bad. 32:09 Is it logical to be a humanist in a world full of terrible humans? How do you reconcile with all the bad structural things you’re forced to take part in, if your goal is to be a good person? Can someone who hunts, drives a big truck, and owns an iphone be considered moral by harm reduction standards? Vi provides some practical advice: the four circles of activism. 49:27 This repeat atheist caller is coming out of depression and realizing that, if she had been a less skeptical person, she’d attribute all her progress to God. Why is she thinking more about God now that she’s feeling more hopeful? And what causes people to gravitate towards narratives of supernatural salvation so consistently? 56:09 A great way to end out Vi’s first episode back, this caller is a conversion therapy survivor and ex-Christian who is looking for ways to help the LGBTQ+ folks stuck in abusive religious environments. How should they go to war for their community while prioritizing their own mental health and optimizing impact? The hosts have some ideas! ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Reading the comments last week, it sounds like people have had a LOT to say! What is a ritual? Does a ritual need to have a supernatural component? If it doesn't, does the word become meaningless? And then there's the topic of violence. When is violence called for when facing oppression? This call last week sparked a hot debate about whether or not it can EVER be the correct answer. What do you think? If you disagree with the host or callers, we want to hear about it. You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen. ________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

With Halloween just around the corner, let's talk about what it means to celebrate a holiday. As Christians Vi and Eric were told that celebrating Halloween was tantamount to pagan idolatry. As atheists, they still hear many nonbelievers spouting the same lines! Does celebrating a holiday require one to believe in the supernatural? If you think so, or have an argument against holidays like Christmas and Halloween, we want to hear why! You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG . We're ready to listen. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Are atheists still harboring religious prejudices? 05:24 - Well that was anticlimactic - Kendall (he/him) GA 07:59 - What is EVIL anyway? Sajid (he/him) CAN 19:15 - “I’ve change my mind” - Jim (he/him) OH 25:16 - God ‘s got some ‘splaining to do! Sajid (he/him) CAN - Part 2 48:43 - When is violence justified? - Austin (he/him/they/them) MD 01:01:10 - It’s too many holidays! - Steven (he/him) AZ 01:15:54 - You should be a sexy cat - Sakura (she/they) NY 01:23:44 - The supernatural solution - John (he/him) PA 00:00 With Halloween a day away, Eric wants to hear what objections non believers have to celebrating holidays. 5:24 It isn’t every day we get such an eager troll! Unlike most other trolls, Kendall shot off just a little too prematurely and got dropped before introductions could even be finished… How embarrassing for him! We at Skepgen have often found enlightening discussions with even dishonest interlocutors, but callers like Kendall can’t help but leave their conversation partners … disappointed. 07:59 Frequent caller Sajid shares with us how he as a Muslim enjoys Halloween too! Eric and Sajid quickly find their way down a rabbit hole when Sajid mentions that he believes in evil, but what is evil? If we should believe that evil comes from a place or person, we should first seek to understand if that concept even makes sense! Unfortunately due to a poor connection, they need to cut their conversation short. 19:15 Jim has watched his last call and realized that he doesn’t want to be the kind of person to wish others suffering, no matter how bad they are. Eric shares that he’s also on a similar journey of self discovery, and that it’s admirable for someone like Jim to change their mind after re-watching the show. To see Jim’s first call, here’s a link! https://youtu.be/6B5aeAyAuf4?t=1805 25:16 Sajid is back with a good connection! This time we’re facing the problem of evil directly! Sajid recognizes that abuse isn’t undone by reward afterward, and that a loving god still needs to answer for the suffering in the world. He also concedes just how scary it is if there’s no divine purpose, and that is seriously admirable. Even though these conversations are uncomfortable, we seriously respect the mental and emotional labor Sajid is putting in. 48:43 Austin hits Eric with an impossible question right out the gate: When is violent resistance justified? Given current events in the US, it feels ever more prudent to ask! Eric does his best to summarize his understanding of violent resistance, but concedes that he can’t nor shouldn’t be the arbiter of when it is called for. We must listen to the needs of the marginalized, and recognize the context that surrounds political violence. As an aside, if supporting LGBTQ rights and safety is a problem for you as a viewer, we encourage you to find another channel, because it isn’t changing here. 01:01:10 Do federal holidays tacitly endorse one religion over another? Steven calls in to ask if the government should really be in the business of mandating holidays. This might be a little extreme until we take into account the massive amount of cultural holidays celebrated around the world! Can we as a society walk this tightrope? 01:15:54 Holidays don’t just evolve through generations. Over the course of a lifetime, the same holiday can change exactly what and who we celebrate. Eric and...

Vi is back and Eric should be held accountable for his actions... Where is the limit for free speech, civil suits, and how long should we wait to celebrate the downfall of shitty people? From conspiracies and conspiracy mongers to the existence of God and the supernatural, we want to know if you believe any of it is true and why! You can join the conversation toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why! ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Explains Himself 12:52 - Is Less Religion Better? - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 30:02 - Vi Dumbfounds Eric with Logic - Jim (he/him) - OH 37:22 - Can You Have Autonomy and Free Will? - Nick (he/him) - TN 56:09 - Should I Stay a Christian? - John (he/him) - LA 1:08:02 - Is It Better to Be Happy or Right? - David (he/him) - NC 1:21:56 - Will My Halloween Ritual Hurt Me? - Sakura (she/they) - NY 00:00 Is Eric a sadist for enjoying watching Alex Jones and his family suffer? Or worse, is he being illogical? Some of you have said so, but how does he defend himself against these accusations? 12:52 Repeat Muslim caller Sajid wants to draw attention to the violent patriarchal systems being done in the name of Islam. The hosts discuss the Iranian hijab protests and how they got started, and commend Sajid for calling out members of his own religion for doing harm. Watch our last conversation with Sajid here: https://youtu.be/MSo2bia_HCw Book recommendations from Sajid’s conversation: The Trouble with Islam by Irshad Manji: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429906937/thetroublewithislam Red, White, and Muslim by Asma Gull Hasan: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/red-white-and-muslim-asma-gull-hasan?variant=32205450084386 30:02 This caller agrees with Eric’s statements about the Alex Jones case, but takes it even farther. If Hell existed, he’d be happy to send Alex Jones there. Eric is uncomfortable with this position. Vi nails a point that leaves Eric reeling for the next several calls. 37:22 Is free will necessary for autonomy to be valuable? Vi defends their position that a deterministic universe would not negate the value of autonomy as a moral good. They also come up with the term “spicy determinism” that you can be sure will make future appearances in this broadcast. 56:09 This theist caller still believes in God and Jesus, but is debating whether or not to keep calling himself a Christian. The term, he says, has been hijacked by political extremists and he doesn’t want to be associated with them. Vi and Eric disagree on what next steps for this caller would look like. 1:08:02 Eric lays down some hard truths when it comes to the question about whether it’s better to be happy or to be right. The answer? Healthy boundaries! Meanwhile Vi comes for Boomer comedy. If you are curious about secular alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous, please follow the caller’s advice and check out SMART Recovery: ​​https://www.smartrecovery.org/ 1:21:56 Repeat pagan caller Sakura is about to do their first Samhain (Halloween) ritual, and is a little scared. What advice (if any) do the hosts have for them as they start exploring this new process? Vi describes their own approach to rituals and reassures the caller that they are not in any spiritual danger, no matter what happens. You can listen to our last conversation with Sakura here: https://youtu.be/6A0Adt_9qsU ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

In the modern day, we don't often see punishments so strict that they could be passed down to their children. This week however, we got to see one! Do you have any examples of supernatural curses in your life? Do you believe any group in particular has been singled out divinely for protection or punishment? If so, this is the weekend to tell us! You can call us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why! ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric got a vasectomy and Alex Jones got emasculated! 06:34 - Nick (he/him) - TN - What about Christians who don’t believe in hell? 20:35 - Sphinx (he/him) - TN - This might be uncomfortable to listen to. 29:53 - Steven (he/him) - AZ - Our society is set up for secular curses 37:53 - Kay (he/him) - Nowhere - Is identity politics empowering prejudice? 01:01:00 - Seb (they/them) - CAN - Abusing empathy 01:13:23 - Chris (he/him) - SCT - Does ableism empower treating people as less than human? 01:23:45 - End of show 00:00 - Intro - Eric got a vasectomy and Alex Jones got emasculated! What does it mean for society when a jury finds someone liable for nearly a BILLION dollars? Eric has some opinions! 06:34 - Nick (he/him) - TN - What about Christians who don’t believe in hell? Nick was blindsided during a conversation with a Christian friend who doesn’t believe in hell! Eric takes a moment to point out that not all denominations believe in hell, which makes listening so very important. But now down to brass tacks, could a god me morally palatable if hell is off the table? 20:35 - Sphinx (he/him) - TN - This might be uncomfortable to listen to. Sphinx took the opportunity to talk about a very painful subject for Eric today… literally! In the wake of the supreme court’s decisions, getting a vasectomy is a good option for those who can get them! Eric answers some questions about his experience in the hopes of making it a little less scary for others. 29:53 - Steven (he/him) - AZ - Our society is set up for secular curses Steven points out that a curse doesn’t need to be supernatural. From the legal system to one’s own family, the impact of a person’s decisions can have lasting repercussions even after their death. That said, we shouldn’t view the children as guilty, but the punishments of their parents being carried out. 37:53 - Kay (he/him) - Nowhere - Is identity politics empowering prejudice? Kay wanted to ask some pretty tough questions today about Eric’s ethnicity. What are the costs and benefits of embracing your ethnicity? What about your beliefs? Would abandoning them get the world closer to peace, or would it simply empower bigotry? 01:01:00 - Seb (they/them) - CAN - Abusing empathy Seb hit close to home today with Eric. Churches often depend on other people to be the bigger person, in order to control them. This isn’t just a religious problem though. Those who have endured this kind of abuse often are left with learned trauma responses that need to be unlearned as adults. We need to remember that we deserve our boundaries, and that it isn’t selfish to let people own their own bad behavior. 01:13:23 - Chris (he/him) - SCT - Does ableism empower treating people as less than human? Chris wants to talk about the way ableism is still a big conversation that we as a society have to engage in! They both discuss the importance of education and normalization to break down the “othering” that happens around neurodivergence, mobility, and more. ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All...

Eric is getting a WHAT?! | Skeptic Generation | Episode 41 Season 2 It's one thing to see fundamentalist religious zealots on the news, it's another to live in the line of fire. Here in Austin Texas, we've realized that we need to take action! Religion has NO place in government, prove us wrong. If there's a good argument for why religion should motivate law, give us a call toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why! ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - TMI, Eric! 06:49 - Are the Polys OK? - Steven (N/A) - NY 22:08 - Repeat Muslim Caller Admits He Has Doubts - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 36:52 - Theist Caller Makes Vi Call For a Timeout - Connor (he/him) - TX 55:37 - Can Theists Be Skeptics? - Mike (he/him) - MA 1:09:56 - Balancing Skepticism and Open Mindedness - Nathan (he/him) - AUS 1:20:30 - A Perfect Ending To This Episode - Steven (he/him) - AZ 1:26:01 - Superchats 00:00 Eric is getting snipped this upcoming week and will be sharing all the gorey (or not so gorey) details next Sunday. In the meantime, consider this your motivation to be proactive about protecting the reproductive rights of those around you… whatever that looks like for you! 06:49 Why does a secular society still judge polyamory as being wrong or icky? Even as new legislation makes it safer to pursue poly relationships, it is important that we dig deep and ask ourselves: “What about this is making me uncomfortable, and is there a good reason for it?” Check out the ruling discussed on this call here: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/10/new-york-judge-rules-favor-polyamorous-relationships/ 22:08 Our repeat Muslim caller Sajid calls in with what Christians would call a “crisis of faith.” Some things just aren’t adding up about his religion, and he is finding it harder and harder to ignore these incongruencies. Eric and Vi listen and affirm the discomfort he finds himself in, and encourage him to be gentle with himself and call back as he has questions. If you or a loved one is struggling with leaving a religion, you don’t have to do so by yourself! Contact Recovering from Religion by visiting this link: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 36:52 Our repeat theist caller Connor is back, this time with a seemingly innocuous conversation starter… that seems to completely contradict his statements on previous calls. Vi calls a timeout and confronts this discrepancy, getting increasingly irritated as Connor fails to sufficiently explain his position. Perhaps next week? Do you think Connor was contradicting himself? Watch his previous calls to determine for yourself: - Theist Contradicts Himself Over and Over: https://youtu.be/k-nPFWve510 - Theist Defends Contradictions in Holy Texts: https://youtu.be/7ZSYLuGNbw8 55:37 What happens when two skeptics reach different conclusions? What if one of them believes that praying for rain will help a drought? This caller is concerned that maybe he is doing skepticism wrong because he has failed to be convinced of God’s existence. Eric and Vi reassure him and give him pointers to talk to skeptical theist friends and family members. 1:09:56 We’re going to be honest, this one baffled us just a bit. This caller wants to discuss the convergence of skepticism and open mindedness: how do the two intersect? Should we be more worried about being one than the other? Eric encourages him to call back with specific examples in order to get to the meat of the problem. If you’re interested in checking out Andrew Newberg and his work in the field of neurotheology, you can find his books here: http://www.andrewnewberg.com/all-books 1:20:30 A warm note to end the episode on, a returning caller thanks Eric and Vi for modeling skepticism and how to have compassionate and effective conversations with others. It was, it turns out, exactly what the hosts needed to hear this week. ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your...

Seriously, is there a single situation where faith is preferred over evidence? If you have a case for faith, we want to hear it! You can contact us toll-free at 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why! ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - What Is Faith Good For? 05:34 - Losing My Trust In God’s Plan - Lisa (she/her) - CO 22:07 - Theist Claims We All Have Faith - JB (he/him) - CO 1:09:33 - Muslim Caller Has Subjective Evidence for God - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 05:34 This caller is trying to figure out what is stopping her from deconverting. Where does her fear lie? At first she thought it was the fear of Hell, but more and more she is realizing: it’s the realization that there may not be a Plan or a Purpose for everything. What advice do the hosts have for someone grappling with this feeling of insecurity? 22:07 We may have a new pre-sup theist caller! At least, that’s where this argument seems to be going. Do we all have faith? Is there such a thing as a truly evidence-based worldview? Are all of Eric’s arguments inescapably circular? Eric gets riled up and calls BS. 1:09:33 Repeat Muslim caller Sajid wants to dive into evidence for unseen beings and miracles. He appeals to both subjective and objective evidence. Vi breaks down the difference between the two. Can subjective experiences become stronger through corroboration? What happens when two people’s subjective experiences contradict each other? How about contradictory experiences of God? ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

While Vi took calls last week, Eric was sick in bed, cheering them on; but this week he's back in the saddle and ready to talk! Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis? Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG and tell us why! ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Is A Smarmy A$$hole? 12:24 - Finding Belonging as a Black Atheist - Sourfruit (she/her) - CAN 30:58 - Are Trans Teachers Appropriate? - Joe (he/him) - KS 47:25 - Should “LGBTQIA+” Include Straight People? - Kay (he/him) - N/A 1:05:23 - How Should I Address Subtle Transphobia? - Ameet (he/him) - NY 1:18:34 - Superchats 00:00 Eric is back after a mental health break… to a damning email from a not-so-fan. We are called out for being cheeseballs, as cringey as the Kardashians, and generally awful, self-absorbed hosts. What a great way to kick off our Sunday. 12:24 This caller is experiencing some isolation at the intersection of being Black and atheist. Eric empathizes with her feelings of disconnectedness, and Vi provides their understanding of the unique loss of community faced by Black atheists in North America. If you are struggling with similar feelings, check out the resources below: Black Nonbelievers: https://blacknonbelievers.org/ The Hotline Project: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 30:58 Repeat theist caller Joe has a question about a recent “scandal” about a trans teacher. What do the hosts think about the issue? Vi lays out the problem as they see it, explaining transmisogyny and how women’s bodies are subjected to scrutiny regularly, especially teachers. 47:25 Why do we need to focus on minority groups? Why do we put people into separate categories? Why can’t straight people get included in the category of GRSM? This caller seems confused about what value communal identities have for oppressed people, so Vi does their best to explain. Note for those with a post-101 understanding of this stuff: We use the term “straight” on this call as a shorthand for “cishetero allosexual.” Heterosexual trans people, for example, still fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. 1:05:23 How do you address someone’s subtle transphobia in a way that is effective but doesn’t overstep or speak for others? This is a great question, and Vi and Eric have differing opinions about it. Vi explains their willingness to believe the best about their interlocutor, but Eric fully supports being an asshole to make a point! ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Did you know Dennis Prager also has a call-in show? Where he disses kids? It looks lonely, maybe we should try calling him sometime. In the meantime, we'd love to talk to you! Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to share why you believe what you believe. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Goes Solo 07:31 - Should the Government Exist? - Steven (N/A) - NY 22:06 - A Step-by-Step Guide To Building A Moral Argument Against Christians - Nick (he/him) - TN 54:28 - Would You Trust A Theist Scientist? - Joe (he/him) - KS 1:13:02 - A Little Story with a Twist at the End - Alias (he/him) - WY 1:22:08 - Superchats 00:00 Vi is hosting solo today, and has a little rant about Dennis Prager prepared. The founder of PragerU dislikes motivational quotes for kids, and claims that children don’t make the world a better place. An odd stance, especially for such an extreme anti-choice advocate! 07:31 A social democrat and an anarchist walk into a bar… is the punchline for a very tedious joke full of words that mean nothing to the general population. Vi discusses their preference for anarchism and debates with a social democrat about the pros and cons of government, unions, and democracy. 22:06 How do you convince a Christian that you’re moral? Repeat caller Nick wants help constructing an argument defending atheistic morals to Christians in his life. Vi and the caller walk step by step through an argument for a moral system based on autonomy, consent, and harm reduction rather than a religiously-based moral structure. If you’ve ever had a conversation with a theist friend, family member, or co-worker about where morals come from, this is a good primer to get you on the right track! 54:28 Theist caller Joe asks if it’s fair to call Christians wilfully ignorant or stupid? What about the very many real scientists who also believe God created everything? Would you consider them stupid? Vi points out the nuance in this conversation, and explains how to approach experts with different theological frameworks than your own. 1:13:02 Should this caller have left his ex’s boyfriend in the dark about whether or not the kid is his? Join Vi and the caller for a rather odd little storytime session to end the show as they ask themselves: “Should you let someone live a happy lie or tell the truth and ruin things?” ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Today is a good day to remember what religious extremism can do to people. Watch this instead of war propaganda reruns. Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to talk with us. Also, Moco makes an extended appearance on this episode, so you will see lots of cute fluffy cat butt. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - 3000 Deaths 02:54 - Can You Consent to Exist? - Ian (he/him) - NC 17:39 - Bodily Autonomy vs Harm Reduction - Ale (she/her) - WA 35:22 - Islam and Social Justice - Sajid (he/him) - CAN 47:28 - Should We Tolerate Bad Beliefs? - Chris (he/him) - SCT 1:06:30 - What Is Religious Extremism? - Rich (he/him) - WA 1:19:52 - Superchats 02:54 Did Vi contradict themself in their anti-natalist argument? This caller thinks they might have. Vi and Eric mess around with the philosophy of their positions versus the practical, day-to-day approach. Can both coexist? Did Vi, in fact, get it wrong? 17:39 Can you hold both bodily autonomy and harm reduction as moral values? What happens when they contradict each other? This ex-Catholic caller is wondering if there’s a silver bullet, or if it’s always going to be this complicated to figure out? Vi has some bad news for her. 35:22 A Muslim caller speaks against Islamic extremism and represents a Sufi perspective. Eric challenges him on his beliefs, and why his perspective is the correct one. Vi gets excited about their experiences with Sufi mystic poetry. If you are interested in checking out some of this poetry, visit this website: https://www.rumi.org.uk/poetry/ 47:28 Repeat caller Chris returns to ask if we should tolerate people with bad beliefs in society. Vi emphasizes the difference between tolerating people versus tolerating their beliefs, and Eric says that mockery and making fun of bad ideas will always be a valuable tool. Chris agrees, after all, mockery got him out of his own bad beliefs. 1:06:30 What is religious extremism, and how do we identify the beginnings of it in others? Vi offers a broad-scale cultural perspective, while Eric gets right down to brass tacks and talks about the day-to-day political and social identifiers of religious extremism. ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

This may be an interesting episode of Skeptic Generation. Due to the horrors of the US healthcare system, both Eric and Vi are off their meds and probably about to get a little spicy. Join for the fun, stay for the pandemonium. Call 585-526-8774 or tiny.cc/callSG to talk with us. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - New Camera, Can You Tell? 06:04 - Vi & Eric Fight - Javier (he/him) - PR 29:08 - Theist Contradicts Himself Over and Over - Connor (he/him) - TX 1:09:44 - How To Accommodate Neurodivergence - Sal (she/they) - OH 06:04 If all laws are based on our moral standards, why are we uniquely upset when Christians try to inflict their morality on our laws? This caller wants to highlight a double standard, but ends up inciting a claws-out debate between the hosts on whether laws are actually moral at all. Don’t worry, your dads fight like this sometimes but they still love you very much. 29:08 Repeat theist caller Connor tries to explain why his faith does not grant full equality to women, and Vi is NOT having it. Buckle up, because this is a long call full of contradictions and checkmates that highlight just how duplicitous even a “progressive” religion can be. 1:09:44 This caller wants to talk about the line between explaining and accommodating differences in society, be they related to mental health or gender identity. The call got a little lost in the weeds, and we definitely want to highlight some terminology used during the conversation. Asperger’s as a diagnosis is no longer in use, as we now understand it to be under the umbrella of ASD. Learn more about this diagnosis’s history and use in Nazi Germany here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05112-1 Also, “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” are now understood to be inaccurate and even harmful terms when discussing autistic individuals. Check out more here: https://planningacrossthespectrum.com/blog/why-stop-using-functioning-labels/ Finally, in case you’re interested, a non-cis gender identity is not a form of neurodivergence. Thank you and goodnight! ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

We toss around the word "skeptic" a lot, but what does that mean? Are climate skeptics the same? If you consider yourself a different kind of skeptic, we want to hear about it! Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Eric Needs to Talk About Skepticism 14:06 - What Are The Precepts of Skepticism? - Mark (he/him) - CA 18:52 - What Are Extraordinary Claims? - Rae (they/them) - UK 43:15 - Calling Out Christian Hypocrisy - John (he/him) - LA 1:00:02 - Are Christians the Real Lizard People? - Ameet (he/him) - NY 1:14:03 - Should We “Identify” as Skeptics? - Micaiah (he/them) - TX 00:00 Eric wants to discuss what skepticism actually is, and what it is not. Why do some conspiracy theorists gravitate toward the term “skeptic” and how do we distance ourselves from outrageous claims? 14:06 Why don’t people understand the burden of proof, the null hypothesis, and Occam's razor? This caller laments the lack of skepticism in the general population, and the hosts suggest having a large skeptical demographic may not be in the best interest of the powerful. 18:52 This call starts with a Hitch quote and ends with a discussion on whether or not aliens have sent UFOs to earth. Eric gets a bee in his bonnet about the caller’s willingness to put extraterrestrial life as a viable option for unexplained events. Vi sees a middle ground. 43:15 This theist caller has been hanging out with atheists on Sundays, and has been seeing things differently than he used to. He addresses what he sees as hypocrisy in the Church, especially around the idea of who can be saved and what a “true Christian” even is. Vi and Eric give this guy two thumbs up! 1:00:02 Why is it a conspiracy theory to say that lizard people are taking over the government, but NOT a conspiracy theory to suggest that Christian Nationalists are? This caller wants to know how to best hold himself accountable and avoid falling into a conspiracy mindset. Vi points out that the problem with conspiracy theories is not the claim itself, but rather the method used to get to said claim. 1:14:03 Is skepticism a tool, an identity, or both? This caller wants to know if identifying as a “skeptic” is a good thing to do. Eric emphasizes the value of viewing your epistemology as a tool rather than a personality trait, while Vi explains the potential pros and cons of using labels to find community online. ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Apparently there is a group of Evangelical Christian furries out there who are worried about being judged... for disliking LGTBQ+ folks. Read the article here: https://onlysky.media/hemant-mehta/ev... We know we have questions. Do you? Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG. _________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - Vi Needs to Talk About Christian Homophobic Furries 13:08 - Is Having Kids Selfish? - Phillip (he/him) - CA 30:50 - Theist Says Misogyny is OK - Dale (she/her) - TX 49:32 - Can You Practice Astrology As A Skeptic? - Joshua (he/him) - NC 1:05:48 - Should the Human Race Continue? - Wolfos (he/him) - TX 1:12:47 - Anti-Natalism Counterargument - Ami (she/her) - CAN 00:00 Vi goes on a bit of a rant about the Christian Furry Fellowship, a group of Evangelicals who are worried that being anti-gay will get them doxxed by their fellow furries. The burning question is: How are they justifying being furries while maintaining their anti-gay stances? Doesn’t that cause massive amounts of cognitive dissonance? Also, Vi gets educated on the furry community by the comments! 13:08 Is having children a bad thing? This caller is trying to figure out if their anti-natalism argument makes sense, and wants the hosts’ opinions. Eric engages with his own doubts about the topic and how to make sense of the logic of it, and Vi prompts him to dig beyond the biological instinct to survive. 30:50 This Baha’i caller tries to explain that her religion is not misogynist… by defending misogyny. The hosts are not having any of it, and Vi gets especially hot under the collar after their questions about progressive revelation are dodged. How can you call yourself a feminist and actively defend a system that restricts womens’ access to power? 49:32 What do the hosts think about practicing astrology while denying the idea that the stars can impact our day-to-day lives? Is it irresponsible? Or is it harmless fun? The answer, it turns out, is a bit more complicated than that. Eric discusses the need for transparency and education, and Vi encourages the caller to make sure he is exercising a consistent logical framework. 1:05:48 Repeat caller Wolfos calls in for the first time in a while. After hearing the hosts discuss anti-natalism with the previous caller, he is grappling with the question: should humanity exist at all? Vi cautions that even though their personal philosophy leads to anti-natalism, discussion of limiting procreation of others has been used to perpetuate eugenics in the past. 1:12:47 Continuing with the anti-natalist theme of the week, this caller wants to defend humanity’s right to continue existing as a link in the greater evolutionary chain. But how does one make this argument knowing how detrimental humans have been to the evolution of other species? And should we be arguing against human flourishing or against capitalism? _________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Eric Is Irrationally Angry About Circles | Skeptic Generation | Episode 33 Season 2 It has finally happened. Eric has finally had enough with the incessant nitpicking about the roundness of circles and people are going to pay. In other news, give us a call! We'd love to hear about what you believe and why. If it is about circles though, it isn't going to go well for you. Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro 01:35 - Eric Needs to Talk About Circles 15:20 - Do Christians Have Double Standards? - Philip (he/him) - OK 31:03 - Does Ending Life Cause Suffering? - Nick (he/him) - TN 46:46 - Platforming vs Censorship: Where Does It End? - Jack (he/him) - CA 1:03:25 - Is The Universe Determinist? - Phillip (he/him) - CA 1:13:05 - Muslim Counter Apologetics? - Cameron (he/him) - MN 1:21:44 - Superchats 00:00 Intro 01:35 Eric drops about twenty F-bombs in the first ten minutes of the show because people don’t understand circles. Yes, this is how he normally is. Vi leads everyone in some deep calming breaths afterwards because… wow. 15:20 This caller wants to talk about the double standards Christians have around watching movies with violence in them versus movies with, erm, spicy scenes. Vi gives some insight into their own childhood experiences as a fundamentalist Christian. 31:03 What starts off as a vegan call ends with an argument that the Flood of Noah was actually merciful? What? Vi and Eric walk through the implications of suffering, environmentalism and the factory farming industry, anti-natalism, and the pros and cons of the Thanos Snap in this very interesting but unexpected conversation. 46:46 We’re all upset by the Far Right trying to censor things, but what about the Left saying that platforming problematic individuals is a bad idea? Is that hypocrisy? The hosts clarify their own positions on platforming and censorship, and push back on the idea that educated people are less censorious. If you’re interested in hearing a good take on the free speech and censorship debate, check out Tom Nicholas’s video on Elon Musk’s attempted acquisition of Twitter here: https://youtu.be/79pS5OXKTkU Also, lest this was not hit upon hard enough in this episode, please look up what Marilyn Manson has been credibly accused of in recent years: https://youtu.be/Ja-UFvajEHc 1:03:25 If we don’t actually have free will, can we really blame or praise anyone for anything they do? This caller explains why his belief in determinism calms him down in traffic, which is an intriguing idea to the hosts. Eric says his way of empathizing with reckless drivers is to assume they just need to poop really badly. Hey, whatever works to keep your head level! 1:13:05 How do you successfully counter Muslim apologetics? This caller has a coworker who he’s been engaging in theological discussions with, and is looking for some help. The hosts suggest he watch some ex-Muslim activists and debaters for a good, informed approach to this conversation. If you’re interested in expanding your counter apologetics viewing diet, here are some ex-Muslim content creators you can check out (please leave your recommendations for others in the comments!): Zara Kay: https://www.youtube.com/c/ZaraKay Apostate Prophet: https://www.youtube.com/c/ApostateProphet 1:21:44 Superchats ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Do you think Jesus is still alive? You're wrong but we're willing to hear you out. Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Intro - We Try This Again (Don’t Ask) 04:36 - Can Atheists Believe In Heaven? - Justin (he/him) - NY 11:13 - Do We Have a Stigma Around Death? - Casper (he/him) - NL 21:49 - Bigotry in the Bahai Faith? - Connor (he/him) - TX 41:40 - Pascal’s Wager, But For Climate Change? - Gabe (he/him) - MO 56:11 - Jesus Was An Anarchist? - Phoebe (she/her) - MA 1:13:05 - Can You Really Attack Ideas and Not People? - Drew (he/him) - AZ 04:36 Can atheists believe in an afterlife? This caller, who considers himself a “super atheist,” wants to know the hosts’ thoughts. The verdict: Not only do many atheists believe in an afterlife, Vi posits that religion is not even necessary to get to that conclusion. Eric pushes back on that last bit. 11:13 Does how we view death as a society cause us to act selfishly when it comes to matters of autonomy and decisions to end one’s own life? Is death always bad, are there biological reasons we cling to the idea that it is, and how does this conflict with ideas of autonomy? This is a bit of a heavy one, so watch at your own pace. 21:49 Repeat theist caller Connor calls back, initially wanting to talk about persecution of Bahai individuals in other countries. Eric and Vi redirect the conversation back to the last call, asking if Connor had done any additional introspection on issues of progressive revelation or the inerrancy of scripture. Finally, Vi gives an ultimatum: next time Connor calls in, he has to talk about what made him think his faith is true. 41:40 Can you use Pascal’s Wager for things besides apologetics, and are there cases where it might actually be useful? This caller uses climate change as an example, and Vi gets super excited to graph it out. Meanwhile, the hosts have a bit of a miscommunication around the “is” and the “ought” of the classic argument. 56:11 Was Jesus an anarchist? This caller, a Christian anarchist, thinks so. The hosts are intrigued. “What does Christian anarchy bring to the world that just Christianity and just anarchy don’t?” they ask. The caller says she believes the shared mythology is the point, and Vi agrees. Eric is aghast. If you want more information about the book Vi references, you can find “The Dawn of Everything” by David Graeber and David Wengrow here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374157357/thedawnofeverything 1:13:05 This caller thinks that it’s impossible to attack ideas and not attack people. According to him, people are their ideas, so attacking one by definition attacks the other. Vi has issues with the use of the word “attack” and Eric is unconvinced by the greater claim: are people inextricably linked with their ideas? ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.

Vi is hosting Skeptic Generation solo for the first time! What kinds of conversations do you want to have? Call them at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG. ___________________ TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES 00:00 - Vi Is Flying Solo 06:05 - How Do You Argue The Tri-Omni God? - Nick (he/him) - TN 22:26 - What Is Identity? - Ottoa (they/them) - AUS 31:23 - Caller Has Proof of an “Unmoved Mover” - John (he/him) - WA 51:57 - Theist Admits The Crucifixion Was Morally Wrong - Gohan (N/A) - TX 1:20:12 - What Are Your Moral Imperatives? - Phoenix (they/them) - TN 1:29:03 - Superchats 06:05 Debating Christians is fun online, but when you’re dealing with family and friends, should you be trying to steelman their positions? This caller is wondering how to break down traditional arguments for God in a way that challenges theists to change their beliefs. Vi is skeptical that this is a more effective scenario in all cases. 22:26 How does identity get used in the otherkin community, and how does it differ from things like gender identity? This caller was part of last week’s roster and their call cut out, so they finish up the conversation this week. 31:23 This theist caller has a (very long) syllogism to prove an “unmoved mover” aka God. He walks Vi through it, but Vi has concerns upon reaching the conclusion. Primarily: the claim is that an immaterial thing can change material things. Is that possible? Isn’t this just a category error in sheep’s clothing? 52:57 Repeat theist caller Gohan wants to discuss the existence of Absolute Morality: a moral standard without ifs, ands, or buts. Vi walks through a few examples of Gohan’s version of Absolute Morality and… it turns out that killing for the greater good is always wrong. Even in the case of the crucifixion. Vi’s head may explode just a little bit. 1:20:12 What are Vi’s moral imperatives (if any)? Vi gives their two cents, but the conversation quickly dives into the problem of consequence: what happens to people who disobey Vi’s moral imperative? Do they drown in their giant coffee mug? Are they forced to watch Star Trek for all eternity? The question remains: Can we determine moral imperatives for anyone but ourselves? ___________________ Skeptic Generation is LIVE every Sunday at 11:30am-1:00pm CT Call on your phone: 585-LA-MURPH (585-526-8774) Call online: https://tiny.cc/callSG Love the show? Become a patron: https://tiny.cc/donatetoSG Buy our new Class of ‘22 merch: http://tiny.cc/SG22Merch Help with our studio: https://tiny.cc/SGwishlist Join us after the show on Discord: https://tiny.cc/SGdiscord To find out more, visit https://www.skepticgeneration.com Copyright © 2022 Skeptic Generation. All rights reserved.