Monthly Archives

August 2017

Amber Cantorna, Author of Refocusing My Family

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Amber Cantorna was a home-schooled child raised in a conservative Christian family. But her father wasn’t merely a believer. He’s spent 30 years as an executive at Focus on the Family, the ministry founded by James Dobson and known as one of the most anti-LGBTQ groups out there.

All of that became a problem when Amber came out as gay, a pivotal moment in her life which she writes about in her forthcoming memoir Refocusing My Family.

We spoke about how her relationship with her family changed after coming out, why she still believes in God, and why taking off her purity ring marked a new beginning.

Notes:

Amber’s organization, which helps LGBTQ+ people from conservative backgrounds, is called Beyond.

People Are Seriously Boycotting the Eclipse

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Jessica and her brother Kevin sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. (Hemant was out once again dealing with a newborn.)

— Kentuckians for Coal are boycotting the eclipse.

— A Melbourne archbishop says he’d rather go to jail than report child abuse told to him during confessional.

Donald Trump‘s lawyer comparing George Washington to Robert E. Lee.

— A New Zealand pastor advocates killing gay couples.

— Comedian Tim Allen doesn’t understand evolution.

— There’s a Chick-fil-A, which is closed on Sundays, in the Atlanta Falcons’ new football stadium.

— The Juggalos are coming to D.C.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Why People Think Atheists Are Serial Killers

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Jessica and Anne Bouleanu sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics. (Hemant was away this weekend.)

— Are serial killers more likely to be atheists?

— An evangelical advisor says Donald Trump has God’s authority to take out Kim Jong-un.

— A waitress was stiffed on her tip because of her rainbow equality tattoo.

— Christians are more than twice as likely to blame a person’s poverty on lack of effort.

— A lawsuit alleges that a private Christian school told a rape victim to “turn the other cheek.”

— Confessions of a former “it” church pastor.

— A school board president speaks out against California Healthy Youth act, which teaches kids about sexual orientation and identity.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Alternative Medicine Isn’t Medicine

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We now have timestamps for stories!

Jessica and I sat down to talk about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.

— BYU-Idaho asked a student why she dropped out… so she told them the truth. (0:42)

— The Mayor of Knoxville (TN) finally admitted a Bible sign hanging in the police department was illegal. (5:30)

— The White House Bible Study is bad enough, but the instructor is worse. (13:42)

— Donald Trump’s Religious Right lawyer can’t stop lying for him. (17:56)

— An NFL player thinks dinosaurs aren’t real and fossils are fake. (23:23)

— The Activist Mommy has a lot of advice on how to beat your children properly. (26:33)

— Bastyr University, a naturopathic school, says a former student is defaming them online. She says she’s just sharing what she learned there. (37:24)

— Atheists are asking the Supreme Court to rule on prayers at school board meetings. (52:11)

— Rod Dreher is frustrated by Christians who support Trump, but he’s part of the problem. (59:50)

— Ark Encounter has a new silly excuse for why attendance is low. (1:06:17)

(Image via Shutterstock)