If you support what we’re doing, please contribute to our new Patreon page!

We now have timestamps for stories!

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

— Why Pastor Joel Osteen didn’t open his Houston megachurch for people needing shelter during Hurricane Harvey until after he was publicly shamed over it. (0:37)

— The Nashville Statement, an anti-LGBTQ manifesto written by conservative Christians. (The statement is at 17:28; analysis is at 31:32)

— A new survey that shows many Protestants and Catholics don’t understand the basic principles of their faith. (43:21)

— A Matt Walsh tweet that was delightfully mocked by everybody. (56:18)

— People calling it a “miracle” when they see a cross or Virgin Mary statue left standing in the midst of hurricane destruction. (1:01:28)

— Ark Encounter finally (and inadvertently) shared some attendance figures. (1:05:35)

(Image via YouTube)

If you support what we’re doing, please contribute to our new Patreon page!

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.

If you support what we’re doing, please contribute to our new Patreon page!

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)

If you support what we’re doing, please contribute to our new Patreon page!

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)