Michael De Dora is director of the Center for Inquiry’s Office of Public Policy and he’s also CFI’s representative to the United Nations. He’s currently the president of the UN’s NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

I spoke with him about what we can do about the bloggers currently under attack in Bangladesh, whether our government is doing anything to protect atheists overseas, and what his conversations are like with the Saudi Arabian representatives at the United Nations.

Notes:

During the show, Michael mentioned the Freethought Emergency Fund, which helps CFI “assist several individuals and families in escaping to safety, either temporarily or permanently.” If you can make a donation, please do so here.

We also discussed House Resolution 396, which calls on the “Government of Bangladesh to protect the human rights of all its citizens.” Consider asking your member of Congress to support the bill.

Chaz Stevens is an activist who’s especially passionate about the First Amendment. In response to a Nativity scene in the Florida Capitol Building, he put up an 8-foot-tall Festivus pole made of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. This year, he’s attempting something similar with a 6-foot pole covered in rainbow colors.

He has also been requesting to deliver invocations as a Satanist, forcing several city councils to abandon the prayer practice altogether.

I spoke with Chaz about what a Satanist invocation would look like if he ever got to deliver one, why he prefers an over-the-top approach, and what he hopes to accomplish with his activism.

Notes:

You can support Stevens’ activism by contributing to his Indiegogo page.

For this episode, I just answered a whole bunch of questions sent in by listeners!

They include:

– How can we help the “victims of religion”?

– What are the differences between atheists who were once religious and those who have never been religious?

– Are there any original atheism-related thoughts left to have?

– How has the pressure to generate content changed the way that you interact with people and respond to issues?

– Am I less “friendly” than I used to be?

– How did I go from math teacher to full-time atheism blogger? And how much does that pay?

– What tips do I have for young atheists trying to start a secular school group?

– Have I ever been discriminated against due to my beliefs?

– What are the positives of religion and the negatives of atheism?

– How can “Nones” organize better to leverage our increasing numbers into political and social action?

– What do I do to produce so much content?

– Will I be speaking at the upcoming Reason Rally and how should it be different from the first?

– Why bother with YouTube and podcasting?

– Since the religious demographics are shifting so rapidly right now, will we continue heading down the “right path” as a country?

– Why do you talk over your guests during podcasts?

– Why do I post so many articles and videos on marginal preachers and religious people?

– Do I always read the comments?

– How do I select guest bloggers?

– Will religion ever disappear completely?

– How will my wife and I deal with religion with regards to our child?

Sarah Haider was born in Pakistan as a practicing Shia Muslim. She moved to Texas and, in her late teens, began reading the Qur’an critically. It wasn’t long before she became an atheist. In 2013, she co-founded Ex-Muslims of North America, where she advocates for the acceptance of religious dissent and works to create local support communities for those who have left Islam.

We spoke with Sarah about why it’s dangerous for Muslims to leave the faith even in the United States, what the New Atheists get right and wrong about Islam, and why we need to stop using the word “Islamophobic.”

Notes:

At the 21:00 mark, I accidentally say an incident involving Ayaan Hirsi Ali being protested by students occurred at UCLA. It was actually Yale. Apologies for the error.

Also, if you haven’t seen it, Sarah gave an excellent speech at the 2015 American Humanist Association convention. It’s worth your time to watch it.