BONUS: Interview with Jack Jenkins, Author of “American Prophets”

Jack Jenkins is a national reporter for Religion News Service and a former Senior Religion Reporter for ThinkProgress. He’s also the author of the new book American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country. It’s a deep dive into what many people call the Religious Left.

Hemant and Jack talked about whether the Religious Left can effectively counter the Religious Right and what role (if any) atheists have to play in this movement.

Did an Atheist Burn Down a Mississippi Church?

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

— Christian writer Eric Metaxas is super-racist… and a hypocrite. (3:00)

— A Mississippi church was burned down. An atheist-associated “A” symbol was included at the scene of the crime. (15:18)

— This is a very bad reason not to wear a mask. (22:03)

— A Pakistani education board banned a kids’ math textbook for including pictures of pigs. (29:14)

Norma McCorvey, a.k.a. the “Roe” of Roe v. Wade, said she only pushed a pro-life position because she was paid. (34:44)

— This list of atheist Republicans is tiny. Very tiny. (47:55)

Donald Trump wants churches to open up this weekend. Is it weird that he wants to kill off his own base? (55:52)

— A Texas mayor says only men can deliver invocation prayers. (1:05:48)

— Child marriage has been legally banned in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. (1:07:18)

(Image via Marshall County Sheriff’s Office)

Liberty U. Axed Its Philosophy Dept.

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

— Liberty University just got rid of its entire Philosophy Department. (4:44)

— Forget Jim Bakker. Now a respected evangelical couple is under fire for promoting a fake COVID cure. (12:26)

— A majority of white evangelicals trust Donald Trump for COVID news, proving yet again that they’ll believe anything. (17:32)

— A banner flying over a re-open protest read “Fewer graves if we reopen in waves.” (24:00)

— Illinois pastors say not meeting for church is the same as being “sentenced to death.” (31:40)

— Pastors are still making the idiotic argument that if grocery stores are open, churches should be too. (33:40)

— A Wisconsin hairdresser says she should be allowed to open her salon because it’s a ministry. (39:34)

— The game show “The Price is Right” made a donation to Planned Parenthood. (46:22)

— This Christian school’s leaders are bragging about how easy their classes are. (48:40)

(Image via Shutterstock)

Churches Shouldn’t Get Pandemic Stimulus Money Unless…

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

— Jess has a new Twin Peaks podcast!

— Televangelist Jim Bakker had a stroke. And his legal team had a bad reason to keep selling his Silver Solution. (1:35)

— Do churches deserve stimulus money during the pandemic? (8:50)

— A New Mexico sheriff “deputized” 20 church members… which not-so-coincidentally means they don’t have to follow lockdown orders. (16:44)

— An Illinois judge told a pastor the Bible says he doesn’t need to gather in person to have a church service. (25:54)

— Just because Jesus didn’t wear a face mask doesn’t mean you should avoid one. (29:27)

— Guess how much a lifetime pass to Ark Encounter costs? (31:49)

Cardinal George Pell escaped conviction for child sex abuse but he still knew about child sex abuse. (35:18)

— Here’s what a major study of atheists found. (39:06)

(Image via Shutterstock)