Thank God I'm Atheist

This week Frank and Dan take a long, hard look at the legacy of James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and one of the most influential figures of the Religious Right. He spent decades pushing child abuse as “discipline,” spreading anti-LGBTQ hate, and shaping the culture wars that still drag us down today. With his passing, we’re not exactly breaking out the hymns…

We also dive into:

• Mormon women going wild over new, sho...

Oklahoma’s Ryan Walters loses in court while doubling down on Christian victimhood, Pastor Doug Wilson’s growing extremist empire in Idaho gets national attention, and Lindsey Graham warns that “God will pull the plug on America” if we stop funding Israel.

Also in the mix:

• Marjorie Taylor Greene picks a fight with Lindsey Graham
• A Christian charity fires a pregnant gay woman and wins in court
• New York pushes back against polit...

This week, the Christians found us… and they came in swingin’ (well, typin’). The YouTube comment section lit up with righteous fury after last week’s episode, and we couldn’t resist talking about it.

We’ve also got the story of a megachurch pastor returning to the pulpit after prison, a psychedelic mushroom “church” that just beat the state of Utah in court, ICE raids inside places of wors...

What do a religious sex club, the Shroud of Turin, and a pedophile at a church fair have in common? They're all part of this week’s wild ride through religious absurdity.

Frank and Dan dig into:

• The airline controversy over booted Jewish teens—anti-Semitism or just unruly French kids?
• The Shroud of Turin gets debunked with 3D modeling.
• A Tennessee pastor uses food bank funds to pay for prostitution—and lands in prison.
• Guess w...

Oklahoma’s ultra-conservative education chief Ryan Walters wants to keep schools “smut-free”—but apparently forgot to turn off his retro porn before a state board meeting. Frank and Dan break down the jaw-dropping hypocrisy and the political fallout.

Also in this episode:

• Indiana’s lieutenant governor proposes the death penalty as a condition for abortion in cases of rape
• A prominent Christian activis...

Ever wondered what it means when a church goes full corporate? Frank and Dan wrap up the episode with a deep dive into the Mormon Church’s 26-story office tower and the billions behind it.

But first: witches selling spells on Etsy (and why it violates Etsy’s own rules), Texas making it illegal for secular celebrants to perform weddings, the Magnolia Network featuring a gay couple and triggering conservativ...

The IRS just made a quiet but explosive decision: it will no longer enforce the Johnson Amendment, effectively giving churches a tax-free license to play politics. Frank and Dan break down how this opens the floodgates for dark money, bribes disguised as “donations,” and full-blown corruption in America’s pulpits.

Also this week:

• The bizarre satanic panic over viral Labubu dolls
• Baylor University reje...

Christian influencers are bringing fatphobia back in the name of Jesus—and Frank and Dan are not having it. This week, they dive into the toxic rise of Christian diet culture and how it ties into purity, control, and righteousness. Plus: Iran issues a fatwa targeting Trump and Netanyahu, Canterbury Cathedral starts handing out indulgences, Americans try to evangelize North Korea via plastic bottles, a Mich...

The LDS Church just quietly published a long-suppressed 1886 letter from prophet John Taylor—declaring polygamy an eternal commandment. Frank and Dan dig into the implications for Mormon doctrine.

Also in this episode:

• A Catholic diocese in the UK fires an atheist accountant after she adopts a child
• Pennsylvania considers declaring a “Day of the Bible”
• A Saudi journalist is executed for tweets critici...

A failed preacher is arrested for the shocking murder of a Minnesota state senator. Frank and Dan dig into the disturbing religious and political motivations behind the crime—and the dangerous rhetoric fueling it.

Also in this episode:
• Jimmy Swaggart is somehow still alive
• A surprising number of Christians are “cheating” on their churches
• A UK town removes a Pride flag after bookstore complains
• Lou...

A shooting at a Salt Lake City protest. Two state legislators are shot in Minnesota. As political violence grabs headlines across the country, Frank and Dan reflect on a disturbing new reality—and explore the religious rhetoric fueling it.

Also in this episode:

• Iran expands its ban on dog walking
• Arkansas and Illinois fight to post the Ten Commandments
• Southern Baptists target gay marriage
• A far-right...

This week on Thank God I’m Atheist: A Republican lawmaker freaks out over a Muslim prayer in Congress—except it turns out the man praying wasn’t Muslim at all. Frank and Dan break down the ignorance and bigotry on display. Plus, a new study explores what happens when clergy take psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms). The results? Surprisingly spir...

Frank and Dan tackle a full slate of religious absurdities this week: a Halloween costume sparks Christian outrage in Arizona, Utah quietly buries its own study on gender-affirming care, and a UK teacher sues for the right to misgender students. Meanwhile, school cancels a student play for being too “controversial,” and Delaware legalizes medical aid in dying. In the second half of the show, the guys dig i...

Frank is joined by guest host Rachel to unpack a week’s worth of religious overreach, political absurdity, and moral panic dressed up as righteousness. From Oklahoma’s conspiracy-laced curriculum changes to France’s proposed hijab ban for girls under 15, this episode explores how authority figures use “values” to mask control. Plus: the Pope’s childhood home might be seized, Rushdie’s attacker is sentenced...

It’s our 700th episode! Frank and Dan celebrate the milestone with some reflection—but first dive headfirst into the usual madness. Catholic bishops in Washington state refuse to comply with mandatory reporting laws for child abuse. Trump’s appeal to Jewish voters is falling flat. The Episcopal Church is cutting ties with the federal government over sham refugee policies. Plus, attacks on Catholic churches are ...