Secular Nation Podcast Episode 70
I few days back I posted the link to the PDF of my article from the January – March 2010 issue of Secular Nation magazine. The most recent episode of the Secular Nation Podcast features me reading the article.
Download MP3 (28:23min, 13MB)
Thanks to David Driscoll for editing the show together. And thanks to Tom Melchiorre for giving me the opportunity to write the article.
Let me know what you think.
New DVD: “Best of Penn Says: Religion”
Most of us know that Penn Jillette has been been doing a web series called “Penn Says” on Crackle.com. What some may not know is that a DVD compilation of what Penn has to say about religion is available now from Amazon.com.
The “Best of Penn Says: Religion” DVD, a compilation of episodes from “Penn Says,” the original web series from Crackle.com, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s online video network, is the ultimate collection of Penn Jillette’s most controversial, completely uncensored assessments. The DVD, now available for purchase on Amazon.com, also includes three never-before-seen episodes.
The self-described “larger, louder half” of veteran magic-and-comedy team Penn and Teller has pioneered the Art of the Rant in the age of blogging and vlogging. Penn is considered and describes himself as verbose on and offstage and is obsessed with the truth and how people distort it. Recently, Penn Jillette has been an outspoken voice among the political community; voicing his belief in a smaller government and peace. Whether it be his discussion of “Glenn Beck’s Tea Party at the Alamo” or his belief that Madonna is entitled to adopting Mercy from Malawi, Penn Jillette always speaks his mind and won’t hold back, especially on one of his favorite subjects…religion.
SYNOPSIS
In this up close and personal web series, Penn the Magician, Inventor, Philosopher, Social Critic and Celebrity Atheist discusses, teaches, and tears apart common misconceptions and bares his brain for all to see. What’s the difference between Agnosticism and Atheism? How much of a role should religion play in the major political races? Is proselytizing an act of kindness or just an obtrusive annoyance? When Penn Jillette has an opinion, it’s a safe bet he won’t hold back. Each episode is a new insight or agitation.DVD Special Features Include:
Bonus Episode: Glen Beck (Magic Underwear)
Bonus Episode: Jerome Horowitz Theory of Politics
Bonus Episode: Caucuses are Stupid
Video: Noah’s Ark: God, Giraffes & Genocide
The Thinking Atheist has made another great animated video. This time he explains the “real life” implications of Noah and the flood.
Cartoon: Image of God
Brother Richard
(props: WTTF)
Video: God’s Angel Army!
(Props: Everything is Terrible)
Mark Twain: The original skeptic
Mark Twain has been a hero of mine for a long time. I often quote his saying, “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.“
Blogger and freelance editor, Shaun Usher has found a little gem which should make the skeptics proud.
In November of 1905, an enraged Mark Twain sent this superb letter to J. H. Todd, a patent medicine salesman who had just attempted to sell bogus medicine to the author by way of a letter and leaflet delivered to his home. According to the literature Twain received (p1,p2,p3,p4), the ‘medicine’ in question – The Elixir of Life – could cure such ailments as meningitis (which had previously killed Twain’s daughter in 1896) and diphtheria (which had also killed his 19-month-old son). Twain, himself of ill-health at the time and very recently widowed after his wife suffered heart failure, was understandably furious and dictated the following letter to his secretary, which he then signed.
Below is a copy of the actual letter (each can be clicked to enlarge). Below them is a transcript.
Nov. 20. 1905
J. H. Todd
1212 Webster St.
San Francisco, Cal.
Dear Sir,
Your letter is an insoluble puzzle to me. The handwriting is good and exhibits considerable character, and there are even traces of intelligence in what you say, yet the letter and the accompanying advertisements profess to be the work of the same hand. The person who wrote the advertisements is without doubt the most ignorant person now alive on the planet; also without doubt he is an idiot, an idiot of the 33rd degree, and scion of an ancestral procession of idiots stretching back to the Missing Link. It puzzles me to make out how the same hand could have constructed your letter and your advertisements. Puzzles fret me, puzzles annoy me, puzzles exasperate me; and always, for a moment, they arouse in me an unkind state of mind toward the person who has puzzled me. A few moments from now my resentment will have faded and passed and I shall probably even be praying for you; but while there is yet time I hasten to wish that you may take a dose of your own poison by mistake, and enter swiftly into the damnation which you and all other patent medicine assassins have so remorselessly earned and do so richly deserve.
Adieu, adieu, adieu!
Mark Twain
Colbert’s version of Matthew 25:35
Funny Picture: Choir Boy Candle Holders
My appearance on the Humanist Podcast
While I was in DC I had the honor of being interviewed by Jende Huang of the American Humanist Association. Here’s the show information:
From the website:
In this month’s audio podcast, Jende Huang drops in on the HEADS meeting and speaks to some leaders from across the movement about their upcoming plans for 2010.
Links from this month’s episode:
FreeThoughtAction: FreeThoughtAction.org
United Coalition of Reason: UnitedCor.org
Atheist Nexus: AtheistNexus.org
Center for Inquiry: CenterForInquiry.net
The Brights Net: The-Brights.net
Cartoon: Batman Vs God
From Amazing Super Powers:
Click image to enlarge.
Well I guess if Batman, a mere human, could take down the entire Justice League if needed, he could handle deities.
