Freethought Radio

In honor of Darwin's birthday (Feb. 12), Freethought Radio interviews film director, screenwriter and author Matthew Chapman, the great-great grandson of Charles Darwin. Chapman's book, "Forty Days and Forty Nights," is a personal report on the Dover "intellligent design" trial, and "Trial of a Monkey: An Accidental Memoir" recounts his pilgrimage to Dayton, Tenn., home of the Scopes trial.

After dissecting Pres. Bush's call upon Congress this week to make the "faith-based initiative" permanent, Freethought Radio speaks with Ellery Schempp, whose protest as a 16-year-old high school student yielded an enduring Supreme Court decision in 1963 barring bible devotionals from public schools. Ellery, a distinguished retired scientist, remains a passionate advocate of the separation between church and state. Freethought Radio's Freethinker's Almanac also takes a quick look at illustrious freethinkers born the first week in February. Note longtime listeners: This is a fresh interview with Ellery Schempp.

A relaxing Freethought Radio looks at the irreverency and artistry of one of America's most revered songwriters, the atheist Yip Harburg ("Somewhere Over the Rainbow"). Retired scientist and engaging unbeliever Ernie Harburg talks about his own rejection of religion, the progressive Yip Harburg Foundation, and his father's "Rhymes for the Irreverent." Tantalizing clips of many of Yip's famous songs airs during this new interview, and Ernie reads some of his father's freethought poems. The show also features a "Theocracy Alert" update.

The Nation's "Subject to Debate" columnist, author, poet, feminist and atheist Katha Pollitt, returns to Freethought Radio to talk about her latest book, "Learning to Drive," the cultural politics of abortion on this pre-Roe v. Wade anniversary show, and her views on the state of freethought and religion in politics. The show also features a new Freethinkers Almanac and Theocracy Alert.

Psychology Today's feature, "An Atheist in the Pulpit" (Jan/Feb 08), about ministers who lose their faith, inspired this week's show. Radio cohost Dan Barker, a former fundamentalist minister, as well as Freedom From Religion Foundation member Tom Reed, a former Roman Catholic priest, talk about their loss of faith stories. Both men are featured in the Psychology Today article. Tune in to hear Dan Barker's first-ever media interview as a "baby atheist," on the Oprah Winfrey Show! "Theocracy Alert" looks at mischief-making Congressional resolutions.

Freethought Radio looks at end-of-the-year threats to women by Islamists, talks with Taku Ronsman, a plaintiff in the Freedom From Religion Foundation's newest lawsuit against a city-displayed creche in Green Bay, Wis., and consults Anne Wiseman, chief legal director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, over CREW's recent federal court victory forcing the White House to release visitor logs on leaders of the religious right. Tune in for that, and much more!

This week's show offers a respite from seasonal state/church conflicts and religious intrusions in politics. Relax as the hosts feature secular songwriters and freethought music!

Tis the season . . . for state/church violations and this week's program briefly updates seasonal violations, including an interview with a brave county board supervisor, Robert SinKlair of Sauk County, Wis., who is opposing the nativity scene at his county courthouse. An NBC camera crew filmed the segments dealing with the "real reason of the season" and seasonal state/church violations for a (brief) segment on the Dec. 20 NBC Evening Nightly News. A few cuts from the recording ran. Spurred by the Golden Compass controversy, Freethought Radio devotes the second half of its program to an entertaining guide to freethought in the flicks, playing clips from movies with nontheist themes or characters. Don't miss a fun show!

This week's radio show parses Mitt Romney's "faith in America" speech, reports on seasonal state/church entanglements, and features interviews with two recent victors in the legal battle to keep church and state separate. Guest Ray Ideus talks about his victory this week over religion at the Spokane police department. Kay Staley talks about her major victory at the Supreme Court level, removing a monument to the bible from government steps in Houston. Listen in, get acquainted with freethinkers and enjoy some good news!

Just in time for the exciting debut this weekend of The Golden Compass film, the children's movie spectacular of the season, is Freethought Radio's interview with the fascinating Philip Pullman, the British children's novelist and nonbeliever who wrote the book the headline-making movie is based on. The program also reviews some timely developments, good and bad, for freethought and the separation of church and state.