Free Inquiry Audio Edition

Bart Laws examines the realities behind crime, punishment, and incarceration in the United States, challenging common assumptions that harsher penalties alone can solve crime. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/crime-and-punishment/ About the Author: Bart Laws is a medical sociologist and an adjunct associate professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice at Brown University. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay praises S. T. Joshi's The Downfall of God: A History of Atheism in the West, Vol. 2 as a comprehensive and authoritative account of how scientific, philosophical, literary, and cultural developments fueled the rise of atheism from the seventeenth century to today. He argues that the book's depth, breadth, and nuanced treatment of influential thinkers make it the definitive modern history of atheism and a landmark contribution to secular scholarship. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/god-takes-a-tumble/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Dennis E. Curry reviews Julian Barnes's Levels of Life, arguing that its unflinching exploration of grief offers a deeply humanist alternative to religious consolation. Through Barnes's memoir of losing his wife, the book portrays grief with honesty, wit, and emotional depth, ultimately suggesting that memory, rather than faith, provides a meaningful path through profound loss. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/a-memoir-on-ballooning-and-grief/ About the Author: Dennis E. Curry, MD, is a writer, political commentator, and resident physician in psychiatry practicing in Canada. Subscribe to his newsletter at:  https://denniscurry.substack.com/. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe

Richard Carrier argues that Bill Cooke's review of The Obsolete Paradigm of a Historical Jesus misrepresents both his arguments and the evidence, claiming the review ignores key sections of the book while attributing positions to him that he explicitly rejects. Carrier maintains that readers should judge his case directly from his work, asserting that his mythicist conclusions rest on a broad evaluation of historical evidence rather than the selective, inaccurate portrayal presented in Cooke's review. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/bill-cookes-misleading-meritless-review/ About the Author: Richard Carrier holds a PhD in the history of ancient science from Columbia University and is the author of ten books including The Scientist in the Early Roman Empire (Pitchstone, 2017). Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Bill Cooke reviews and critiques Richard Carrier's The Obsolete Paradigm of a Historical Jesus (2025), arguing that its case for Jesus mythicism relies on circular reasoning, subjective use of Bayesian statistics, and selective treatment of the historical evidence while ignoring mainstream scholarship on the historical Jesus.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/carrier-fails-to-carry-his-burden/ About the Author: Bill Cooke is a senior editor of Free Inquiry and a historian of atheism and humanism. He holds a PhD in religious studies and teaches philosophy and religious studies in Warrington, United Kingdom. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Robyn E. Blumner explores how artificial intelligence may reshape humanity's relationship with work, arguing that even if technology creates a future of abundance and leisure, work provides essential sources of purpose, dignity, identity, and personal growth. She examines whether a world without the necessity of labor could leave people struggling to find meaning and fulfillment. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/does-work-matter/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is the CEO of the Center for Inquiry and the executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and, Science. She was a nationally syndicated columnist and editorial writer for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times) for sixteen years. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Russell Blackford explores how the word sex has shifted in meaning over the past century, arguing that modern society has replaced old religious discomfort with new forms of linguistic squeamishness. He traces how gender increasingly displaced sex in everyday language and how today's algorithm-driven "algospeak" (such as "seggs" or "s*x") reflects a new kind of technological puritanism that can undermine clear, thoughtful discussions about biology and sexuality. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/sex-the-strange-journey-of-one-little-word/ About the Author: Russell Blackford is a conjoint senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Newcastle (Australia) and a regular columnist for Free Inquiry. His latest book, The Tyranny of Opinion: Conformity and the Future of Liberalism (2019), is published by Bloomsbury Academic. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/  

Ronald A. Lindsay previews Free Inquiry's August/September 2026 issue. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/07/in-this-issue-august-september-2026/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that modern religions, particularly the Abrahamic faiths, retain the ancient practice of trying to placate deities through sacrifice and petitionary prayer, differing more in form than in substance from ancient Greek religion. He contends that petitionary prayer is logically incompatible with the concept of an all-knowing, benevolent God and concludes that religion reflects humanity's early attempts to explain and influence an uncertain world rather than a rational understanding of reality. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/placating-the-gods-the-core-of-religion/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions significantly expand presidential power and the influence of money in politics, threatening the independence of federal regulatory agencies and further empowering wealthy political interests. He contends that allowing presidents to fire agency leaders at will and removing campaign spending limits for political parties will make government more partisan, less stable, and increasingly dominated by billionaires at the expense of democratic accountability. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/just-what-we-need-more-partisanship-in-government-more-money-in-politics/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay explores how myths, legends, and misinformation become attached to prominent figures, comparing modern conspiracy theories about public figures and historical myths about George Washington to the legendary development of the Gospel narratives about Jesus. He argues that beliefs are often shaped more by emotion, ideology, and storytelling than by historical evidence or factual accuracy. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/michelle-obamas-manhood-washingtons-prayer-at-valley-forge-and-the-gospels/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay critiques the widespread attention given to Pope Leo XIV's recent AI encyclical, arguing that the Catholic Church's theological claims and supernatural beliefs undermine its credibility as an authority on emerging technologies.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/why-listen-to-the-pope-speaking-as-the-pope-on-ai/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Steve Grumette argues that effective moral education should be grounded in empathy, critical thinking, and evidence-based understanding of human moral development rather than religious authority, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to reason through ethical challenges together. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/secular-approaches-to-moral-education-building-character-without-commandments/ About the Author: Steve Grumette is an Academy Award–winning filmmaker (The Magic Machines, Best Live Action Short) and pioneer of live computer imagery in Hollywood, with credits including WarGames. A UCLA-trained engineer and physicist, he writes on philosophy and criminal justice ethics. He is the founder and artistic director of the Ojai Film Festival and lives in Oak View, California. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Leo Igwe examines how humanist activists in Africa are combating witch hunts by challenging superstition, promoting critical thinking, and helping victims seek legal protection against accusations that often lead to violence, abuse, and death. Drawing on real cases from Nigeria, he argues that reason, science, and human rights advocacy offer the most effective path toward ending witchcraft-related persecution across the continent. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/can-humanism-help-end-witch-hunts-in-africa/ About the Author: Leo Igwe, founder of the Nigerian Humanist Movement and founding director of the Center for Inquiry Nigeria, recently completed a doctorate degree in religious studies at the University of Bayreuth in Germany. He is the chair of the Humanist Association of Nigeria and recipient of the IHEU 2017 Distinguished Service to Humanism Award. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Mark Kolsen argues that rock 'n' roll and the sexual revolution played a significant role in the rise of religious "Nones" in the United States by encouraging more permissive attitudes toward sex and weakening traditional religious participation. He traces how early rock music emerged from Pentecostal church culture, how conservative religious backlash against rock and sexuality politicized religion, and how younger Americans increasingly distanced themselves from organized faith as the religious Right aligned itself with conservative politics. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/how-rock-and-sex-effected-the-increase-in-nones/ About the Author: Mark Kolsen lives in Chicago. A fan of the Four Horsemen and the late Victor Stenger, he strives to understand all facets of scientific cosmology and evolutionary biology. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

This is a modified version of an article that originally appeared in The Free Press under the title "The Golden Age of Humanity? We're Living in It." Free Inquiry is republishing it with the gracious permission of The Free Press and the authors. Copyright is retained by The Free Press. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/medieval-christendom-are-they-serious/ About the Author: Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the author of When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay examines competing narratives about American history and identity ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary, arguing that both right-wing myths of a flawless Christian nation and left-wing portrayals of America as irredeemably oppressive distort a more complicated reality rooted in Enlightenment ideals. He contends that free speech, democracy, and gradual moral progress—especially regarding slavery and women's rights—remain the nation's greatest strengths, while warning that polarization, censorship, and partisan echo chambers now threaten the future of American unity and democratic culture. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/the-united-states-whither/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Richard Dawkins argues that calling himself a "cultural Christian" reflects his upbringing in English Christian traditions, literature, and music—not any belief in Christian doctrine, which he continues to reject as irrational.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/cultural-christian-so-what/ About the Author: Richard Dawkins is an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and bestselling author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008. In 2006, he founded the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science, now a division of the Center for Inquiry. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay previews the June July 2026 issue of Free Inquiry, The U.S.: Where It's Been, Where It Is, Where It Should Go, Free Inquiry 46.4. Read this article and find accompanying references at: In This Issue June/July 2026 | Free Inquiry About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay criticizes Mike Johnson for distorting the constitutional principle of separation of church and state by arguing that religion may influence government while government must not interfere with religion. He also accuses Johnson of hypocrisy for presenting himself as a devout Christian while consistently defending Donald Trump despite behavior Lindsay argues contradicts basic Christian moral values. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/speaker-mike-johnson-ideologue-and-hypocrite/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that while assassination can be morally justified under extreme conditions—such as in the case of a dictator like Adolf Hitler where no peaceful change is possible and killing could prevent greater harm—those conditions do not apply in a functioning democracy. Despite concerns about the actions of Donald Trump, Lindsay concludes that assassination is unjustified and morally wrong in this context because democratic mechanisms for change still exist and violence would likely worsen the situation. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/when-if-at-all-are-assassinations-justified/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Donald Trump and Pope Leo may appear to represent opposing moral visions, but Ronald A. Lindsay argues that both promote deeply flawed and unjustifiable positions—one through harmful political leadership and the other through outdated religious doctrine. Rather than choosing between them, his article contends that both should be critically rejected for their respective impacts on reason, ethics, and human well-being. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/trump-vs-the-pope-not-much-to-choose-from/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that declining support for Israel is not primarily driven by anti-Semitism but by growing concern over the policies and actions of its government, particularly under Benjamin Netanyahu. He contends that dismissing criticism as prejudice ignores legitimate moral objections and risks further eroding international support by avoiding accountability. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/anti-semitism-is-not-the-principal-reason-israel-is-losing-support/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

As scientific progress reaches new heights—exemplified by the Artemis II mission—Ronald A. Lindsay contrasts these achievements with the persistent influence of religious belief in global conflict and public policy. He argues that despite the advances of Enlightenment thinking, religious ideology continues to shape decisions in ways that undermine reason, raising concerns about humanity carrying these tensions into its future beyond Earth. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/reaching-for-the-stars-but-mired-in-oppressive-fantasies/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Algorithmic AI and hypernudging technologies are reshaping human experience by subtly influencing autonomy, empathy, and the way we inquire, often operating below conscious awareness and steering decisions through personalized, data-driven feedback. David L. Hildebrand explores how these systems risk diminishing independent thought, weakening empathic connection, and constraining creativity, raising urgent ethical questions about how we preserve human agency and moral growth in an increasingly AI-mediated world. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/03/autonomy-empathy-and-moral-inquiry-amid-algorithmic-ai/ About the Author: David L. Hildebrand is professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado Denver. He is a past president of the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy and the Southwest Philosophical Society. He has published extensively on John Dewey, Richard Rorty, aesthetics, and the philosophy of technology. For nearly a decade, Hildebrand has published on information technologies, considering their bearing on inquiry, meaning, ethics, education, art and aesthetic experience, democracy, and truth. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Technology is increasingly taking on roles once filled by religion, shaping how we find meaning, form identity, and navigate life through algorithms, data, and digital routines. As these systems quietly influence our values and behavior, the article explores what we gain in convenience—and what we may lose in depth, shared meaning, and human connection. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/03/how-technology-is-quietly-replacing-religion-algorithms-rituals-and-the-architecture-of-belief/ About the Author: David Falls is a retired technology professional who spent thirty-three years at Microsoft. He has written many published articles on philosophy, religion, science, and technology. His book, God's AI Reckoning: The Final Revelation, was published in October 2025. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Yamin argues that criticism of Islam is often unjustly suppressed in Western discourse through accusations of "Islamophobia," which he claims are used to shield religious doctrines from scrutiny. Drawing on examples ranging from violence over blasphemy to restrictions on women and punishment for apostasy, he contends that concerns about certain interpretations of Islam are grounded in real-world consequences rather than prejudice. Yamin maintains that defending the right to openly critique religious ideas is essential to preserving free expression, secular values, and Enlightenment principles. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/03/in-defense-of-rational-criticism-of-islam/ About the Author: https://secularhumanism.org/authors/yamin/ Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Jonathan Simmons argues that religious apologists often deflect criticism by attacking researchers' credibility and reframing critical inquiry as bias or persecution. Focusing on a dispute between Stephen Kent and Massimo Introvigne, Simmons contends that parts of academia have become overly protective of religious claims, resisting the application of standard scientific and psychological analysis. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/03/the-prophet-and-the-pathologist-stephen-kent-massimo-introvigne-and-the-battle-for-an-honest-study-of-religion/ About the Author: Jonathan Simmons, PhD, is an independent scholar and higher education professional whose research examines nonreligion and social movements in North America. His doctoral work analyzed moral identity and activism in Canadian atheist communities, and his current research focuses on Indigenous religious change and nonreligion. His scholarly articles have appeared in Secular Studies, Religion and Gender, and Social Movement Studies, examining topics ranging from feminist atheist activism to the intersections of nonreligion with social justice movements. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Russell Blackford argues that religious motivation—particularly in cases of jihadist violence—is often downplayed or denied in Western discourse despite clear evidence to the contrary. Using a recent terrorist attack as a case study, he contends that labeling such acts as unrelated to religion obscures their ideological roots and hinders honest analysis. Read this article and find accompanying references at: secularhumanism.org/2026/03/religious-motivation-is-real/ About the Author: Russell Blackford is a conjoint senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Newcastle (Australia) and a regular columnist for Free Inquiry. His latest book, The Tyranny of Opinion: Conformity and the Future of Liberalism (2019), is published by Bloomsbury Academic. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

In this editorial, Robyn E. Blumner announces the creation of a new freethought and skepticism gallery at the Center for Inquiry headquarters in Amherst. The exhibit will trace the intellectual history of freethought, religious criticism, and scientific skepticism while also highlighting famous hoaxes and the harms of pseudoscience. To learn more and contribute, visit centerforinquiry.org/freethought-skepticism-gallery/. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/03/coming-in-2026-the-history-of-freethought-and-skepticism-gallery/ About the Author: Robyn E. Blumner is the CEO of the Center for Inquiry and the executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and, Science. She was a nationally syndicated columnist and editorial writer for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times) for sixteen years. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay critiques recent intellectual defections from atheism, focusing on writer Christopher Beha's claim that atheism is philosophically and emotionally incomplete. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/another-lament-about-atheism/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that just as we must defend the right to criticize government, we must also defend the right to criticize religion—including Islam. Lindsay maintains that protecting any religion from open criticism undermines free expression and, in cases where doctrines are used to justify human rights abuses, amounts to moral complicity. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/we-need-to-be-able-to-criticize-religion-including-islam/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that many on the MAGA right who once decried "cancel culture" now embrace similar tactics when it targets their opponents. While private campaigns to silence speakers were troubling, Lindsay contends that the Trump administration's use of government power to pressure universities, media outlets, and even members of Congress represents a far more dangerous threat. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/the-maga-crowds-crocodile-tears-on-cancel-culture About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that petitionary prayer—asking God to intervene in human affairs—poses a logical problem for belief in an omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent deity, since such a being should not require requests to prevent suffering.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/prayer-religions-not-so-secret-weapon/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/

Free Inquiry is looking for a new editor, to begin on or about September 1, 2026. The official job description can be found here: https://centerforinquiry.org/employment/free-inquiry-editor/ Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/fi-editor-wanted/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Gregory Grahl uses the rise of Rastafarianism and the messianic veneration of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie to illustrate how religious movements can form around real historical figures through mythmaking, devotion, and cultural need.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/01/what-if-the-messiah-came-from-ethiopia-instead-of-bethlehem/ About the Author:  Gregory Grahl's essays have appeared in Cool and Strange Music and his poetry in The Red Wheelbarrow. His play, When the Diagnosis Is the Cure, is about a family torn apart when their son wants a gender-transition. Grahl lives in New Jersey with his wife Frances—a teacher and published poet. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

This interview exposes the largely forgotten history of female circumcision in the United States, tracing its roots to Victorian-era medical practices and revealing how it was once normalized, insured, and justified under shifting ethical narratives. Through survivor Patricia Robinett's testimony, the article confronts the lasting trauma of nonconsensual genital cutting and challenges modern assumptions about medical authority, human rights, and cultural hypocrisy. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/01/americas-dark-and-forgotten-history-of-female-circumcision-an-interview-with-a-survivor/ About the Author:  Daniel N. MacClymont is a cofounder of the Genital Autonomy Legal Defense and Education Fund (GALDEF.org), a nonprofit organization that pursues precedent-setting impact litigation to protect all children from the harms of medically unnecessary genital cutting customs, such as circumcision. He has been an active voice in the genital autonomy (intactivist) movement since 2014 and, as a member of the Kansas City Intactivists, is known for employing humor-based street and educational campaigns to reach the hearts and minds of young people. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Bill Cooke argues that Jesus mythicism has failed to answer core scholarly challenges, relies on flawed logic that treats the New Testament as either wholly true or wholly false, and remains marginal to serious historical scholarship.  Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/01/the-five-challenges-unanswered/ About the Author:  Bill Cooke is a senior editor of Free Inquiry and a historian of atheism and humanism. He holds a PhD in religious studies and teaches philosophy and religious studies in Warrington, United Kingdom. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Ronald A. Lindsay challenges claims that Jesus was purely mythical, arguing that while the evidence is limited and myth-laden, there is a reasonable prima facie case for a historical Galilean preacher crucified under Pontius Pilate. He concludes that mythicist arguments rely on speculative reinterpretations and fail to meet their burden of proof, leaving the question unresolved but far from settled with "scientific certainty." Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/01/the-mythicist-claim-not-likely/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Don Wharton argues that the case for a historical Jesus fails to meet even modest standards of evidence, contending that extra-biblical sources are unreliable, biblical texts are contradictory or late redactions, and early Christian writings reflect belief in a celestial—not earthly—Christ. He claims that, taken together, the silence of Paul, the mythic parallels, and the textual history support Jesus mythicism with a level of certainty comparable to scientific proof, rather than mere speculation. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/01/a-cern-level-proof-of-mythicism/ About the Author: Don Wharton has twenty-five years of service in multiple roles as secular leader and activist primarily with the Washington Area Secular Humanists. His prior work was as an IT professional, including Director of Information Systems Planning for the National Academy of Sciences. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

David W. Falls argues that Jesus's moral authority should not be exempt from critical scrutiny, noting that several Gospel teachings promote division, unquestioning loyalty, punishment, and exclusion rather than empathy and autonomy. He contends that secular ethics should judge Jesus's teachings like any other moral claims—by their coherence and consequences—rather than granting them immunity through tradition or reverence. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/01/rethinking-jesus-the-morality-and-the-myth/ About the Author: David Falls is a retired technology professional who spent thirty-three years at Microsoft. He has written many published articles on philosophy, religion, science, and technology. His book, God's AI Reckoning: The Final Revelation, was published in October 2025. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

The article argues that the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not grounded in the original New Testament texts but emerged later through theological additions and editorial expansions. Duke Mertz contends that the Trinity is better explained as a reinterpretation of pagan mystery cult initiation rites, later formalized by church authorities such as the Council of Nicaea to impose doctrinal unity. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/01/the-holy-trinity/ About the Author: Duke Mertz took an early retirement from a career in finance to work with nonprofit organizations and to write. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

The next installment of Unprayerful Reflections argues that the Trump administration's overt Christian messaging and policies signal a deliberate effort to redefine the United States as a militant Christian nation, eroding constitutional secularism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/onward-christian-soldiers-trumps-america/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Ronald A. Lindsay argues that secular people need not avoid December 25 or conform to religious expectations when the holiday arrives. He emphasizes that Christmas is historically arbitrary and culturally syncretic, encouraging secularists to freely adopt—or discard—traditions à la carte in whatever ways bring joy, without guilt or deference to Christian claims. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/christmas-a-la-carte/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

Ronald A. Lindsay critiques the Catholic Church's latest decision to bar women from the diaconate as another exercise in institutional paralysis, masking inaction with dense theological language to avoid alienating opposing factions. He argues that fear of undermining claims to absolute truth keeps meaningful reform perpetually out of reach, even at enormous moral and financial cost. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/the-hamster-wheel-of-catholic-reform/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.

This essay is the author's abridged version of his book-length memoir, The Long Surrender: A Memoir about Losing My Religion (Wisdom Editions, 2022), available wherever books are sold. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2025/11/the-long-surrender-a-memoir-about-losing-my-religion/ About the Author: Brian Rush McDonald is a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia. After leaving the ministry, he worked in various capacities for a couple years, from university professor to Starbucks barista before completing all the requirements to be a licensed psychotherapist. He has now been in private practice for nearly twenty years. He treats individuals who are experiencing depression, anxiety, or life adjustment issues. He also provides couples counseling. He and Kathy have been married for forty-seven years and have three adult children and three grandchildren. McDonald enjoys playing trombone in several community groups, and he and Kathy enjoy sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry

Dennis E. Curry examines the ethical contradictions surrounding the death penalty, showing how political ambition, procedural failures, and experimental execution methods expose deep moral flaws in state-sanctioned killing. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2025/11/the-blowtorch-and-the-butterfly-deconstructing-death-penalty-ethics/ About the Author: Dennis E. Curry, MD, is a writer, political commentator, and resident physician in psychiatry practicing in Canada. Subscribe to his newsletter at:  https://denniscurry.substack.com/. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry

Editor's Note: Paul Schlueter III is serving a life sentence in Pennsylvania after being found guilty of murder in the first degree. He was charged with the death of Carol Ann Bonney in 1985. He pleaded no contest to the homicide but asserted a defense of diminished capacity, which was rejected by the court. We are publishing Mr. Schlueter's essay, because it provides a perspective on incarceration not often encountered: a perspective from the inside. In his essay, Mr. Schlueter makes various observations about the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and their employees. These observations express Mr. Schlueter's opinions, and in publishing this essay, Free Inquiry does not endorse these opinions or present them as facts. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/authors/paul-schlueter-iii/ Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry

Christo Roberts defends the moral and practical justification for punishing criminals, emphasizing that modern states cannot function without a criminal justice system. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2025/11/in-defense-of-retribution/ About the Author: Christo Roberts is a retired prosecutor. He lives in Cape Town, South Africa. Some of his writings can be found at Reason, Religion and Science—A Sceptical Look at Irrational Claims (https://thefreethoughdomain.wordpress.com/). Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry

Ronald A. Lindsay surveys the broader inequities of the criminal justice system before turning to punishment, arguing that while retribution and its expressive function have a place, capital punishment is only justifiable in principle for the most extreme crimes. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2025/11/criminal-justice-in-general-capital-punishment-in-particular/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/ Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry