PODCAST · religion
Thank God I'm Atheist
by tgiatheist
Frank and Dan's off-the-cuff conversations focus on current events cast through the lens of their shared atheism. Episodes include a rundown of six news stories from the prior week, and the show occasionally features interviews with writers, thinkers, and leaders in the atheist community. As former Mormons, the hosts provide insight into the often misunderstood religious minority.
Episodes
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Mormons Double Down
Mormon leaders double down on their opposition to gambling, and young Mormons are losing their minds over being told to stay away from sports betting and prediction markets. Frank and Dan discuss the backlash, the church's longstanding rules against gambling, and the outrage of young Mormons...
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Erasing Atheists from the Military
The Pentagon drops "atheist" as a military belief category, and Frank and Dan debate whether that creates much practical harm for atheist service members or whether the bigger problem is the message it sends about who the military considers worthy of recognition and accommodation. But first…
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AI and Spiritual Isolation
With the rise of the "spiritual but not religious" category, more people are turning to AI for spiritual guidance instead of pastors. What does it mean for people to seek spiritual, moral, and life guidance from a source that guides you toward an ever more personalized and isolated spiritual...
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Involuntary Atheists
How did you become an atheist? Do you feel like you had any choice in the matter? Or was it something you ultimately couldn't ignore? This week Frank and Dan discuss the road to atheism and the surprising paths people take on their way to accepting the nonexistence of the god. Also some wacky...
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Catholicism is a Trip!
Frank just got back from Italy and has some stories to tell! Catholic churches, baby Jesus art, so much Jesus blood, Mary's wedding ring, and a visit to Assisi to see St. Carlo's dead body. But first, there's a bunch of wacky religious news from the week: Eiffel Tower workers strike over hiding...
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Can Neurodivergent People Know God?
Kate fills in for Frank this week, joining Dan for a conversation about neurodivergence, religious belief, and why some brains may process spiritual experiences differently than others. They compare religion to imagination, play, and believing in Santa, and wonder whether neurodivergent people…
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Saint Dolly, Devilish Tim, and Radical Acceptance
This week, we remember two iconic figures who helped make the world feel a little more accepting in very different ways. Dolly Parton embodied a version of Christianity rooted in love, generosity, and an instinctive refusal to exclude people who weren't like her. Tim Curry, meanwhile, helped…
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Religious Freedom Guaranteed* (See Terms and Conditions)
Texas conservatives are taking their anti-Muslim crusade to a new level: questioning whether Islam should even count as a religion. Frank and Dan look at the effort to redefine religious freedom so Christianity gets ever-expanding protections while Muslim beliefs and practices can be dismissed as...
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The Power of Religious Symbols
Who owns a symbol? And who gets to decide what it means? This week, we look at how symbols can be stolen, reclaimed, transformed, or ruined, from the swastika and pink triangle to the rainbow and the cross. Also this week: the sky evangelist picks a fight with Alaska Airlines, Canada's military...
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Can the Religious Left Stop Christian Nationalism?
As Christian nationalism tightens its grip on the nation's politics, a new crop of progressive candidates is putting faith front and center. From James Talarico to Abdul El-Sayed, the religious left is making a more explicit play for political power (and challenging the idea that Republicans get…
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Mourning Without an Afterlife
Death comes for all of us, but what does grief look like without belief in an afterlife? Frank is joined by Rachel for a personal conversation about scattering her father's ashes five years after his death, finding closure without religion, and whether mourning is different when this life is the...
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Pioneers, Persecution & Selective Memory
Pioneer Day is one of Utah's biggest celebrations, but how much of the Mormon pioneer story is history? And how much is mythology? Frank and Dan take a fresh look at the conflict that drove the Mormons west, why the word "persecution" doesn't tell the whole story, and how the familiar...
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The Truth About Religious Conversion
This week's final segment tackles a surprisingly tricky question: what is a religious conversion? Does becoming an atheist count, or is it something entirely different? We explore where Americans are actually moving religiously, why the "nones" continue to grow, and what it really means to change...
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Why Do Mormon Temples Look Like Luxury Hotels?
Frank and Dan explore why modern Mormon temple interiors resemble upscale hotel lobbies rather than awe-inspiring sacred spaces. They compare Mormon architecture with historic cathedrals, discuss the church's increasing architectural homogenization, and argue that Mormon aesthetics have become…
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The Problem With Hearing God's Voice
How do you tell the difference between a prophet and someone experiencing a delusion? This week, Frank and Dan explore the uneasy intersection of religion and mental illness, asking how believers decide whether a voice in someone's head is divine revelation or a symptom of psychosis. Also this...
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Did the Founders Want a Christian Nation?
As America approaches its 250th birthday, we're asking a simple question: Is this what the Founders wanted? Christian nationalists insist the United States was established as a Christian nation, but what did the men who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution believe?...
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If Aliens are Real, What Happens to Religion?
What happens to religion if humanity discovers we're not alone in the universe? This week, Frank and Dan explore one of the biggest theological questions imaginable: aliens. Would Christianity survive first contact? Would extraterrestrials need their own Jesus? Could they arrive with a religion...
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Christian Nationalists, Mormon Drama, and Route 666
With Frank under the weather this week, Dan takes the reins solo for a special live-stream edition of Thank God I'm Atheist. Along the way he digs into Christian nationalists attempting to build a new religious stronghold in Washington state, revisits the ongoing debate over whether Mormons are...
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Are Mormons Christian? The Pentagon Has an Answer
Are Mormons Christian? It's a question that's sparked debates for generations, and now the Pentagon has unexpectedly weighed in. This week Frank and Dan discuss the Department of Defense's new list of recognized faith categories, which places The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…
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They Saved a Buffalo Because It Looked Like Trump
A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh was headed for ritual sacrifice during a Muslim holiday (until people noticed it looked remarkably like Donald Trump). After the buffalo went viral, government officials stepped in, canceled the sacrifice, and gave the animal a new home at a zoo. Also this…
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The UFO Files Dropped… and Pastors Lost It
The government dumped a fresh batch of UFO files into the public record, and Christian pastors are already racing to explain what we're seeing. Are they aliens? Secret military tech? Weather balloons? Or… angels and demons?!! Frank and Dan dive into the newly released footage, the religious panic...
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Trump's America 250 Celebration Is Exactly What You Fear
America is turning 250… and Christian nationalists are determined to make sure the birthday party belongs to them. This week, Frank and Dan dive into the bizarre "Rededicate 250" event in Washington D.C., where Trump allies, religious activists, and culture war celebrities are pushing the idea…
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The God Delusion… Meets AI Delusion
Richard Dawkins spent decades convincing people to think critically about religion. Now he's wondering if a chatbot might actually be conscious. After an extended conversation with an AI he nicknamed "Claudia," the famed atheist author published a baffling article arguing that modern AI may be…
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Christian Marriage Expert Had TWO Wives!!
A Florida pastor who wrote a book about "biblical marriage" has been arrested after allegedly marrying a second woman while still married to his first wife. Frank and Dan dive into the very awkward collision between Christian marriage advice, secret spouses, and a pastor who may have taken...
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What Happens When You Fall in Love With an AI?
She wasn't catfished. She wasn't delusional. She fell in love... with an AI! And when that digital companion suddenly disappeared, the grief was real enough to take to a Buddhist temple for a memorial. This week, we dig into one of the strangest and most revealing stories yet about artificial...
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Trump Goes Full Messiah… Too Far?!
Trump posts an AI-generated image of himself as a Christ-like figure, and suddenly that's what sparks outrage from Christians?! In this shorter "TGIA Light" episode, we dig into the bizarre backlash, the selective standards of blasphemy, and what it reveals about modern religious and political...
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Even Alex Jones Is Turning on Trump?!
Alex Jones turning on Donald Trump wasn't on anyone's bingo card, but here we are! In a moment that feels less like politics and more like a full-blown schism, one of Trump's loudest allies is suddenly calling him out for going too far. Is this the beginning of real cracks inside MAGA, or just...
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Government Official Says God Teleported Him to Waffle House
A top FEMA official says God teleported him… to a Waffle House. Not metaphorically. Not "in spirit." Literally... mid-crisis, mid-life, mid-reality... He claims he was transported miles away as part of a divine encounter, and now he's defending it with scripture! It's the kind of story that would...
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What Did Pete Hegseth Just Pray For?!
A prayer calling for "overwhelming violence" is where Frank and Dan start this week, as they examine comments from Pete Hegseth and the disturbing implications of religious language being used to justify force and power. They break down how this kind of rhetoric fits into a broader pattern of...
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Televangelist Wants a Private Jet… Cites Jesus
A televangelist says he needs a private jet, and he's citing the Bible to justify it! After ditching commercial travel, he's now asking followers to fund his upgrade, arguing even Christ had to avoid the crowds. Apparently, salvation travels first class (or better). Also this week: a bizarre…
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Ramadan at 30,000 Feet… They Called the Cops
A man quietly says a prayer on a flight, and it ends with police, a diversion, and a wave of panic. What should have been an ordinary moment of religious observance during Ramadan was treated like a security threat, exposing how quickly fear and bias can escalate at 30,000 feet. In this episode…
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The Dark Theology Behind Today's War Politics
A top CPAC leader sparked outrage this week after defending the bombing of Iranian schoolgirls. During a heated debate on Piers Morgan's show, American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp suggested the girls might be "better off dead" than growing up under Iran's oppressive regime—an…
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Mormons Accidentally Drink Green Tea… Chaos Ensues
A quiet little mistake at BYU sets off a surprisingly big reaction! When a drink at the Mormon-owned Brigham Young University turned out to contain green tea, it reopened the question of what the Mormon "Word of Wisdom" actually bans, and why a 19th-century health rule still causes confusion…
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Is Sharia Law Coming for Your Dog?
A Florida congressman has introduced something called the "Protect Puppies from Sharia Act." Yes, that's the real name. The bill claims to defend dogs from Islamic law bans that don't exist, turning imaginary threats into federal legislation. We break down the culture-war paranoia behind it, and...
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Why This New Mormon Leader Has People Nervous
The Mormon Church has made a move that's raising questions about where it's headed next. President Dallin H. Oaks has appointed Clark Gilbert as the newest apostle, a relatively young (at 55 years old!) leader known for his firm orthodoxy and culture-war posture within church education. For many...
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One Nation Under Trump? The Freedom 250 Jubilee
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Donald Trump is launching a rival celebration—"Freedom 250"—complete with a national jubilee of prayer and a rededication of the country as "one nation under God." At the same time, the man linked to infidelity, sexual misconduct allegations, financial...
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Celebrity, Corruption, and a Very Tiny God
Pop star Nicki Minaj helped launch Donald Trump's latest scheme—and walked off with a shiny receipt. After backing Trump's new "Trump Accounts" and pouring serious money into the project, Minaj publicly declared that God is protecting Trump—then promptly showed off a Trump "Gold Card," a...
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Trump, the Almighty, and a Very Friendly Press
Donald Trump says God is proud of him. During a bizarre, softball-filled press appearance marking his first year back in office, Trump claimed divine approval for his presidency—offered without evidence or irony. We unpack the religious delusion, the collapse of press accountability, and what it...
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Greg Locke Cries Christian Persecution — The Truth Comes Out
A pastor says he's under attack for his faith. The truth is worse... and dumber! After the home of Tennessee preacher Greg Locke was shot up, he immediately declared it an act of Christian persecution (without evidence). When it later became clear the attack had nothing to do with religion, the...
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Playing the Odds with God
In a calculated hedge against hell, Dilbert creator Scott Adams announces a death-bed conversion to Christianity, explicitly framing it as Pascal's Wager—a cynical, calculated play for the afterlife. Christians celebrate, atheists groan, and we unpack why this story is catnip for religious...
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Trump Signed a Painting of Jesus. Seriously.
What happens when Trump desecrates a painting of Jesus? Billionaires line up to buy it. At a Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve party, Trump signs a painting of Christ—offering a very public glimpse at how faith, money, and power now intersect. From there, it's a week of religion doing what it does best:...
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Grading Honestly Is Apparently a Fireable Offense
A University of Oklahoma instructor gave a student a failing grade — and lost their job over it. The reason? Religion entered the chat. We unpack how a routine college assignment turned into a culture-war flashpoint, why academic standards suddenly became optional, and how religious grievance…
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When Religious Entitlement Hits 30,000 Feet
What happens when a man decides an airplane cabin is the perfect place to hold church? This week, we discuss the now-viral moment of a passenger pulling out his guitar mid-flight to serenade a captive audience with praise songs. Some travelers joined in while everyone else stared ahead in silent...
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Should Courts Protect Children from Religion?
What happens when a custody dispute turns into a fight over whether a child is being harmed by religion—and the courts are forced to weigh in? This week, we dig into a disturbing custody case that forces an uncomfortable question into the open: should religion get special protection when kids are...
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What This Nativity Says About America
It's that time of year again: the War on Christmas is back—and wilder than ever. This week, Dan and Kate dive into the bizarre conservative outrage over a nativity scene depicting the Holy Family as migrants detained by ICE. Right-wing commentators are furious, churches are divided, and somehow...
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Christians Are FURIOUS About This Santa
Nothing says "holiday spirit" quite like Christian leaders panicking over a goth-themed Christmas market, and their dramatic meltdown is far more entertaining than anything on the vendor tables. From there, we look at an Oklahoma student stunned that her Bible-based gender essay didn't pass a...
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Epstein Files & the Season of Bad Defenses
The Epstein files have finally started to drip out, and the early reactions are already something to behold. This week, Frank and Dan wade into the bizarre rhetorical contortions spilling out of the right-wing media sphere—from Megyn Kelly's head-scratching attempt to "reframe" things to the...
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SCOTUS Leaves Equality Standing—and Kim Davis Paying
SCOTUS just delivered a win for marriage equality. After nearly a decade of appeals, lawsuits, and national drama, the Supreme Court has officially declined to hear Kim Davis' case challenging gay marriage… leaving the original ruling in place and the former county clerk on the hook for hundreds…
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The Catholic School Auschwitz Float
A Catholic school in Pennsylvania put the words "Arbeit Macht Frei"—the infamous phrase from the Auschwitz gate—on the back of its Halloween float. Frank and Dan try to understand how something this shocking made it through so many adults without anyone realizing what it meant, and what it says...
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Trump's Holy War on Nigeria
Christian nationalism, hypocrisy, and pepper-sprayed pastors—oh my! Frank and Dan start in Oklahoma, where LGBTQ+ kids are literally breathing easier now that hateful school superintendent Ryan Walters is gone. Then it's on to a Pentecostal whistleblower who got fired for exposing his bishop's...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Frank and Dan's off-the-cuff conversations focus on current events cast through the lens of their shared atheism. Episodes include a rundown of six news stories from the prior week, and the show occasionally features interviews with writers, thinkers, and leaders in the atheist community. As former Mormons, the hosts provide insight into the often misunderstood religious minority.
HOSTED BY
tgiatheist
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Thank God I'm Atheist have?
Thank God I'm Atheist currently has 777 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Thank God I'm Atheist about?
Frank and Dan's off-the-cuff conversations focus on current events cast through the lens of their shared atheism. Episodes include a rundown of six news stories from the prior week, and the show occasionally features interviews with writers, thinkers, and leaders in the atheist community. As former...
How often does Thank God I'm Atheist release new episodes?
Thank God I'm Atheist releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 777 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Thank God I'm Atheist?
You can listen to Thank God I'm Atheist on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Thank God I'm Atheist?
Thank God I'm Atheist is created and hosted by tgiatheist.
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