The Non-prophets

A deadly attack struck the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, leaving two dead and the Jewish community in terror. This act of religious violence, perpetrated by a planned cell of terrorists, highlights the failure of faith to protect its adherents, forcing them to rely on armed security rather than divine intervention. Hosts explore the bitter irony of communities seeking safety in conflict zones like Israel and criticize the deep historical roots of religious hatred, noting how ancient mythological conflicts—including narratives of genocide in the Torah—continue to fuel modern, global sectarian warfare. The segment concludes that without religion, these perpetual conflicts would cease, underscoring the dangers of mixing religious beliefs with governance.News Source:Manchester Jewish community reeling after deadly attackBy Ivana Kotosova for CNNOctober 3rd, 2025

Finding local atheist community is nerve-wracking for new non-believers who fear rejection and marginalization from friends, family, and society. The pervasive "Christonormativity" or "Theo-normativity" makes atheists feel inherently "weird" for simply existing, which fuels widespread fear despite modern communication tools. Straight white men are often more likely to adopt the atheist label, while women and people of color face compounded isolation, fearing negative "second and third order effects". Building small, local tribes through efforts like charity work is vital to combat the perception that atheists are uncaring. Ultimately, the goal is reaching a secular world where non-belief is viewed as just as natural as not being racist".  News Source: Kristina Lee: Building Atheist Community By Robert Bernstein for Ed Hat Santa Barbara September 22nd, 2025 

A musician was sentenced to death for blasphemy under Sharia law in Nigeria, highlighting the tension between brutal religious courts and the nation's protective secular constitution. The Supreme Court intervened, recognizing that rapid sentencing by the local Sharia court often seeks to bypass constitutional protections before citizens can exercise their rights. This case exemplifies the political volatility of upholding modern secular law against entrenched traditional religious demands, where theological disagreements can result in capital punishment.News Source:Nigeria's Supreme Court allows late appeal in Kano blasphemy caseBy Camillus Ebo for ReutersSeptember 25, 2025

A judge in Canada has finally affirmed that church law is not the law of the land, ruling that a sexual misconduct lawsuit against a high-ranking priest must proceed in civil court, rejecting the defense's attempt to shunt the case into an uncompensated internal canonical court. This ruling is a crucial step toward demanding external oversight and accountability for an institution known for protecting its abusers over victims. The system relies on the assumption of religious infallibility and years of delay (like the decade this case took to reach civil court). Civil courts must enforce that no institution is above the law when lives are at stake.News Source: Rosica abuse lawsuit proceeds By Gina Christian for Angelus August 12th, 2025

This week, we confront the grotesque hypocrisy of a megachurch accused of bankrolling a missionary who allegedly trafficked and abused struggling children in Romania. Despite sending up to $17,000 monthly, the religious organization refuses accountability, opting for the standard, despicable practice of protecting their institutional credibility over seeking restorative justice for victims. This systemic failure reveals how easily unchecked religious power enables horrific crimes while shifting blame.News Source:Missionary Financially Supported by Megachurch Accused of Child Trafficking and Abuse in RomaniaBy Deepa Bharat for AP NewsSeptember 17th, 2025The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.40.2 featuring Stephen Harder, Flabbergasted, and Tracy WilbertMegachurch Bankrolls Child Trafficker

Morocco’s theocratic monarchy claims to protect free expression, yet an activist faces jail time and denial of cancer treatment because she wore a t-shirt that said, "Allah is lesbian". This glaring contradiction exposes how religious authority uses caveats in the law to maintain control, proving that freedom of expression means nothing if the "right to offend" is stripped away. Her heroism in pointing out the system's flaws shows that where laws are unjust, speaking out is a duty, regardless of the staggering personal cost.  News Source: Moroccan woman on trial for blasphemy after wearing a shirt to that challenged religious authority By Akram Ubashir for Religious News Service August 28th, 2025

A Catholic priest in Pennsylvania took his parishioners for a joyride after confessing to rigging a church fundraising raffle for a Corvette Stingray. The scheme was run with unchecked authority over parish funds, enabling him to award phony prizes to friends while running up a massive $300,000 American Express tab paid by the church. This shocking case highlights the petty corruption and financial malfeasance that runs rampant when religious institutions operate without oversight, exploiting the faithful for personal gain and high-end consumer luxury.  News Source: Pennsylvania Priest Accused of Rigging Corvette Raffle, Using Church Funds to Pay Off American Express Bill By Hemet Mehta for The Friendly Atheist August 11th, 2025

Mega-church leader Kirby John Caldwell returns to the pulpit after serving time for a $3.6 million wire fraud scheme involving selling worthless Chinese bonds as investments. The hosts dissect the stunning hypocrisy and grifting required to defraud one’s own flock, only to be welcomed back with a standing ovation. This highlights the endemic problem of unchecked financial abuse within religious institutions and the manipulation strategies used by clergy and their families to maintain control over vulnerable, often uneducated congregations in places like the Deep South.News Source:Texas Pastor Returns to Megachurch After Prison for $3.6M FraudBy Anugrah Kumar for The Christian PostSunday, August 10th, 2025

A secular examination of the Catholic Church's latest attempt to shore up declining European membership and fatten its coffers the canonization of the first millennial saint. The hosts mock the transparent, desperate marketing strategy of turning a deceased computer-savvy teen, dubbed 'God's influencer,' into a brand icon for younger generations. They dissect the blatant hypocrisy of institutional religion targeting the uneducated and vulnerable—including youth—while spending vast sums to verify ancient 'miracles' instead of providing real-world relief. This segment exposes the church's predatory reliance on exploiting grief and promoting unquestioning devotion for monetary gain and generational relevance.News SourceItalian Teen known as 'God's Influencer' Declared the First Millennial Saintfor Newsbreak by CBS ChicagoSeptember 7th, 2025

This segment unpacks the potent intersection of queer identity, HIV stigma, and religious condemnation through a Pulitzer-winning musical. We explore how faith-based shame and societal neglect, especially during the AIDS crisis, weaponized pain against the LGBTQ+ community, leading to immeasurable loss and continued fear, even with life-saving medications. It's a stark reminder that bigotry costs lives, and that societal acceptance still lags behind medical progress, particularly for marginalized groups. When "morality" dictates who deserves care, humanity truly suffers.News Source: Black Gay Playwright Michael R. Jackson Talks HIV Stigma, PrEP, and the Tyler Perry Film Inside His Strange Loop By Darian Aaron for GLAAD August 13, 2025 

This segment unearths the deeply disturbing legacy of a prominent Christian leader whose authoritarian parenting advice and regressive family models directly fueled modern Christian nationalism. From advocating physical child discipline to igniting the Satanic Panic, his teachings exemplify how religious authority can morph into widespread societal harm. We scrutinize whether religion, as a perceived "tool," can truly be beneficial when its applications enable such demonstrable abuse. The discussion tackles the difficult ethical questions of confronting harmful legacies without simply dismissing critiques as anti-religious bias, and navigating reactions to the passing of influential yet destructive figures. It’s a stark reminder of how spiritual strongmen, often claiming to "save the children," can inflict generational trauma by weaponizing faith to control minds, families, and ultimately, entire nations.News Source: The Dark Legacy Of James Dobson: A Reflection On Influence By Henry Karlson for SmartNews Aug

This week, we unpack a truly divine scam where self-proclaimed holy rollers stand accused of running a $50M forced labor ring, complete with luxury cars and coerced "donations." It’s another classic tale of religious leaders enriching themselves while their flock endures psychological abuse, starvation, and threats of eternal damnation—because nothing says "love thy neighbor" like a Bentley and a BITE model. We dissect how easily faith can be twisted into a tool for control, exposing the thin veil between spiritual guidance and outright cult behavior. This segment peels back the layers of hypocrisy, reminding us that sometimes, the holiest places harbor the most unholy acts. When religion becomes a weapon for exploitation, who needs actual devils?News Source: FBI raid in Houston tied to $50M forced labor case against religious leaders By Jaime E. Galvan, Deevon Rahming, and Orko Manna for KHOU 11 August 27th 2025 

A small Illinois town took on the Proud Boys after a blatant recruitment billboard appeared near a high school. This segment dissects the audacity of extremist groups feeling emboldened enough to openly recruit and the critical importance of local communities pushing back against hate and fascism. It highlights how hate groups exploit societal anxieties and strategically infiltrate local politics, raising questions about corporate responsibility in platforming such dangerous ideologies. This local victory proves that grassroots efforts can, and must, challenge the normalization of bigotry eroding our society.News Source: Community Outcry Forces Proud Boys Billboard Removal in Illinois By Hunter Basler and Holden Ker Wiki for Katie Askey, local news August 19th, 2025 

Oklahoma's school superintendent is weaponizing education, forcing a political loyalty test from Prager U on incoming teachers from "blue" states. This isn't just about vetting educators; it’s a blatant attempt to indoctrinate students with right-wing propaganda, rewrite history with claims like "slavery was better than death", and sideline critical thinking. This move undermines academic freedom, exacerbates severe teacher shortages, and sets a dangerous precedent for ideologically driven schooling, turning classrooms into battlegrounds for conservative narratives rather than places of genuine learning.News Source: Oklahoma to test teachers from New York, California for radical leftist ideologyBy Chris Williams for FOX 26 Houston August 19, 2025

A new "Catholic investing scorecard" promises to help the devout align their portfolios with church teachings by dodging investments in anything supporting abortion, pornography, or LGBTQ+ rights. While some applaud this "faith-based stewardship," others—including us heathens—see it as a transparent, hypocritical weaponization of finance in the ongoing culture wars. A financial advisor, who evidently didn't use divine intervention to amass his own wealth, is now offering a tool based on "faith not seen" rather than evidence, potentially leading to exclusion and bad investments. We’re just wondering if the Vatican is secretly funding the White Sox now. Talk about a holy roller…

Harvard physicist Avi Loeb *probes* the possibility that a fast-moving interstellar object, 31 Atlas, might be an alien probe, not just a comet. While other scientists remain skeptical, citing ordinary physics, Loeb urges world leaders to prepare for extraterrestrial contact. This episode dives into the fine line between scientific speculation and sensationalism, questioning humanity's readiness for "close encounters" and whether we're jumping to "alien to the gaps" conclusions. It’s a hilarious look at how even serious scientists can trigger an X-Files episode, highlighting the need for skepticism when wild theories eclipse peer review, and reminding us that perhaps aliens are just smart enough to leave us alone.News Source:Scientist challenges world leaders over mystery comet he fears could be alien probe but time is running outBy Alex Oliveira for New York PostAugust 10, 2025

This episode dives into the alarming rhetoric of Christian nationalist Pastor Doug Wilson, whose vision for a "Christian nation" would drag us back to the 14th century, stripping women of their rights and redefining democracy to serve male supremacy. We explore how figures like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amplify such dangerous ideology, showcasing how easily theology is weaponized into public policy. It's a chilling reminder of how "slow, patient, radical movements" threaten our secular society, twisting language and facts to push a regressive agenda. We unpack the hypocrisy and the urgent need for critical thinking against this creeping theocracy.News Source:The Christian nationalist pastor with ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth CNN PoliticsBy Pamela Brown, Shoshana Dubnow for CNNAugust 8, 2025

Pastor Jack Hibbs is having a moral meltdown over California Bill AB 495, hysterically claiming it endangers "Christian children." This bill simply expands who can make emergency medical decisions or pick up kids from school when parents are unreachable, requiring pre-filed authorization from trusted adults. It's a pragmatic solution for modern families, ensuring children get timely care, especially in emergencies where parents might be unavailable. Yet, this Christian nationalist preacher wildly misrepresents the bill as a "boogeyman" that will snatch kids, all to drum up animosity against a liberal government and push his regressive agenda. It's classic fear-mongering, weaponizing parental anxieties to undermine public policy and promote private education, showcasing a blatant disregard for truth from a self-proclaimed moral leader. This episode exposes the hypocrisy and religious overreach behind such blatant distortions of fact, highlighting how such leaders misrepresent facts to advance their agenda.News

The U.S. capital is disgracefully reinstalling a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike, infamous for alleged KKK ties, opposing racial integration, and supporting the expulsion of freed slaves. This decision, after the statue was toppled by George Floyd protesters, isn't about preserving history, but a blatant symbol of bigotry and hatred that activates deep-seated trauma for many. It's a "sermon in stone" demonstrating a disturbing commitment to "owning the libs" and perpetuating white supremacy over fostering genuine inclusivity. This move further exposes how historical figures are wielded to fuel cultural bias, prioritizing fear and prejudice over a truthful, inclusive understanding of our past and honoring a failed traitor.News Source:Statue Of Confederate General With Ku Klux Klan Ties To Be Reinstalled In Washington, D.C.By Mitti Hicks for Black Enterprise\August 5, 2025

The self-proclaimed faithful are pearl-clutching over a Black, queer woman playing Jesus in a new artistic production, branding it "demonic" and "blasphemous." This manufactured outrage, disguised as religious conviction, exposes **fragile worldviews and deep-seated misogyny and racism** within the Christian right. They confuse artistic reinterpretation with an attack on their faith, conveniently ignoring that art's purpose is to challenge preconceived notions. It's yet another predictable display of **hypocrisy and selective victimhood**, proving that bigotry finds a way to surface even when the supposed "threat" is a fictional character portrayed by a talented actress. Their fear of inclusivity only amplifies the message: art thrives by questioning tradition, not by conforming to narrow, prejudiced definitions.News Source:Cynthia Erivo's 'demonic' portrayal of Jesus prompts outrage 'Intentional blasphemy'By Jon Brown for Christian PostAugust 4, 2025