[ann]In this week’s ANN, we discuss Mark Tapscott’s inane article about Joe Biden’s recent use of the name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ in vain. The horror! We also give a tribute to our personal hero and the new mascot of Irreligiosophy, Mike the Sea Lion, who became another tragic victim of sex exhaustion during the grueling sea lion mating season. Mike, we’ll miss you.

Podcast #28 has us discussing a wide variety of topics with anthropology guru and University of Utah professor Ewa Wasilewska. We cover some topics we’ve touched on in previous podcasts, such as the Enuma Elish and the Epic of Gilgamesh, and some things we haven’t — Leighton and I even learn some new stuff about Adam and Eve, as well as that wily serpent. We also discover a seething hatred Professor Wasilewska holds for all things Greek and Roman. Good times!

Our 20th episode of Atheist News Network centers around a nine year old girl in Brazil who was carrying twins as a result of being raped by her stepfather. Her mother took her to the courts (abortion is illegal in Brazil, but exceptions can be made for the health of the mother or if fetal demise is inevitable) and a judge ruled that an abortion would be appropriate in this case, given the horror of the crime against her and the terrible ramifications on her own health should this pregnancy be allowed to come to term. She underwent a therapeutic abortion.

The Catholic Church heard about the case, and through its infinite wisdom excommunicated everyone involved (with the single exception of the girl — but she was spared only because she was too young!). Recently Pope Benedict gave his blessing on the decision, cementing the fact that the Catholic Church is made up, top to bottom, of cold-hearted bastards who couldn’t find a moral compass if it was lodged up their collective rectums.

[leighton]This month I failed once again to get a mormon, or even exmormon at this point, to come on our show and discuss the roles of women in LDS society. However, I have a lead on someone who is an expert in the field of the LDS and have a very good chance of bringing them in next month for our guest interview. In the meantime, I have spoke with a good friend of mine and she has agreed to come on and discuss her views with us.

Ewa Wasilewska is an archeologist and professor up at the University of Utah. She is the author of Creation Stories of the Middle East, has written several articles such as Cuneiform Texts In the Arizona State Museum, and has cataloged numerous ancient artifacts such as from 1996-1997 Cuneiform Tablets and Other Related Objects in the Collection of the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, BYU.

She is a fascinating woman who grew up in christian, communist Poland and has been dubbed by some to be the female Indiana Jones. We here at Irreligiosophy are lucky to have her and look forward to our discussion.

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This week’s podcast resulted from a listener’s suggestion, so if you have any ideas for future shows, send them in!

We discuss various methods of stumping and/or embarrassing those eager young LDS missionaries who knock on your door in a futile attempt to get their hands on 10% of your income. Foil even the most persistent among them by listening here.