[chuck]I’ve gotten a few emails asking about what’s going on and when can the new show be expected. Currently I’m working three to four 12-hour shifts per week in addition to the regular 8-hour shifts in an attempt to pay down the debt incurred last year. I’m not sure when the new show will start, but 1) I’d like to build up a backlog of episodes before it launches, and 2) it’s a low priority for me right now. Priority #1 is getting rid of the debt, which I think I can do but it’s going to take a while.
That having been said, feel free to drop some episode ideas in the comments, if anyone is still reading here. So far, I plan to do a show on the resurrection, mythicism vs historicism, CS Lewis, and the witch hunts.
Adios muthafuckaaaas. My last post will be a link to the new podcast, if and when.
66 Responses to “(Nearly) Final Update”
Awesome. Excited about the mythicism v. historicism episode!
Someone IS still reading!
Oh, Hell yeah. Take care of buisness first; totally understand the whole getting-out-of-debt thing. Biblical stories lifted/stolen from older sources e.g. Gilgamesh would be a fun show too.
That would be a good one. There are a surprising amount of New Testament stories lifted from pagan myths.
No, please make your *last* post a link to the new show. 🙂
What about Kirk Hastings’ book? Is that still on the table?
Chuck your prophesy regarding the LDS acceptance of gays seems to be coming to fruition.
I ain’t reading this shit no ‘mo. I now pledge allegiance to Dr. Price’s The Human Bible.
@ Chakolate: Right, right. That should be the last post.
@ Discord: Still on the table, barring more recording mishaps.
@ Herb: Faster than I thought, but of course no official word. Things will move a lot faster still once a bunch of geezers die — I’m looking at you, Boyd — or the public relations team takes another black eye. If there’s one thing Mormons hate, it’s bad PR.
I’m definitely still reading. I second the request for the final post being a link to the new podcast. I’m on the email list, but I want to make sure I don’t miss it.
I’d be rather interested in a podcast or two on some of the recent big cult movements. The Heavens Gate cult, that sort of thing
Still here! How about a show on how Gods Hates Figs?
T
Hey Chuck, Just as a podcast idea, I’ve always wondered what was your take on the HBO TV series (now ended) Big Love? How close to the mark did they get it – especially regarding the more fundamental snippets we got to see of the Mormon religion?
^^^^ I mean an episode idea – obviously the podcast idea is already taken care of
Awesome can’t wait for the new show. Podcast segment idea… if you could remove one person in history who would it be? I am going with Constantine as my first choice. removing him might have stopped the christen faith from becoming the monster it is today.
Well, since it’s always an issue that rears it’s ugly head, I’d love to see updates on creationism vs science. Creationists combine shit science with bad theology and are pretty low hanging fruits for comedy. Plus, its important to keep an eye on them as they’ve managed to monkey their way into politics and education.
@ Dean: I haven’t seen Big Love other than the temple episode. Any good?
@ stodluke: I think if you remove Paul, Christianity would have been just another unknown sect of Judaism that disappeared after the revolts of 70 and 130.
Recent cult movements and creationist updates I like. God Hates Figs might be an intro into just what the hell that story is trying to say in the New Testament.
I’m looking forward to new episodes whenever they may come out.
I can’t wait for Unapologetics! Irreligiosophy used to be the high point of my week and, I must say, getting through my first year of law school largely without you providing me with some release every week has been a challenge. Here’s hoping Unapologetics is up by the time my 2L year starts. Good luck to you! (Oh, and definitely focus on getting yourself back on track first. I know how the debt thing goes. See above, re: law school. In the interest of being charitable, is there a way, perhaps, to donate to a Get Chuck Out of Debt Fund?)
Hello, I discovered this podcast a couple of months ago and I think I’ve just about gone through all of the archives. The thing is, I need more! You guys are hilarious, you’re fun to listen to and the topics are always interesting. To be honest, I could listen to the two of you talking about just about anything.
I’m a programmer, which means I’m in front of a computer all day long (sometimes evening, too) and I need stimulating podcasts. I NEED IRRELIGIOSOPHY!!! Soon I’ll have gone through all of the episodes… then what? I’ll need a fix GODDAMNIT!!! THEN WHAT???
Look I’m willing to pay to have you and Leighton work things out and get back to work on new podcasts… (by that I mean donate a reasonable sum… you know, my share)
You have a gift, goddamnit… You must use your “God-given” gift even if he is imaginary!!!
Thanks,
Horatio
How about a take down of William Lane Craig’s main arguments for Christianity?
Chuck, you’re the best podcaster out there, and I’ve listened to many. Your visit with Karl Mamer on Conspiracy Skeptic about the Mark Hofmann bombings was impressive. Am so happy to know you’ll be back when you’re able. Best of luck.
Chuck you’re too good at this for it to be your lowest priority. I keep waiting and waiting, but I’m not so patient. Somebody more wealthy than me give Chuck a pile of sweaty cash.
*sigh*
@ Paulish: Thanks for your patience!
@ Geoff: Thanks to you and everyone who’s offered more donations. Much appreciated, but my answer is the same: let me get the new podcast up and running, and you can feel free to donate then.
@ Horatio: working things out with Leighton is — how do I put this — “not likely.”
@ scott: The first episode (about the resurrection) has William Lane Craig’s arguments squarely in its sights. I may do a more general takedown later.
@ Mutsie: I had almost forgotten about that episode. Karl actually wanted Leighton on for that one (he had us confused and then couldn’t back out when he realized his mistake). He later had a text interview with Leighton but never did get around to having him on as a podcast guest, as far as I know. Thanks for the kind words.
@ Kevin: Sorry, the podcast remains low priority until the debt gets cleared. I’ve finished half of the research for the first episode but it’s slow going with very little free time. It is what it is.
I’m sorry to hear that Chuck. The two of you together are fucking hilarious. I work in a cubicle, not an office, so I can’t really laugh out loud as I’m listening to you. If you’ve ever tried to hold back laughter, you’ll know it generally comes out in tears. A few time, people have come to see me while I was listening to one of your podcasts with eyes full of tear… They must’ve thought I was going through some kind of difficult time or something.
Anyway, I hope your solo work is as good as the stuff with Leighton but that’s not the usual patern. When great bands break up the solo stuff that follows is usually not as good… but I’ll still be listening…
Horatio
I just heard the episode you did with Church of Awesome.
Do you think you’ll make another appearance on their show? Soon hopefully.
I just wanted to say, “Thank you Chuck!” I have never written in to irreligiosophy, but I have enjoyed and spread your shows to my friends. Intelligent conversation, mixed with humor. Well done sir, well done. Thank you. I hope there is more to come with the new cast. As many have said before me, anything I can do to help.
Still reading. I fell asleep to your ‘debate’ with the E4F guys last night, which I’m sure was the catalyst for the dream I had. In my dream, you and Leighton teamed up for one last time to have a go at Kirk Hastings’s book, while making it very clear that you still hated one another and that you were setting aside your differences in order to unite against a common foe.
Just a dream, I know.
Is the facebook page for Unapologetics.net (http://www.facebook.com/Unapologetics.net) an official page or one created by a fan?
I’m fairly technical and web designy, if you need any help on those fronts to offload some of the work I’d be glad to help out.
@ Horatio: Don’t expect Unapologetics to be Irreligiosophy. You will be disappointed.
@ ZappaPlays: I just got an email from them. Something may be in the offing.
@ Stephen: You’re welcome! Thanks for listening.
@ Seth: At this point, it may be more likely that I team up with Kirk Hastings.
@ Discord: That’s an unofficial page set up by expert Hovindologist Matt Wakefield.
@ Rev Matt: Thanks for the offer. Time constraints being what they are, I may take you up.
I’d love to hear about the history of fundamentalist mormonism, the different sects around today and about your own experiences with fundamentalism. Not necessarily lots of personal information, but about what your community’s beliefs are / were and how they live. Surely not all fundamentalists are the prairie-dress-wearing, tween-marrying variety…
As long as people are giving ideas for shows, I’ll give my 2 cents. Whenever I see Christians pointing their shitty little hypocritical fingers at Muslims saying “Look how intolerant and barbaric they are” (which is often true). I like to remind them that they were equally intolerant and barbaric until the Age of Enlightenment and good rational atheists (I’m assuming here) began separating church and state, establishing universal rights and creating this secular society we live in, which Christians hold up as representative of their values!!!!
Basically we make them look good. Muslims simply never had their own Age of Reason. Anyway, I’d like a show on this… The history of this, to… you know, help me add to this argument of mine, which is a good one, I think. Christians should know that the relatively tolerant society they live in and sometimes have pride in, is not thanks to them, it is thanks to us… You’re welcome, Christians!
I would be interested in hearing a bit more about mormon fundamentalism as well. On the reality show Sister Wives, and a few doco’s I’ve seen, I’m sure I’ve seen them drinking wine. How diverse is the fundamentalist community? Also, you should have Mat on Unapologetics, I really liked him on the Hovind episode.
I hope you manage to get your debt sorted without to much pain, and I hope things work out for you generally. You’re so well spoken and informed, you never sound like your reading from notes or misspeak like alot of podcasters, it always sounded like a professionally produced show. The highpoint of my life will always be when my name was said on your show (sorry to my son and fiance, but its true) 🙂
Can’t wait for the new show!
@ Jan & Leela: Great idea. I’ll definitely cover the history of Mormon Fundamentalism, starting from Lorin Woolley’s account of an 1886 visitation by a resurrected Joseph Smith to John Taylor, to the Manifestoes of 1890 and 1904, to the Shortcreek raid in the 1950s, to the Lafferty brothers, to the Warren Jeffs fiasco. Should be an interesting ride.
@ Horatio: I do plan on an episode detailing the Witch Hunts. That should provide a nice counterpoint to Christian claims of love and tolerance. The difference in how Christian soldiers treated Muslim captives and how Muslim soldiers treated Christian captives when Jerusalem changed hands during the crusades puts a lie to any claim of Christian moral superiority as well.
There is an idea I had, but not sure how to articulate it. Its about how the christian beliefs have changed over the years. With special attention to how the conservative right have hijacked the Republican party. It is amazing what they say, as to what they should believe. Should be a “shooting fish in the barrel” episode.
yeah chuck, we’re still here.. you’re not rid of us that easy…
suggestions…. i think anything involving the history of the modern cults/religions.. where they came from, how they actually got here.. what they used to be compared to what they are now..how they’re all interrelated.. I have found that most of the “most” religious people I run into, are the people who have the least knowledge of what their religion is and where it comes from. Basic facts like the fact that all these modern cults are sister religions, following the same god and often the same books are mostly unknown to them . Hell, the baptists here dont think the catholics are even christians. Like somebody mentioned above, modern christianity is not the religion of jesus, if there even was a jesus, but christianity is really the religion of paul.. people dont understand the basic historical underpinnings of their beliefs. One thing I hear constantly from other atheists/anti-theists is that, knowledge was what set them free.. study of their history and their books is the quickest way to rid oneself of the religion monkey…
In your mormon podcasts it seems like you guys also experienced some of that… when you’re raised in a belief system you are often the one who knows the least about it. You dont grow up in it hearing all the history and origins of it… you have to go “outside” to actually learn about it. Im a firm believer that if anything is going to save us from a growing theocracy, its education and knowledge, not the courts and legislation.
Id also like to see a daily bible verse on the web site… people need to see what their books actually say… so they can be proud of their “good” books…. use examples like Psalms 137 maybe.. 🙂
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.”
I think there’s more than enough crazy bible shit to have at LEAST a daily bible verse 🙂
Education, Knowledge, history it CAN set us free
Thanks Chuck – podcast was fantastic. Are you planning to use Matt Wakefield on Unapologetics? The Hovind Finale Episode was one that I must confess I didn’t like as much as the others. Your blow-by-blow was great, and Leighton was good with colour commentary, but Matt – not sure – maybe I’d learn to like him.
As a podcast idea would you consider the impact of christianity on American history/politics? By this I mean the (alleged) motives of Bush for the Iraq conflict and other times when religion has impacted (or been used to justify) American actions?
Second, would you consider an episode on the founding fathers and why America is NOT a christian nation (or at least was not founded as such) – you might call it Attention Tea Baggers?
Finally (I think irreligiosophy touched on this) but what about the ‘national motto’ of the US as a topic? What inspired it, the history of it, and its impact?
Thanks again Chuck mate – your podcast was informative, very funny and, perhaps most importantly, taught us all to hate Glenn Beck and Kent Hovind
cheers from Australia
Cant wait
@ Stephen: There’s a book about that, and I might even have it lying around here somewhere …
@ Bob: A daily Bible verse. Not a bad idea.
@ Tim: I will use Matt from time to time. I think I’ll fly solo for the rest.
@ Mr.Fat: I bet you can.
Thanks for Irreligiosophy Chuck, it fucking rocked!
I am echoing Jen above, topics on Mormon fundamentalism would be fascinating. Your video reviews were hilarious. If you feel like exploring your masochistic side you could always review Left Behind and other crazy Christian themed media.
Thanks again for the podcast.
I loved your mormon episodes, still have them on my ipod, so definitely love to hear you and the new people’s take on everything mormon.
Looking forward to your re-boot, Chuck. I’d echo the “Left Behind” suggestion–even going a step further and seeing if you could get PZ Myers back on to beat up Kirk Cameron’s Crockaduck theory. Also, before you pulled the plug on irreligiosophy, I emailed another idea on the Mormon-CIA link…as the CIA recruits missionaries, and especially BYU grads. I think “he who won’t be named’ got back to me on that one–but you should take it up. Your Mormon coverage is the best out there….keep it up.
Great! Will wait patiently for Unapologetics.
Don’t know if it was suggested already, but a Mountain Meadows podcast might be interesting.
Still reading from Mexico. =)
@ Dylan: You are fucking welcome. I’ve never read Left Behind, might be a good episode if I can stomach it. Twilight too, as has been suggested, for the Mormon background of the author.
@ Rnegade: Mormonism will still be a feature. I wonder if I should do a running theme on Romney and Mormonism.
@ dingashenry: Yeah, I think the FBI and CIA love Mormons for their squeaky clean backgrounds and language abilities. My wife’s uncle is CIA.
@ Anubis: Mountain Meadows is definitely on the table. I’ve got that big fat book on it, I just haven’t had the time to read it yet.
I’ve always found it humorous how the Mormons hate on Catholics, despite a litany of at least superficial similarities. An ex-Catholic myself, I’d like to see the two religions contrasted.
Glad to hear you’re still planning to soldier on, Chuck.
Cheers.
I downloaded and listened to the entire list of Irreligiosophy eps (and ANN) about 6 months ago and thought it was one of the best atheist podcasts out there. Although I enjoyed the humour, what I enjoyed most was learning stuff from Chuck and often I wished Leighton would just shut up with the lowbrow dick jokes and I really wished it was just Chuck anyway!
I think Chuck has proven he’s got enough dick jokes of his own, so with Leighton out of the way, it will be the right balance of learning/fun with Chuck flying solo (masturbating?) Actually…I just loved learning stuff from Chuck when Leighton shut up, so I don’t expect nor want Unapologetics to be Irreligiosophy 2.0 (or 01.0 as the case may be, as in 2 – 1 (-1 being Leighton).
So 3.0 cheers to Chuck for Irreligiosophy and I will be listening to the new show, whenever that may be. Totally understand it is low priority right now, but you have a real talent for digesting information and relating it to listeners in an informative and entertaining way. Hope you eventually get time to continue your “hobby”!
@ Rob: Remember Mormonism was founded in the Protestant US in the early 1800s, where the Pope was pretty much considered the devil. The anti-Catholicism and racism of early (and not so early) Mormonism is rooted in the environment where it was created, which as much as anything else proves to me it is not divine revelation but just one more product of its times.
@ Mike: I hope that listening to a single person blab on for an hour or so won’t get too monotonous — I will miss the easy conversational aspect of Irreligiosophy. But if Glenn Beck did it, then by all that’s unholy so can I.
While this isn’t as directly related to religion as some other things, I’d love to hear a podcast going over logical fallacies, etc. Also, I don’t think you ever talked about the gnostics in-depth, and you’ve mentioned enough times to pique my interest.
I love the podcasts, but always thought how valuable a written set of notes would be. Something available on the web as an index to arguments to nail the christians to a cross. Maybe one of the neophytes could make it part of the homage to the Lord. Anyway, looking forward to pissing off Christians and opening the eyes of the believers.
I liked your idea about an episode discussing the meadow mountain massacre. And perhaps a show about the FLDS weirdos who live in isolated cities, warren jeffs and it would be AWESOME if you could get a hold of a few of those “lost boys” who were kicked out of FLDS communities by the dickheads in charge. I’m sure they’d have some fascinating first-hand experiences to share. That’s such a unique situation, but it would help a lot of people out there who have similar histories with religious abuse. Your guys’ podcasts helped me tremendously (and still do–I listen and re-listen to the episodes) as I’ve dealt with my unique situation. Any chance you could get ray garton on as a regular? I love that guy and his sense of humor. But I’m sure your local Hovindologist will do just fine. Chin up! (instead of a beer donation tab, open up a “bail my ass out of my haunted house debacle” fund!)