We start by looking at narratives, or stories, and their impact on societal issues, particularly within the realms of politics and human rights. We highlight a concerning a local incident with the group Toledoans for Trump, who faced backlash for reserving a space to meet. We have concerns about the potential harm of silencing differing opinions through social media backlash and boycott calls, emphasizing the importance of defending free speech even when we disagree with the message and that private businesses can and do discriminate based on political views. We are concerned about how much press this incident received when other stories are not heard.

Next we highlight Senate Bill 341 introduced in the Ohio legislature, which seeks to prohibit minors from marrying. There is a connection between such marriages and human trafficking, as well as how they can perpetuate cycles of abuse. Child marriage is also connected to cultural and religious beliefs. We encourage listeners to engage with their legislators to amplify this initiative, emphasizing its significance in protecting vulnerable individuals.

We end the episode by talking about the paramilitary and unconstitutional work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities and their implications for all our civil liberties. There are serious consequences of ICE's aggressive tactics, reflecting on past tragedies and ongoing fears within immigrant communities. We stress the urgent need for community awareness and advocacy. By sharing experiences from Minneapolis and local insights, we call upon listeners to support their neighbors and push back against authoritarian enforcement that targets marginalized communities.

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We start by talking about the recent US Supreme Court hearing on cases challenging the bans on Trans women from playing on women's sports teams. The conservative justices questioned if such bans were really discrimination since the trans community is so small. We mention how they made the same arguments in upholding the bans on gender affirming care last year and how it is similar to the arguments used to support Jim Crow laws during the civil rights era. The sports bans are yet another attempt to erase trans people from the canvas of society and serves no rational reason just a religious bigotry reason.

Next we look at the murder of Renee Good and how her death not only highlights the extreme measures government agents will take against individuals standing up for their neighbors but also points to a persistent narrative that resurfaces often: the dehumanization of individuals labeled as "other." There is an alarming tendency for authorities to shift blame onto the victims, rather than addressing the flawed systems that contribute to such violence. This hypocrisy and deliberate denial of accountability must be called out as it perpetuates cycles of injustice.

Finally we examine the legislative moves by Christian nationalists aiming to influence public education through a proposed "success sequence" framework in Ohio. This initiative seeks to dictate personal and familial decisions by mandating that youth follow a three-step path of education, employment, and marriage before having children as a means to avoid poverty. While the intent may appear benign, but we find the underlying agenda and biases within this bill—one that seeks not only to uphold conservative values but to erase the economic realities faced by many in the lower socioeconomic strata. We also question the fundamental assumptions behind such a sequence, arguing that it ignores systemic barriers, such as race, socioeconomic status, and educational access.

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We examine the claims made in a two part video by conservative political commentator Dennis Prager. The video titled 'The Consequences of Secularism' includes Prager's vague and misleading claims about secularism which he fails to define. He includes not only philosophical claims but also political claims that don't hold up to closer scrutiny in order to bolster his religious beliefs.

Problems start when he limits his claims only to western Judeo-Christian values. We look at his claims against Diversity being an asset, that human worthiness requires a god, secularism leads to a loss of meaning, cherry picking science to claiming that religion is the bee's knees, and finally the old trope that western Judeo-Christian believers abolished slavery.

01:00 Introduction

05:41 Diversity is not a strength

11:26 Human worth requires the divine

17:34 Secularism leads to the death of meaning

21:37 The science proof for religious belief

38:15 Religious involvement in slavery

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The US Secretary of Defense, recently, released a memo with plans for severing of government ties with Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America. Hegseth's reasoning stems from the organization's allowance of girls as members, which he argues has transformed it into a group that undermines “boy-friendly spaces.” Douglas' personal reflections as a former Boy Scout provide context to this discussion, emphasizing the depth of support the military historically provided, including logistical and medical assistance for events like the National Scout Jamboree.

We make note of Scouting America’s evolving policies, particularly their decision to accept girls and members of the LGBTQ+ community. But the organization still excludes atheists and promotes Christian Nationalism since evangelicals took over the group in the late 1980s. This is why the federal government should cut ties, not for made up gender issues.

We pay tribute to Bob Barnes, a notable Canadian humanist leader and friend to the show, who recently passed away. We share some personal anecdotes about previous interactions with Barnes and his contributions to the humanist community, while honoring his work with the Bluewater Atheists Humanists and Agnostics group. We replay a segment from a previous interview with him, encapsulating his vision for the humanist movement and its importance in fostering community and support.

Finally we answer the biggest question of the day, 'what humanism means today', particularly within Unitarian Universalism. Reflecting on a sermon delivered by Reverend T.K. Barger, we underscore the common threads of humanism that resonate across different beliefs, highlighting both the overlaps and distinctions between secular and religious humanism. There is the emphasis that humanists are tasked with the responsibility of fostering compassion and rationality in addressing global issues, ultimately framing humanism as an actionable philosophy that empowers individuals to effect change in their communities.

01:00 Military Plans to Cut Ties with Scouting America for wrong reason

21:07 Remembering our friend Bob Barnes

24:41 What Does Humanist Mean Today?

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We start by looking at the concept of "the exception of me," a phenomenon that often emerges among individuals with extreme political beliefs. This term describes how these individuals can hold contradictory views that somehow do not apply to them personally. There is a societal tendency to overlook these inconsistencies, fueled by a sense of entitlement, which persists despite the personal consequences of such contradictions.

Next we talk about an officer with the Toledo Fire Department who was terminated for voicing indifference following the murder of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. The action raises broader concerns about free speech and political expression, especially considering that conservative ideologies often cry foul over cancellation when they face criticism or consequences for their statements.

At least 600 individuals have faced job losses or disciplinary actions related to their online comments about Kirk. It shows troubling pattern of politically motivated disciplinary measures, particularly in environments that supposedly support free expression.

Finally, we tackle a deeply concerning aspect of the LifeWise Academy's curriculum, which has been accused of promoting anti-Semitic teachings to children. We look at specific examples from the curriculum that seem to frame Jewish individuals as antagonists in the narrative surrounding Jesus Christ. Is it appropriate to be teaching such material to impressionable young minds, reinforcing harmful stereotypes rather than promoting understanding or compassion.

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We closely look at the recent documentary "Off School Property" produced by Lifewise Academy, an outsized Christian nationalist provider for Released Time Religious Instruction where children are removed from a public school, in the middle of the day, and transported off campus to be indoctrinated in Christian beliefs.

The film simply lies about history and claims to be a solution to children who have emotional problems using volunteers barely vetted for the program and who have no professional training in child behavior. The film also claims that the Holy Bible is the linchpin of human civilization.

Several historical inaccuracies presented in the documentary, such as the portrayal of public schools' origins and the impact of significant Supreme Court rulings on religious instruction in schools, oversimplifies the complex history of education in America and suggests that the rise of secularism was the primary driver behind the supposed removal of the Bible from the classroom. We highlight landmark cases, including McCollum v. Board of Education and Zorach v. Clausen, that illustrate the delicate balance between religious freedom and the necessity for inclusive public education.

Contrary to LifeWise’s assertions, we find many of the founding fathers had a much more complex relationship with religion and did not intend for the Bible to be central in public education. We argue that leveraging their historical figures to support a particular religious narrative is a misrepresentation meant to legitimize their agenda and that it fails to recognize the foundational principle of a secular government meant to serve all citizens regardless of their faith or lack thereof.

The goal of the film, simply, is to sell their product of indoctrination to parents who fear for their children.

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We analyze the current legislative landscape in Ohio with a focus on bills that intersect with church and state issues. We start with House Bill 485, the Baby Olivia Act, which aims to mandate the annual showing of a misleading anti-abortion fetal development video in public schools. We also look at House Bill 486, the Charlie Kirk Heritage Act, its problematic nature, which promotes a narrow view of Christianity's influence on culture and history.

We segue into the controversial School Chaplain Act, House Bill 531, which proposes introducing volunteer chaplains into public schools, a move that sparks concerns regarding the adequacy of mental health support currently provided in schools. I outline the differences between this legislation and similar efforts in other states and offer my critical perspective on the necessity of employing chaplains versus qualified mental health professionals.

Later, Federal issues also take center stage as we look at National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 signed by President Trump in September that authorizes federal law enforcement to go after people and groups they consider anti-Christian.

This episode was produced from a Zoom meeting hosted by the Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie

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We look at the intriguing and often heated situation surrounding St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Once a church built for Polish immigrants, this historic building has been at the center of debate since it closed in 2005. SHoWLE didn't support the forced sale to the county. Now, with the Lucas County Land Bank planning to turn the 131-year-old building into a community center, there is a question whether preserving history meets the real needs of the Junction community.

Next, we have Ohio's statehouse returning to work, where House Bill 57, meant to help schools provide overdose reversal drugs, has been changed by controversial amendments promoting released time religious education. The original bipartisan bill was hijacked by Christian Nationalists continuing their campaign to infect public schools.

We expand our focus to a national issue: a recent national security executive order from President Trump targeting organizations considered "disruptive," including those labeled "anti-Christian." We discuss the significant effects of this memorandum on secular and humanist groups, linking it to historical abuses of power and questioning the legality and ethics of such monitoring.

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