The Reason Driven Podcast

24 - This Paper Idol

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Surprise Guest! Listen to find out! The guys discuss chapter 24 of Bob's book and discuss his reasons why the bible shouldn't be touted as the ''infallible word of God''. Not just another atheist peanut gallery, the reason-driven discussion tries to provide resources for good, healthy dialogs with believers. Enjoy!

Chapter 24 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Point to Ponder: If you believe the Bible is an infallible authority because your pastor said so, then he is really your infallible authority, isn't he?Quote to Remember: ''That which does not preach Christ is not apostolic, though it be the work of Peter or Paul and conversely, that which does teach Christ is apostolic even though hit be written by Judas, Annas, Pilate, or Herod.'' (Martin Luther, preface to James)Question to Consider: What isn't any true statement just as good as the ''Word of God''? what makes any true statement something other than the word of God?

23 - When Is A Religion Not A Relig

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special guest: Dave VanAllen!So, it looks like no one really likes to think of their faith as a ''religion'' per se, but as a relationship with a higher power...a higher power that is invisible, thus allowing for multiple interpretations to be offered. Fair enough. Your faith is based on truth, and the others just on wacky superstition, right? Dave Van Allen of ExChristian.net joins Danny, Mikyle, and Miles for a discussion on whether one lives a particular lifestyle, or dwells within an alternate conception of reality, and the issues with both. Also, internet news featuring cruelty against both man and beast.

Chapter 23 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Point to Ponder: If justice is not built into the structure of the universe, then our duty to establish it as best we can here on earth is all the greater. Quote to Remember: ''In this respect fundamentalism has demonic traits. It destroys the humble honesty of the search for truth, it splits the conscience of its thoughtful adherents, and it makes them fanatical because they are forced to suppress elements of truth of which they are dimly aware.''Question to Consider: Why would it be bad to admit that Christianity is a religion after all?

Chapter 22 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Point to Ponder: Jesus is too important to be left to Christians.Quote to Remember: ''Like beauty, perhaps Jesus is in the eye of the beholder.'' (Harry Reasoner)Question to Consider: When I ask myself, ''What would Jesus do?'' am I perhaps doing just what the gospel writers did?

22 - The Character of Christ

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guest: Brian Worley

Danny is flying solo for this episode. Featuring a short and sweet interview with the creator of exminister.org, we discuss the different ''Jesuses'' presented to us in the bible. Also features a reading of my critical review of Jonathan Wells' ''Icons of Evolution''. Finally a good long angry rant about an encounter with a self-proclaimed prophet. Enjoy! Send feedback to reasondriven@gmail.com

21 - Damage Control

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guest: Kyle Demming! This is the first time we had a Christian on as a guest... a real, live Christian! It really was a great conversation. Kyle is among the most thoughtful and respectful Christians out there and the honest discourse with him was very productive and enjoyable.

Chapter 21 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Point to Ponder: It is easy to disguise cowardice as forbearance.Quote to Remember: ''Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out.'' (Proverbs 22:10, NASB)Question to Consider: How do I know whether I ought to consider a troublesome member more like the demoniac in the Capernaum synagogue (Mark 1:23-26), to be expelled, or more like the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-13), to be pursued and persuaded?

20 - Healing Religious Divisions

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guests: John Snider and David Driscoll! send feedback to reasondriven@gmail.com Thanks for listening!

Chapter 20 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Point to Ponder: It's more important to have good relations than to have shared beliefs.Quote to Remember: ''Only Nixon could go to China.'' (Old Vulcan Proverb)Question to Consider: Do you want to win an argument? Or do you want to win a friend?

Easter Special - Chatting with Bob

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guests: Robert Price and Reed Braden. Bob discusses Jesus, the empty tomb stories and Easter.

19 - Price's Ten Commandments

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guest: John Armstrong! send feedback to reasondriven@gmail.com

Chapter 19 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Point to Ponder: Don't hesitate to request clarification: if you're mystified, chances are most others present are, too. Quote to Remember: ''No one is wrong. At most someone is uninformed. If I think a man is wrong, either I am unaware, or he is. So unless I want to pay a superiority game I had best find out what he is looking at.'' (Hugh Prather, Notes to Myself)Question to Consider: So what if I make a fool of myself?

18 - Heritics Anonymous

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guest: Stephen Gibson! This file only has the interview with Stephen Gibson. If you want to hear news, discussions and the favorite Simpsons moment, you'll need to go over to ''Episode 18b - Leftovers'' Warning: some of the sound quality is terrible, which is why I separated the two parts out this week.

18b - Leftovers

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guest: Nobody! Please listen to ''18 - Heretics Anonymous'' for an exclusive interview with Stephen Gibson!This track is just the news, discussions, favorite Simpson's moment and a special blues song by Danny.Warning: some of the sound quality is terrible, which is why I separated the two parts out this week.

Chapter 18 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Point to Ponder: The moment you can no longer take your beliefs for granted, you have become a heretic.Quote to Remember: ''For premodern man, heresy is a possibility- usually a rather remote one for modern man, heresy typically becomes a necessity.'' -Peter L. Berger, The Heretical ImperativeQuestion to Consider: Evangelists tell me I have to choose Christ for myself. Why don't they want me to make up my own mind about anything afterward?

17 - A Place To Conform

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Bob Price!
Then Amaziah said to Amos, ''Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying! But no longer prophesy at Bethel, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.'' Then Amos replied to Amaziah, ''I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people in Israel.''' -Amos 7:12-15 (NASB) Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them. So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers because it was they who killed them, and you build their tombs. -Luke 11:47-48 (NASB)Ever wonder why there's nothing much about that whole ''Pope'' thing in the bible? Are organized religions missing the point by espousing a set of standards that are resistant to criticism and change? Rick Warren is urging his readers to let others be the judge of their spiritual truth. Well, how about you judge that for yourself, as you should do with any so-called truth? Our favorite Reason Driven author, Bob Price, stops by once again this time to chat about how cool it is to be have intellectual honesty and growth...and how uncool it is, after your dad kills him, to build your prophet a fancy tomb. Maybe you could have said something before your dad killed him, I don't know. Just a thought.

Chapter 17 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Point to Ponder: You have to admire the courage of a radical, not that it makes his opinions correct.

Quote to Remember: ''What after all are these churches now if they are not the tombs and sepulchers of God?'' (Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science, 3:125)

Question to Consider: Is your church or group on the verge of buying building to meet in? Are you sure you want to do that?

16 - The Greatest of These

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Kylie Sturgess! Join Danny, Mikyle, Maureen and Kylie as they discuss love of all sorts. This episode also includes part 2 of our own Wacky Bible Stories... book of Job!

Chapter 16 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Point to Ponder: If love accommodates even hell, what can't it accommodate? And then , what does it even mean?

Quote to Remember: ''JESUS LOVES YOU, BUT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE.'' (bumper sticker)

Question to Consider: Do I really witness to people because I love them? Or am I afraid of guilt if I don't?

15 - Joining The Sect

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Michael Shermer!

Howdy, you Reason Driven Listeners you! This week we've got some great stuff: we've got listener feedback to respond to, Wacky Bible Stories, and our patented Favorite Simpsons Moment (patent pending). We also have an interview...with one of the baddest skeptics of all time! Michael Shermer is the founder of the Skeptics Society as well as the editor of skeptic magazine. He's the author of several books including his newest, The Mind of the Market as well as the best selling Why People Believe Weird Things and The science of good and evil. In this interview, Shermer explains some of the concepts and arguments from his new book as well as a brief explanation of his views on theology and aliens! Enjoy!

Chapter 15 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Here is the chapter 15 summary by Robert Price. Enjoy! reasondriven@gmail.com

14 - I Can't Get No Sanctification

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

'' I am convinced that this anxiety running through my life is the tension between what I ''should be'' and what I am. My anxiety does not come from thinking about the future but from wanting to control it. It seems to begin whenever I smuggle an ''I want to become'' into my mind. It is the tension between my desire to control what I will be and the recognition that I can't. ''I will be what I will be''-where is the anxiety in that?''

-Hugh Prather, Notes to Myself

So you're trying to be a proper God-fearing individual, but keep falling short of the high expectations that Rick Warren suggests. That's okay, your weakness is just a sign of humility! Let God take care of it for you, since you can't do it alone anyway. But this might only work for a while...you may find yourself instead continuously falling into despair those inevitable occasions the holy spirit seems to drop the ball. Maybe you can try something else. Check out our discussion of chapter 14 of the Reason Driven Life, as we interview Rebecca Watson of Skepchick.com and the Skeptics Guide to the Universe, who graces our show with her crackling wit and intellect! Also, news items, Demon slaying, and the return of the F.S.M.!

Oh, and check out Rebecca's upcoming speaking engagement for the New York City Skeptics.

chapter 14 summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Point to Ponder: Is the Christian life reducible to a kind of fantasy role-playing game inside my head? Quote to Remember: ''Christ's virtue, the virtue of discipleship, can only be accomplished so long as you are entirely unconscious of what your are doing.'' (Diedrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship) Question to Consider: If my Christian experience is a constant struggle of dissatisfaction, frustration, and seeking forgiveness for sin, aren't I being a hypocrite when I witness, telling people that Christ gives you inner peace?

13 - Worship that Creates God

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Dan Sawyer! Typical religious belief has us looking up to an independently existing God, and worshiping Him as such. But what if it were really that God is created by your act of worship? Taking this point of view, Dan Sawyer returns to discuss the issue of ''sculpting God'' (something he knows a little about)and Bob Price's thought that perhaps what happens in church is to be taken as literally as the movie you just saw...only without rampaging monsters or scantily clad Spartans.

Chapter 13 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Bob Price talking about chapter 13 of the Reason Driven Life. reasondriven@gmail.com and http://reasondriven.blogspot.com

12: Providence and Superstition

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Richard Saunders!
That makes one dozen! And a fine batch they are... we had a sweet interview with one of the friendliest skeptics on earth. You may have seen him on the news as the voice of reason, or seen his TANK vodcast videos on youtube.com. This episode also features the lovely and talented Maureen Schade, the wife of Danny Schade! This weeks discussion concerns morality, superstition and Christmas in the summer. Send feedback to reasondriven@gmail.com. Visit our blog: http://reasondriven.blogspot.com

Chapter 12 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Point to Ponder: Whoever thinks he can give you commands is not your friend.Quote to Remember: ''Verily, it is a blessing and not a blasphemy when I teach: 'Over all things stand the heaven Accident, the heaven Innocence, the heaven Chance, the heaven Prankishness.''' (Friedrich Nietzsche, Those Spoke Zarathustra)Question to Consider: Have you ever decided, however reluctantly, that it was time to break off an abusive relationship? Maybe that time has come with God.

11 - Becoming Imaginary Friends...

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Special guest: Richard Spencer! Here in episode 11 we discuss why it's not such a great idea to rely on God to be your friend... even if he exists! With perhaps our most bizzare ending yet, please enjoy a somewhat shorter RDP!!

Chapter 11 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Becoming Imaginary Friends with God...
What could that mean? Here's a nice tidbit from the mind of Bob Price about chapter 11 of The Reason Driven Life.

10-The Achilles' Heel of Worship

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Steve Novella! Our first show of the year features an interview with Steve Novella of Skeptic's Guide to the Universe fame as we talk about chapter 10 of the Reason Driven Life. Hark, for the good doctor speaks!

Chapter 10 Summary

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

A new format to the show: we'll be putting out Bob Price's chapter summaries and the normal episodes out seperately to give everyone a bit more flexability. Let us know what you think!

The New Year's 'Hour of Power'!

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

We talk about ''militant atheists', Jerry Falwell and The Simpsons during our (perhaps) now infamous ''Power Hour''. It's the New Year's Eve special of the Reason Driven Podcast! Send feedback to reasondriven@gmail.com or to the itunes stores! Happy New Year everyone!!!

09 - What Makes Me Sick

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Carter Pann It's episode 9! Our first ever in-person interview with the world renowned composer, Carter Pann. He's a total BAMF when it comes to composing music, but he's also a great guy to sit down and chew the fat with! We hang out and cover topics such as Noah's Ark and the imminent threat of the destruction of the earth... holy crap! Well, despite a missing Bob Price summuppins (oh no!) we managed an episode of the RDP worthy of the archives, which is a good thing.

08 - God: Planned for Our Pleasure

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: J. Daniel Sawyer!Get ready for another super-duper episode of the Reason Driven Podcast! Join an unusually cranky (perhaps loopy?) Danny & Mikyle as they discuss everything from puppy-diapers, mega-churches, government conspiracies and Jewish carpenters as imaginary friends. leave feedback at iTunes, at our blog http://reasondriven.blogspot.com, or drop us an email! schaded@gmail.com

07 - The Mystery of Everything

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer! ''As for the Christian theology, can you imagine anything more appallingly idiotic than the Christian idea of heaven? What kind of deity is it that would be capable of creating angels and men to sing his praises day and night to all eternity? It is, of course, the figure of the Oriental despot, with his inane and barbaric vanity. Such a conception is an insult to God.'' - Dialogues of Alfred North Whitehead Celebrant: Forgive us, Lord, for this, our dreadful toadying. Congregation: And bare-faced flattery. - Monty Python's The Meaning of Life What of the baffling mysteries of the universe? Do we surmise a divine god and proceed to worship said creator? Do we stand with mouths gaping, faces contorted in dumb-founded puzzlement? Or should we do as Phil Plait does, and pursue a life of scientific inquiry, so as to breach the enigmas of the cosmos? We answer all that and more, on the 7th edition of the Reason Driven Podcast! Featuring a full-length interview with the Bad Astronomer himself, who was kind enough to join the podcast whilst attempting to absolve a plumbing leak in his house. What a trooper!

06 - No Change is Permanent...

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Dave Burdick! We discuss chapter 6 of the Reason Driven Life by Bob Price. The conversation veers to many interesting topics including goofball neighbors, the american dream and... eh, I dunno, just listen.

05 - My View is God's View

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Emery Wang
Jesus says, ''Do not lie, and do not do what do what you hate, for everything is observed from heaven.'' -Gospel according to Thomas, saying 6a

'''You ought to' means 'I want you to,' so why not say so?'' -Hugh Prather, Notes to Myself

So you believe that beating up small children is bad. Is it because God believes it to be true? Or is it because you believe it? What if those are one in the same? Weird, huh? Wrap your head around this and much much more as we discuss chapter 5 in week five of the Reason Driven Podcast. Emery Wang (of the A Christian and an Atheist podcast) stops by to give Danny and Mikyle a Reason Driven Beat-down (in a good way).

04 - Sons of Dust

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guest: George Hrab!''He knoweth our frame he remembereth that we are dust.'' - Psalms 103:14 (KJV)'''But how are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?' (1 Corinthians 15:35, RSV) A good question.'' - Bob PriceJoin us in episode 4 of the RDP, featuring George Hrab! We all know it, but we might be afraid to admit it we're all gonna die! Even the religious folks hopeful on eternal life better take a second look at their own scripture. Many places in the bible describes humans as nothing more than sons of dust, destined to die and return to the earth. So how do we deal with that scary truth? Does our life still have beauty and meaning? We think so! Check it out, and please leave a comment!more Hrab -> http://www.geologicrecords.nethttp://www.georgehrab.blogspot.com/

03 - One Track Mind

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:00:00 -0700

Special Guest: Brian Dunning!Kicking off with Robert Price's response to Rick Warren's chapter ''Who Drives Your Life?'' we delve into the topics of guilt, forgiveness, sin, and even evil. What makes us feel bad after doing something wrong? Were we committing a sin against God, and in our fear of holy retribution we seek forgiveness? Price points out that the word ''repent'' comes from the Greek word for ''changing one's mind.'' Is that all we are doing, changing our minds and choosing not to feel bad about something we did (and forgiving ourselves), or about something another person has done to us (forgiving others)? Brian Dunning of Skeptoid.com offers his take on the whole idea of forgiveness, the nature of ''sin'' and is sure to make you turn your head and say ''Hmm,'' thoughtfully.

02 - You Are a Work of Art

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:00:00 -0700

''The Atheist believes there is no God. The superstitious man believes there is but wishes there weren't.'' -Plutarch''Striker, listen, and you listen close: flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle, just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.'' -Rex Kramer, ''Airplane''Are you troubled by the notion of a God who is in complete control of your life and can smite you at any given moment, with or without any discernible reason? Well, so are a lot of people. You may not be an ''accident'', but you're not here for a specific purpose that is clearly predetermined by God either. YOU are the one who decides what you are here for much like a painting, the meaning of your life is strictly open for interpretation. YOURS!Special Guest: Zach Moore! Check out Episode 2, where Danny and Mikyle discuss how you are beautiful, no matter what they might say about you when you're not around. Zachary Moore of the Apologia, and Evolution 101 podcasts stops by the studio (a.k.a. the neighbor's tool-shed) to give his take on the issue (SPOILER: he thinks you're a bit stuck up...and fat).

01 - It IS about you

reasondriven@gmail.com (Danny & Mikyle) — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Special Guest: Robert Price ''Man is the measure of all things: of the things that are, that they are, and of the things that are not, that they are not.'' - ProtagorasIt's time to stop fooling yourself. It IS about you and no one else. It's time to take responsibility for our own actions, good and bad alike. We can't leave it up to a book, a pastor or even god to make our lives worth something we must do it ourselves! Join Danny and Mikyle in our premier episode of the Reason Driven Podcast, featuring a full interview with Robert M. Price! Author of ''The Reason Driven Life''I'm re-releasing this episode with a lower bitrate so the file is smaller!