In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Jim Barrows and guest co-host Hemant Mehta skip the phone lines and dig into one of scripture's bloodiest themes: a God who demands sacrifice! From Abraham and Isaac to the Exodus 22 firstborn command, Jephthah's daughter, and Mesha's offering in 2 Kings 3, they ask why an all-powerful, all-knowing, perfectly moral deity couldn't come up with a better plan than blood. Is substitutionary atonement justice, or just a cosmic loophole? Along the way they tackle faith healing, the Jehovah's Witness blood ban, and why obedience makes a lousy foundation for morality. Can cookie-cutter rules survive the trolley problem or the ethics of AI? Why do politicians cherry-pick verses that suit them? Kelley Laughlin joins for the final stretch as the conversation turns to growing alliances between religious and secular groups standing against Christian nationalism.
Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!

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