So, in this maybe, probably final episode of the Podcast this chapter gets wrapped up. ....  Check out Rachel Held Evans book, "Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again." It's on Amazon.  https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Slaying-Giants-Walking-Loving/dp/0718022319/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=inspired+by+rachel&qid=1614625886&sr=8-2  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

The conclusion of my discussion with Rob of the 42 Podcast concerning evolution and creation. Festive beverage recommended.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

I have a conversation with Rob of the 42 Podcast about creation, evolution and what God may have to do with it. I sort of thought, going into it, it was a debate....but if it was, it was nice and fluffy.  Enjoy.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

On Monday, January 18, The Defector will be on the 42 Podcast debating evolution versus creation with cohost Rob. This will be in lieu of a normal podcast episode on January 22nd since time needs to be spent preparing and so forth. Hope you can tune in! Music:  Purple Planet "Retro Gamer" --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

How do human beings form beliefs? Where does superstition come from? Do you have any weird superstitions? Do you do some particular behavior before your favorite football team plays? Or maybe you knock on wood after saying something like, "I haven't been sick this year?" Listen in and find out why the human brain is so prone to superstitious behavior!  Sources:  "The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies--How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce them As Truths" by Michael Shermer The Argument from Personal Experience - Debunked (Why Personal Experiences are NOT Proof) -- Rationality Rules https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i48zNH_olps All and sound bites in this podcast are used for the purpose of commentary and fall under fair use. Music:  Purple Planet --"Successful Motivation" and  "Folksy Days" --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

To follow up on last weeks' episode about conspiracy theories, this episode divulges and extensively goes into Carl Sagan's Baloney Detection Kit. It matters!  Sources:  "How Carl Sagan Beat Pseudoscience (The Sagan Method)" -- Genetically Modified Skeptic --  https://youtu.be/yUgdrno-2xY "Can You Overdose on Vitamins?" --Health Beat -- https://www.flushinghospital.org/newsletter/can-you-overdose-on-vitamins/ "Formaldehyde in Food: What You Need to Know" -- https://www.verywellfit.com/formaldehyde-in-food-what-you-need-to-know-4692816 All and sound bites in this podcast are used for the purpose of commentary and fall under fair use. Music: Purple Planet --"Successful Motivation" and  "Folksy Days" --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

Brief commentary at what happened yesterday, January 6, 2021 in the Capital.  Sources:  https://www.pewforum.org/about-the-religious-landscape-study/ Purple Planet Music  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

In this episode, The Defector describes what conspiracy theories have in common, why that might be so, and also takes a closer look into one conspiracy theory in particular.  NOTE: The volume in this episode is pretty sporadic, for which I apologize. I've got it sorted out now I hope. Please be gracious, dear Listener.  SOURCES:  Rolling Stone -- Justin Bieber's Reptilian Roots Conspiracy Theory, Explained -- https://youtu.be/emA6HNj8un4 "Conspiracy Theory" -- (1997) Director: Richard Donner -- Film Trailer  TEDx Talks -- Conspiracy Theories and the Quest for Truth | Rachel Runnels | TEDxTexasStateUniversity --https://youtu.be/LZoXb1WDpls ABC News -- Inside a Flat Earth convention, where nearly everyone believes Earth isn't round -- https://youtu.be/1gHbwT_R9t0 Rationality Rules -- "Vaccines Cause Autism -- Debunked (Andrew Wakefield Exposed)" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ywjtVF7Xc&t=272s Rationality Rules -- "Flat Earth Conspiracy - Debunked" -- https://youtu.be/4KEOCmGuSIA Business Insider -- "The co-founder of BioNTech designed the coronavirus vaccine it made with Pfizer in just a few hours over a single day" -- https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-designed-in-hours-one-weekend-2020-12 Medical News Today -- "How did we develop a COVID-19 vaccine so quickly?" -- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-did-we-develop-a-covid-19-vaccine-so-quickly --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

In this podcast episode the off-putting question of the meaning of life is addressed.  Sources:  --Genetically Modified Human -- Youtube Video -- "Is Atheism Hopeless?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzk-uLd6cBo --The Thinking Atheist -- Youtube Video -- "Afterlife"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeMoOJpvUlU --Jody Mac --Youtube Video -- Sam Harris and the Meaning of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srxDtefn740 Purple Planet Music: After the Fall, Folksy Days --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support

In this episode, the Defector:  discusses (1) what makes a Christian a Christian, (2) an examination of whether or not Trump looks like a Christian or not, and (3) a discussion about the political advantages for all political parties of running as a Christian.  Sources:  --Evidence besmirching Trump's Character -- Full tape with lewd Donald Trump remarks (Access Hollywood) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcZcTnykYbw --"The Age of Reason" -- Wikipedia Article  -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Reason#United_States --"If the USA had 100 religous People in it" Chart -- https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/14/if-the-u-s-had-100-people-charting-americans-religious-affiliations/ --Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995--info and exclusions -- https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/07/gods-lobbyists/ --Donald Trump -- Politifact Scorecard -- https://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/   --Barak Obama -- Politifact Scorecard -- https://www.politifact.com/personalities/barack-obama/ Trump made 20,000 false or misleading claims during his presidency--https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/13/president-trump-has-made-more-than-20000-false-or-misleading-claims/ Total for Clergy & Religious Organizations: $3,511,665 -- https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/lobbying.php?cycle=2018&ind=w05 Chart about advocacy groups -- https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/Advocacy-charts-02.png Annual Lobbying by American Atheists: Amount: $30,000 -- https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2018&id=F208522+++ -- Purple Planet Music: After the Fall, Folksy Days, Plucky Comedy Thank you AJ Jastrab for the "Guys Guys" segment! Thank you to Luis Brisby for taking the time out of your day to do the Bible Corner Segment!  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/defector/support