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Show 338: Douglas Rushkoff

Douglas Rushkoff on his book, Program or Be Programmed

Audio here!

**UPDATE** During my interview with Douglas, I mention that I heard one of the parties involved in the allegations of rape against  Julian Assange had “backed out” of the investigation. That was my misinterpretation of the timeline of the Assange investigation, during which the initial prosecutor dropped the rape charges. Another prosecutor later overturned that decision. I apologize for contributing to misinformation regarding this important investigation.

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The debate over whether the Net is good or bad for us fills the airwaves and the blogosphere. But for all the heat of claim and counter-claim, the argument is essentially beside the point: it’s here; it’s everywhere. The real question is, do we direct technology, or do we let ourselves be directed by it and those who have mastered it?

“Choose the former,” writes Rushkoff, “and you gain access to the control panel of civilization. Choose the latter, and it could be the last real choice you get to make.”

Michael O’Neil talks with Douglas Rushkoff this Saturday on Equal Time for Freethought at 3:00 pm!

Continue reading “Show 338: Douglas Rushkoff”

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Show 337: Special Call-In Show on “Right Wing Dogmatic Thinking”

Special Call-In Show on “Right Wing Dogmatic Thinking”

Audio here!

We’d like to welcome our new listeners and longtime fanbase to our new day and time with a special Call-In program on this second week at our new timeslot!  Matthew LaClair will be at the helm, and the theme will revolve around trying to better understand our right wing brothers and sisters, their tendencies to be caught up in dogma (both religious and political), and what humanists need to do about this if we are to bring about progressive social change.

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Show 336: Radio Free Eireann’s Sandy Boyer, and former IRA prisoner, Anthony McIntyre

Radio Free Eireann’s Sandy Boyer, and former IRA prisoner, Anthony McIntyre

Audio here!

To inaugurate Equal Time for Freethought’s new time and day, and move to a one-hour format, we have invited Sandy Boyer, producer and host of WBAI’s Radio Free Eireann (which will now air two hours before us on a regular basis) to talk with us about religion, politics, and humanist ethics concerning Ireland (past and present), and the lives of the Irish outside of Ireland (including here in the USA).

Joining Sandy will be a favorite guest of his, former IRA prisoner turned journalist. Anthony McIntyre.  McIntyre spent 18 years in Long Kesh, 4 years on the blanket and no-wash/no work protests which led to the hunger strikes of the 80s.  He completed a PhD at Queens upon release from prison, and left the Republican Movement at the endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement, going on to become a journalist. He is the Co-founder of The Blanket, an online magazine that critically analyzed the Irish peace process, and author of the book, Good Friday: The Death of Irish Republicanism.

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Show’s 335: A World Without Islam II

A World Without Islam w/ Graham Fuller

Audio 2 here!

Is Islam a religion of Peace as many Muslims argue?

Is Islam, and other religions, really what poisons everything, as many atheists argue?

Can we answer the ‘chicken and egg’ question as regards religion and political economy?

How should we best understand and heal the violence done in the world today in the name of God?

Equal Time for Freethought had the privilege of speaking with former vice-chair of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA, Graham Fuller, on his new book: ‘A World Without Islam.’ We aired excepts of this interview on our Fund Drive Program a few Tuesdays ago, and thought it important enough to play in its entirety for our regular listeners.

*This program aired in two parts on 11/7 & 11/14 in 2010

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Show 334: A World Without Islam I

Audio 1 here!

Is Islam a religion of Peace as many Muslims argue?

Is Islam, and other religions, really what poisons everything, as many atheists argue?

Can we answer the ‘chicken and egg’ question as regards religion and political economy?

How should we best understand and heal the violence done in the world today in the name of God?

On a Special Two-Hour Fund Drive Special, this Tuesday at 7pm EST, Equal Time for Freethought will explore these questions and more via a recent debate between conservative atheists and liberal Muslims, and also share with you samples of our interview with former vice-chair of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA, Graham Fuller, whose studies of Islam and Geopolitics lend themselves to a rather humanistic perspective.

Since this Fund Drive Special contained only short segments of our interview with Mr. Fuller, and since we will air the full interview with him at a later date (which we will link to from here when it becomes available on our website), we won’t post the audio of this program.

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Show 333: Box Brown From Everything Dies

Humanist Funnies! A Conversation With Cartoonist Box Brown From “Everything Dies”

Audio here!


Host Michael ONeil interviews Box Brown, who recently finished his webcomic, “Bellen!”, to focus totally on the web-and-print, religion-based comic: Everything Dies.  He lives in Philadelphia with Sarah, Buster and Louis, only two of which are cats.

Box’s work has been featured on Unshelved.com and USAToday’s Pop Candy Blog.  “Everything Dies” explores religion’s role as myth throughout the world.  It’s like if Kurt Vonnegut’s ghost possessed Jack Chick!  Not that Kurt Vonnegut has a ghost (though that would be hilarious)

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Show 332: Michael De Dora

A Conversation with Freethought community leader, Michael De Dora

Audio here!

Join us for a chat with the director of the Center for Inquiry-NYC, Michael De Dora, on his work with the center, and within the NYC Freethought community as a whole, and what he recommends needs to be done to expand said community. We will also talk with him about alternatives to traditional philosophy-group meetings and venture into how to better serve local atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and humanists.

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Show 331: Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State

Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State

Audio here!

On Saturday, we will be airing a special one-hour program on the global rise in religious fundamentalism and in particular the political revolution and/or rebellion of groups who seemed defined by their religion against the industrial nations whether capitalistic or s0-called communistic.   What are the motives of these groups?  Why have they become so numerous over the last 4o years?  Does religion act as the catalyst, cause, or as a tool for these uprisings?  And, how do those nations best deal with the violence these groups target them with, while finding new ways to prevent these uprisings in the first place?

To speak to these questions and more, we will have on the line sociologist Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State, from Christian Militias to Al Queda.  Juergensmeyer is an American scholar and writer best known for his studies of religious violence and global religion.  He also has written on conflict resolution and on South Asian religion and society, and has been a pioneer in the field of global studies.

Continue reading “Show 331: Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State”

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Show 330: Call In Show on Freethought Community

Call In Show on Freethought Community

Audio here!

When people move from traditional religious practice to agnosticism or atheism (or humanism), they sometimes regret leaving behind some of the community and spiritual benefits church, synagogue, or mosque offer.  However, most Freethought organizations and groups offer primarily intellectual stimuli, and on occasion, unorganized social gatherings… but not much else.  What alternatives does the Freethought have?

Arnell Dowret will host a call-in show to discuss what alternative ETFF has come up with, as well as what our listeners would like to see happen.. So…

Tune in, Pay it Forward, and Question Everything!

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Show 329: Eating, Drinking, and Even – Having Fun – with Atheists!

Eating, Drinking, and Even – Having Fun – with Atheists!

Audio here!

Traditionally, most of the activities offered in the Freethought community are usually directed toward meeting the participants’ intellectual needs.  Yet for the past several years Manhattan Freethought community leader Rich Sander has been offering “Drinking with Atheists” .. fun Friday night socials that are consistently well attended which bring together men and women of all ages, from a variety of Freethought groups.

To discuss his involvement with the Freethought community, and to provide us with an overview of some of the various things that non-religious people can do in New York City, Rich Sander will be joining us live in our studio.

While it’s often been said that the prospect of getting non-religious people to socialize is like trying to “herd cats,” over the years Rich’s meetings have provided a warm and welcoming place for hundreds of atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, members of ethical culture, and skeptics alike.

Please join us to hear about community building and outreach from a true humanist activist who is out there on the front lines and definitely doing something right!