In this episode, Todd and Nathan talk about the different labels we use to describe ourselves as nonreligious people. Terms like atheist, agnostic, secularist, freethinker, and bright all have specific definitions – but they are also loaded with connotations and carry different social stigmas. What do these terms mean and how should they be understood? We assign a highly scientific, highly objective score out of 10 to each label! We also discuss whether a “true atheist” can lie about their beliefs or use money with a monarch on it.
In the bonus content, available exclusively for Patrons on our Patreon page, Todd describes a recent run-in with the mayor of his town in New Jersey and describes how he used what he learned from previous guests to get his point across to a political leader.
Nathan’s article, “An Atheist with a Tall Hat On: The Forgotten History of Agnosticism”: https://thehumanist.com/magazine/march-april-2019/philosophically-speaking/philosophically-speaking-an-atheist-with-a-tall-hat-on-the-forgotten-history-of-agnosticism/
How Humanist Are You? (Quiz from Humanists UK): https://humanists.uk/humanism/how-humanist-are-you/
On the “Brights”: https://ahsplus.blog/2021/08/23/were-the-brights-really-such-a-bad-idea/
Upcoming virtual book launch (September 15th) for the two-volume Cambridge History of Atheism: https://atheismsecularismhumanism.wordpress.com/seminars/
Follow Nathan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NathGAlexander
Nathan’s website: https://www.nathangalexander.com/
If you find the podcast valuable and want to support it, check out our Patreon page, where you will also find bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/beyond_atheism You can also contribute by going to https://anchor.fm/beyond-atheism and clicking the “Support” button. We are grateful for every contribution.
