Proscenium

We have two bits of fundrasing audio to play for this intermission episode, the first is taken from a brief conversation Matthew had on an internet radio station called chat and spin, find them at chatandspinradio.com. They have a regular slot where supporters can tell their listeners about themselves. If you are an author, musician, podcaster, other content producer or simply someone who wants to financially support a not for profit radio station, then please follow the link and donate. The second is from our friend Sam, at When Belief Dies, he was a guest on Still Unbelievable in episode 27. The link to his go fund me page is below. https://chatandspinradio.com/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/podcast-video-editing-equipment-for-wbd?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.com Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below: https://hollykirstensongs.com/ https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

David and Joe from Answers in Reason join us to talk Belief and Knowledge, what's the difference and is knowledge also belief? To get in touch with David and Joe, use any of the Answers in Reason pages: https://www.answers-in-reason.com/ https://www.answers-in-reason.com/series/fresh-air/ https://twitter.com/answersinreason Send feedback to reasonpress@gmail.com Our theme music is by Holly: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

Andrew and Matthew and joined by Phil Halper, who own the YouTube channel skydivephil where he posts excellent videos on cosmology. Phil also wrote two chapters of our book Still Unbelievable! and has appeared on other podcasts, including Unbelievable? Before the big bang playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_pILPr7B8&list=PLJ4zAUPI-qqqj2D8eSk7yoa4hnojoCR4m Cosmology playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4zAUPI-qqrC4ce700XI8JjeeC3l70NZ QLC video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgwJmWXoWWI Black Holes and Dark Matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFJtDLR4bTo Send feedback to reasonpress@gmail.com Our theme music is by Holly: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

Andrew and Matthew are joined by Chris Matheson to discuss his latest book, The Buddah's Story and upcoming film Bill and Ted face the music. We also talk about his previous book, The Story of God. Links to Chris's books and the mentioned YouTube videos are below. The Story of God: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-God-Biblical-Comedy-about-ebook/dp/B013AGFK8C/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&qid=1597221618&refinements=p_27%3AChris+Matheson&s=digital-text&sr=1-3&text=Chris+Matheson The Buddha's Story: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddhas-Story-Chris-Matheson-ebook/dp/B08CL54RZ5/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1597221579&refinements=p_27%3AChris+Matheson&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Chris+Matheson Satan's Story: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Satans-Story-Postscript-God-ebook/dp/B01LW69FFN/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&qid=1597221640&refinements=p_27%3AChris+Matheson&s=digital-text&sr=1-8&text=Chris+Matheson God's Art Museum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHxEz7E-d9w The Garden of Earthly Delights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4jpYwQa64o Our theme music is by Holly: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop Send any and all feedback to reasonpress@gmail.com.

In this epiosde, Andrew and Matthew invite Dr Brian Blais back to talk about Bayes, what it is and how to apply it. Send any and all feedback to reasonpress@gmail.com. The Local Maximum podcast episode with Brian Blais: https://www.localmaxradio.com/episode/119 The theory that would not die: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theory-That-Would-Not-Die/dp/0300188226/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=52739743843&dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjww_f2BRC-ARIsAP3zarELmGnuZIPBf6qQU6X2uTo48x48UKQIMQebVA0ySBx1pt4zH-jV-zAaApcpEALw_wcB&hvadid=259090065524&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9045658&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17755329661608651506&hvtargid=kwd-297773962310&hydadcr=24436_1816131&keywords=the+theory+that+would+not+die&qid=1591617385&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-21 Brian's Website: https://bblais.github.io/ Links to Brian's book Statistical Inference for Everyone : https://github.com/bblais/Statistical-Inference-for-Everyone https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/statistical-inference-for-everyone UFO sightings linked to movie releases: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8205424.stm The Monty Hall problem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem#:~:text=Suppose%20you're%20on%20a,3%2C%20which%20has%20a%20goat. Monkeys choosing M&Ms study: https://science.slashdot.org/story/07/11/07/2340255/monkeys-and-cognitive-dissonance Monty Hall error in Monkeys study: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/science/08tier.html#:~:text=After%20identifying%20three%20colors%20preferred,choice%20between%20two%20of%20them.&text=Like%20Monty%20Hall's%20choice%20of,information%20that%20changes%20the%20odds. Our theme music is by Holly: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

This episode contains swearing, profanity, blunt talk about racism and laughter.  David from Skeptics and Seekers brings Chase along to join Matthew and Andrew for an open and frank discussion on racism. Washington Post Police Shooting Database https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/investigations/police-shootings-database/ Project Implicit — Implicit Bias Testing https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html Our theme music is by Holly: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

In this episode, Matthew talks with Brenden Weber from The Philosophy Guy podcast about consciousness, thinking, materialsim, panpsychism and more. Did you disagree with any points raised? Did you learn anything?  Please send feedback to reasonpress@gmail.com. The book that Brenden mentions during the conversation is: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Reality-Evolution-Truth/dp/0393254690 To find out more about about Breden and to subscribe to The Philosophy Guy visit: https://thephilosophyguy.fireside.fm/ Our theme music is by Holly: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

Andrew is joined by Darren and Doug to discuss dualism, but the conversation rapidly turns to what it means to think at all. What do we know about thought? How does that apply to free will? Can sophisticated software think, and if so, does it make decisions like humans? The answers may surprise you, and the boundaries may not be as clear as you "think". As always send your feedback to Reason Press reasonpress@gmail.com

Andrew and Matthew are sidelined for this special episode where we invite young adults to share their experiences, concerns and hopes in this time of global shut down. Send feedback to reasonpress@gmail.com Our theme music is written by Holly, find more of her music here: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

Andrew and Matthew take a challenge and ask Alex J. O'Connor to come and talk about being Vegan. Alex makes a very strong case for going Vegan and clarifies why it's a lifestyle, not a diet. It was a genuine pleasure having Alex talk with us, he presents his case well and doesn't hold back from challenging existing norms. We cover as much as we can, but we can't cover everything so if you want to hear more from Alex,  submit comments and questions to reasonpress@gmail.com and we'll beg him to return. Alex's YouTube channel is Cosmicskeptic: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7kIy8fZavEni8Gzl8NLjOQ The video Alex mentions is at Earthling Ed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnQL-brI-9I Our theme music was written for us by Holly: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

In this 3rd episode of Proscenium, Andrew and Matthew invite Dr. Brian Blais and Prof. Philip Goff to discuss Panpsychism. What is it, why should we take it seriously and can we test it? To send feedback email us at reasonpress@gmail.com  Buy Philip's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Galileos-Error-Foundations-Science-Consciousness/dp/1846046017/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=77634469403&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7aPyBRChARIsAJfWCgLkkgADn_iSNknjEg_cvafIwV9kjwUeFoFojGJPAfLQMkoVTek9cCIaAsFDEALw_wcB&hvadid=381611807008&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9045659&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=4363389538117231407&hvtargid=kwd-716842592764&hydadcr=5055_1827803&keywords=galileos+error&qid=1581853245&sr=8-1 Brian's response to Philip's 'black and white Mary' thought experience can be read here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2crwv2jcv0b33hr/Response%20to%20Goff%20on%20Black%20and%20White%20Mary.pdf?dl=0  Our theme music is written by Holly, find more of her music here: https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

REV Steve Chalke MBE is founder of the Oasis Trust. He joins Andrew and Matthew to talk about his life and goals, what motivates him and what it means for him to be a Christian. Steve's compassion comes across very strongly in this conversation. To learn more about Oasis and Steve's latest book, The Lost Message of Paul, visit these links. https://www.oasisuk.org/ , https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S2X7V1K/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Out theme music is by https://soundcloud.com/holly-bishop

In this opening episode of Proscenium, recorded soon after the 2019 UK General Election, Andrew and Matthew talk about their political expectations and worries, what does the current political climate mean to them? Do they support Brexit? What are their hopes and concerns for the coming year? Listen to find out.

This episode is a special announcement from Andrew and Matthew on the future of Ask An Atheist Anything and what comes next in our podcasting adventures. Please listen to learn more about Proscenium and what we have planned, search your podcast feed for Proscenium to keep up with what we will be producing in 2020 and beyond. Thank you for subscribing and for listening over the past year, our adventures are not over yet.

Matthew makes another Baby Bite, this time explaining why he doesn't consider atheism or atheist to be nouns.

Andrew and Matthew chat with Sam about his early Christianity, why he abandoned that and called himself atheist for a while before going back to Christianity again. What ultimately convinced him and how is his Christianity different to that of his early years?

In this episode, Andrew and Matthew welcome returning Christian guest Dale from the Skeptics and Seekers podcast and Paul, a philosophy teacher. We talk freedom of speech, where philosophy and empirical science meet, and more. And yes, Andrew throws more punches for team mac! For the PhilPapers site visit  https://philpapers.org/  For more on Paul visit  https://www.ryerson.ca/philosophy/facultystaff/bali-paul/ 

Matthew chats with Dave Warnock, a former pastor, who is Dying Out Loud. Diagnosed with ALS, he is hitting an enormous number of of podcasts and it was a genuine pleasure to talk to him for Ask An Atheist Anything.  During the conversation, Dave mentions the Final Exit Network. Visit http://www.finalexitnetwork.org/ to find out more about them and to support their work.

Matthew is joined by Sarah, one of the co authors of the book Still Unbelievable!, to interview Rebekah, who blogs at  https://thecuriousatheist.blog/, talking about her experience of conversation at a young age, telling her family and what it is like to blog as an evolving atheist.

Divid, The Graceful Atheist, interviews Andrew about his journey out of Christianity. Like the interview with Matthew, we are only publishing half the interview. For the second half, pleas subscribe to The Graceful Atheist. We would again like to thank David, we look forward to future collaboration. To get in touch, please email: reasonpress@gmail.com To leave us a voice message click this link: https://anchor.fm/still-unbelievable/message

David, The Graceful Atheist, interviewed Matthew abut leaving Christianity, and David has been kind enough to allow us to use that interview. To support David's work, we are only publishing half the interview, and we hope that you will go to your podcast software and subscribe to The Graceful Atheist to hear the rest. We thank David for his work and his friendship. To get in touch, send us an email:   reasonpress@gmail.com. or send us a voice message: https://anchor.fm/still-unbelievable/message

Doug comes back to join Andrew and Matthew in discussing moral values. Doug caused some amusement during the Ask An Atheist Day Question Show Special by suggesting that moral values were in fact Objective. This episode discussing the issue further and asks what it means to have objective moral values when there is no Christian god to give them. Ask us a question by leaving a voice message here:  https://anchor.fm/reasonpress/message The Cosmic Skeptic episode on morality that is recommended during the show can be found here: http://cosmicskeptic.libsyn.com/4-rationality-rules-is-morality-objective 

Matthew and Andrew invite David from Skeptics and Seekers to talk about Polemic and its value in discussions on religion. Does comedy count as polemic and is what we say more important than how we say it? This episode includes audio clips to demonstrate some of the points being discussed.  Ask us a question by leaving a voice message here:  https://anchor.fm/reasonpress/message 

In this final hour long episode, Matthew, Andrew and Doug get to the end of the questions they've been answering for the Ask An Atheist Day special. Is our existence contingent and are there questions science can't answer? Do you agree with our answers? As always, feedback, questions, comments, challenges, and to come onto the show, find us at ReasonPress.net Ask us a question using this link:  https://anchor.fm/reasonpress/message

Dear listeners, we hope you enjoy this pre episode chatter from the recorded conversation Andrew and Matthew had with David as part of an upcoming episode on polemic. Consider this a taster. Enjoy.

Matthew and Andrew and Doug continue answering questions for Ask An Atheist Day 2019.  In this second section we address the best arguments for god, is the world getting better and is morality objective. The giggles continue. This is part 2 of 3. 

Andrew and Matthew are joined by Dale and David from Skeptics and Seekers for another round table. This time fielding questions about Easter.

Matthew and Andrew are joined by Doug for a monster 4 hour session answering questions for Ask An Atheist Day 2019.  In the first hour we address the fire at Notre Dame, questions on deconversion, precious beliefs and flying poop! Join us for the giggles. This is part 1 of 3.

In a fairly technical episode, Matthew and Andrew chat with Dale Glover from Skeptics and Seekers on a variety of topics having to do with the burden of proof. When we talk in a semiformal or formal setting, there are issues of burden of proof, who has the responsibility of proof, and how it changes hands. Along with this burden, we should consider what constitutes evidence, and who should provide it. To take burden of proof seriously, we must consider the ways we establish that some bit of evidence is reliable and how we might come to think of some aspect of it as unconvincing. To do this, we talk about Bayes Theorem, Molinism, deduction, induction, and much much more. Come along with us for a satisfying exploration of how skeptics and Christians differ and where they agree on the burden of proof and how to think about evidence.

In November 2018 Ernest Massey wrote a blog post, for UK Christian website Premier, on consciousness and how it demolished his atheism, saving his faith. Andrew and Matthew have a fabulous conversation with him on the question of can atheism explain consciousness. Ernest demonstrates his honesty and his integrity in this discussion as well as his wonderful sense of humour. This is a perfect example of the kinds of conversation we at Ask An Atheist Anything wish to promote. Find Ernest's blog post here: https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Unbelievable-blog/How-consciousness-demolished-my-atheism-and-saved-my-faith The 9 minute video of  David Chalmers discussing consciousness, that Andrew mentions during the episode, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5DfnIjZPGw As always, for comments, feedback, questions, or to appear on the podcast visit ReasonPress.net

Andrew and Matthew tackle a list of questions for atheists from the CARM website from apologist Matt Slick. The list of questions can be found here: https://carm.org/atheism/questions-for-atheists2 The news story that Andrew mentions in one of his answers is this story: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/01/world/european-colonization-climate-change-trnd/index.html To get involved in the conversation or to send feedback, visit us at https://www.reasonpress.net/

Matthew and Andrew join David and Dale from Skeptics and Seekers for another Round Table. This time discussing Christmas for a comically depressing show. Is Christmas always a happy time and how does it change when people stop believing in the Christian god? There is also a surprise special guest appearance. At the end of the episode, Andrew gives out hotline numbers for those in crisis; they are (US Suicide Hotline) 0800 273 8255, (US Secular Hotline) 844 368 2848, (UK Childline) 0800 1111, (UK Adult helpline) 0800 585858. 

I this second Baby Bites episode, Matthew addresses the question, "Do I Think Christians Are Stupid?". visit reasonpress.net to give feedback.

In this episode, Andrew and Matthew invite Dave Pegg back to continue their discussion on the beginning of the universe. This time focusing on the philosophical aspects. Andrew gives the announcements and Dave closes with a song he wrote and recorded. Listen to Dave's music here: https://g.co/kgs/4pDJe9

Matthew, Andrew, David, and Dale tackle the child birth curse, the relevance of The Shroud of Turin, baptism, whether Christian ethics can be assigned a statistical value for being likely, and much more. If you would like to ask a question or get involved, please visit: https://www.reasonpress.net

Baby Bites 1: in this first bite size short, Matthew addresses the question of being open to Christian claims being true and what it means to reach a conclusion when you've examined the available evidence.

Andrew and Matthew join David and Dale from Skeptics and Seekers to discuss Andrew and David's appearance on the Unbelievable? podcast. David, Andrew and Matthew contributed to the Still Unbelievable! book, which is a response to the Unbelievable? book by the podcast host Justin Brierley. Dale, being the Christian in the group, sets questions for the others to answer. Still Unbelievable! can be read for free at reasonpress.net, you can also use the site to submit a question to Ask An Atheist Anything.

In Episode 1, Andrew and David tackle the questions; why don't you believe in god, and, what is atheism. Plus, the news.

In this episode Dave Pegg talks with Matthew and Andrew about a Christian perspective on the nature and origin of the universe. Is the universe contingent or eternal? What constitutes sufficient cause for our universe? Is ex nihilo a sufficient explanation? What role does logic and philosophy play in unraveling these mysteries? This episode pushes into the corners of Christian and atheist thinking on how our universe came to be. If you have a question for us, please contact us at www.reasonpress.net

In this Episode, Andrew answers questions about the origins of language. To begin to understand the evolution of language, we needed to look deeply into the history of language, the science of evolution, and some cultural misunderstandings. The references that follow are some of the resources we found useful, and we hope you do as well. Some history 40,000 years ago https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525259/ The FoxP2 Gene https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525259/ Shared DNA with Neanderthals https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525259/ Facts about human language http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/bronze/evolut.htm Brain structures and language https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/brocas_area_is_the_brains_scriptwriter_shaping_speech_study_finds https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691684/ Get Involved Ask a question, read more from our staff, or participate in the show. Visit us at: https://www.reasonpress.net