The Scathing Atheist

In this week’s episode, religion breaks its child murder record AGAIN, a cult tries to prove their sun magic in court beyond a shadow of a doubt, and Anna will be here to leave you breathless.
---
To make a recurring donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/
---
Headlines:
Kenyan cult leader convicted of killing 191 followers:  https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/kenyan-starvation-cult-leader-paul
America's deep religious divide over empathy: https://www.axios.com/2026/10/20/religious-divide-empathy-democrats-republicans
Kansas GOP gubernatorial candidate is pretty sure his opponent is a witch: https://newrepublic.com/post/216642/demonic-stuff-kansas-gop-accuses-democrat-witch
Spiritual group says a planned SLC apartment complex would infringe on its rites by casting a shadow on its pyramid:
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/10/23/summum-slc-pyramid-could-be/
Chipotle uses ouija board to promote margaritas and christians have a freakout: https://churchleaders.com/news/2224172-chipotle-halloween-ouija-board-christian-backlash.html/2

In this week’s episode, Christians find god in ALL the wrong places, they continue waiting for Jesus to come back from getting cigarettes, and we’ll hear from somebody more worried about F-bombs than real ones.
---
To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/
---
Headlines:
Shapiro movie gets its filming license back: https://www.local10.com/entertainment/2026/10/07/livingston-officials-allow-pawn-shop-film-to-continue-in-montana/
A restaurant stood up to Doug Wilson’s Christian Nationalists — and won: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-restaurant-stood-up-to-doug-wilsons
John Roberts getting shamed by locals near his vacation house in Maine: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/us/politics/supreme-court-roberts-maine.html
https://www.thedailybeast.com/chief-justice-john-roberts-hopper-island-escape-turns-into-a-nightmare/
Pittsburgh diocesan consultant reports rising exorcism requests: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/pittsburgh-diocesan-consultant-reports-rising-exorcism-requests
Pastor drives sportscar onto stage, can’t get it back off: https://protestia.com/2026/10/12/megachurch-pastor-drives-million-dollar-mclaren-on-stage-for-sermon-illustration-then-it-dies/
---
This Week in Misogyny:
Shane Gillis’s dumb joke about women in gyms: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/former-snl-star-ego-nwodim-mocks-shane-gillis-monologue-womens-gym-out-rcna603199
Texas school district cancels play because girl was cast in boy-lead: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-school-district-cancels-little

In this week’s episode, Christians remember how well the last public execution went for their image, Oklahoma takes another step towards approving the Eli Bosnick Charter School, and it turns out Heath did NOT forget we said we’d read the JD Vance book.
---
To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/
---
Headlines:
Christians react to calls for public execution: https://religionnews.com/2026/10/09/head-of-u-s-catholic-bishops-conference-condemns-public-execution-plans-as-promoting-a-culture-of-death/
A pastor in an interracial marriage says he won’t let his daughter marry a Black man: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-pastor-in-an-interracial-marriage
Christian nationalism in Britain driven by people who seldom go to church, says report: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/11/christian-nationalism-uk-far-right-people-rarely-go-to-church-report
Satanic prayer causes insane magic fight at city council meeting in Iowa: https://www.ottumwacourier.com/news/local_news/satanic-invocation-causes-uproar-at-city-council-meeting/article_47fecb72-be23-4269-a71a-4c95ed596413.html
Video of the Ottumwa City Council meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhnHU8YTitU&t=120s
Federal judge clears path for taxpayer-funded religious school in Oklahoma: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/federal-judge-clears-path-for-taxpayer

In this week’s episode, Pete Hegseth creates a department of HOLY war, we learn from a Fox News interview that Jesus is the gay, the truth, and the life, and that ding you hear is the oven telling us the Baker’s done.
---
To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/
---
Headlines:
Pete Hegseth creates a Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs reporting directly to him: https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-defense-department-pentagon-religion-41405eb6dd60ca5a3f45fe3387f82952
https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/pete-hegseth-is-centralizing-religious
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/10/pete-hegseth-state-of-force-address/688852/
Eminem is featured on Kid Rock's new Christian album 'Halfway 2 Jesus': https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2026/10/01/eminem-kid-rock-join-forces-for-track-from-rocks-new-christian-album/92044133007/
Daily Wire’s filming permit suspended for latest movie: https://deadline.com/2026/10/daily-wire-filming-temporarily-suspended-montana-1237146172/
Turkish court orders access ban on popular news portal over 'LGBTQ+ propaganda': https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/turkish-court-orders-access-ban-popular-news-portal-over-lgbtq-propaganda-2026-09-30/
Christian influencer claims to have died and met testosterone Jesus: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-christian-influencer-says-he-went
---
This Week in Misogyny:
Woman on United flight forced back into seat next to masturbating creep: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/united-airlines-flight-masturbating-incident/6551525/
FTA to tie funding to birth rates: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/06/babies-marriage-transit-funding-trump-01107399

On this week’s episode: The Daily Mail manages to to be less trustworthy than the BIBLE ... The Pope kinda tells us he’s sowwy for all the diddling ... And when making coffee at home doesn't buy them a house, Gen Z turns to religion...ish.
---
To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheist
To buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/
If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.com
To check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticrat
To check out our sister show’s hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-movies
To check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/
To check out our sister show’s sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/
---
Headlines:
Scientists have definitely NOT "100% confirmed" the resting place of Noah's Ark: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/scientists-have-not-100-confirmed
At Lourdes healing shrine, Pope Leo addresses 'wounds' of clerical abuse: https://religionnews.com/2026/09/27/at-lourdes-healing-shrine-pope-leo-addresses-wounds-of-clerical-abuse/
Nearly half of people raised Mormon have left the LDS Church: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/nearly-half-of-people-raised-mormon
Life Surge christian wealth seminar featuring Tim Tebow gets exposed: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/life-surge-the-gospel-of-high-yields-inside-tim-tebows-favorite-wealth-seminar/
Pablo Torre Finds Out episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh7s2jr0b48
Man who 'met Jesus' during 18-day coma claims he gave him this simple instruction to tell the world: https://vt.co/news/world/man-who-met-jesus-during-coma-claims-gave-him-simple-instruction
Gen Z most likely to identify as 'religious,' engage in spiritual activities, poll finds: https://www.christianpost.com/news/gen-z-most-likely-to-identify-as-religious-poll-finds.html