Greg Locke Finally Admits He Lied (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #635)

— America will “rededicate” the nation to a Christian God this weekend. (1:05)

— A private Muslim event at a Texas water park was legal. Greg Abbott shut it down anyway. (8:28)

— Hate-preacher Greg Locke admits lying about Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland. (24:28)

— MAGA pastor says Trump understands the Bible better than Pope Leo. (40:48)

— Richard Dawkins was seduced by a glorified autocomplete engine. (47:29)

— Daystar’s Joni Lamb died at 65, leaving behind scandal, cover-ups, and COVID lies. (1:05:16)

— Southern Baptist membership hits another 50-year low as Americans keep walking away. (1:12:30)
Interview: 

Audio only, with Jessica: https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2026/05/13/greg-locke-finally-admits-he-lied/

YouTube video, no Jessica: LIVE: Friendly Atheist News Roundup 5/14/2026

Contents, for the below embedded YouTube video (with Jessica):

0:00 Intro
1:05 America will “rededicate” the nation to a Christian God this weekend.
8:28 A private Muslim event at a Texas water park was legal. Greg Abbott shut it down anyway.
24:28 Hate-preacher Greg Locke admits lying about Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland.
40:48 MAGA pastor says Trump understands the Bible better than Pope Leo.
47:29 Richard Dawkins was seduced by a glorified autocomplete engine.
1:05:16 Daystar’s Joni Lamb died at 65, leaving behind scandal, cover-ups, and COVID lies.
1:12:30 Southern Baptist membership hits another 50-year low as Americans keep walking away.

Atheists Are Rejecting Trump (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #581)

— The Supreme Court heard a case to decide if taxpayers should fund a religious charter school. (0:26)

— Southern Baptist membership hits 50-year low as Americans keep walking away. (14:15)

— “Satanology” activist challenges cities that raised Christian flags. (33:38)

— “No respect for God”: Florida mayor denies “Day of Reason” proclamation. (40:01)

— An Arizona school board member on a religious crusade has cost her district over $218,000. (49:31)

— White evangelicals still see Trump as ethical and honest, but atheists know better. (1:03:45)

— California court upholds $1.2 million fine against church that ignored COVID restrictions. (1:15:25)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2025/05/01/atheists-are-rejecting-trump/

The First Academy, First Baptist Church of Orlando sued after teacher accused of abusing student | West Orange Times & Observer

According to the suit, between 2014 and 2016, the student was sexually abused and groomed by a teacher, Harriet Sugg.

https://www.orangeobserver.com/news/2023/nov/07/the-first-academy-first-baptist-church-of-orlando-sued-after-teacher-accused-of-abusing-student/

A church ousts progressive pastor who emphasized racial justice : NPR

Leaders of a Baptist church in North Carolina ousted the pastor after congregants started leaving. A secret tape provides a rare look at the debate when a message threatens a business model...

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/04/nx-s1-5227288/dei-trump-church-pastor-racial-justice 

 

Whiplash with the Southern Baptists (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #541)

— What it means to have Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. (0:30)

— A Southern Baptist leader praised Biden’s “selfless” act. Then he was fired. Then he was unfired. (8:35)

— New Zealand report finds 200,000 abuse victims in care of state, faith-based groups. (35:57)

— A Texas public school superintendent won’t stop promoting Christianity at work. (50:17)

— Tennessee district owes over $15,000 after illegally thwarting After School Satan Club. (1:06:40)

— Survey: 37% of Americans are Creationists (but a record-high 24% accept reality). (1:12:16)
Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2024/07/25/whiplash-with-the-southern-baptists/

Amanda Tyler testifies before Congress against Christian nationalism – Baptist News Global

"Christian nationalism is a political ideology and cultural framework that seeks to fuse American and Christian identities. It suggests that 'real' Americans are Christians and that 'true' Christians hold a particular set of political beliefs."...

But the Christianity presented by the movement is more of an "ethno-identity" than a religion, she said. "Opposition to Christian nationalism is not opposition to Christianity, and a growing number of Christians feel a religious imperative to stand against Christian nationalism. Christian nationalism uses the language, symbols and imagery of Christianity — in fact, it may look and sound like Christianity to the casual observer. However, closer examination reveals that it uses the veneer of Christianity to point not to Jesus the Christ but to a political figure, party or ideology."…

https://baptistnews.com/article/amanda-tyler-testifies-before-congress-against-christian-nationalism/

Southern Baptist leaders called Kamala Harris a ‘Jezebel.’ That’s not just insulting, it’s dangerous, experts say. - The Lily

The Biblical reference has a long history of being used to justify violence against Black women in the United States.

https://www.thelily.com/southern-baptist-leaders-called-kamala-harris-a-jezebel-thats-not-just-insulting-its-dangerous-experts-say/

Black pastors break with Southern Baptist Convention over a statement on race - The Washington Post

A sweeping recent statement about racial theory from Southern Baptist leaders has prompted at least four Black pastors to publicly break from the denomination and has triggered high-level, urgent meetings about whether Black evangelicals have a place in the Southern Baptist Convention.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/12/23/black-pastors-break-southern-baptist-critical-race-theory/

Michigan pastor faces backlash after encouraging churchgoers to purposefully get COVID-19 | TheHill

...While the survival rate for those who contract COVID-19 remains significantly high, Michigan has reported that 2.5 percent of its cases have been fatal...

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/528915-michigan-pastor-facing-backlash-after-encouraging-churchgoers-to

Fundamentalist Baptist father told not to teach hateful beliefs to children | CBC News

A B.C. judge says a fundamentalist Baptist father who believes homosexuals should be executed shouldn't have any say in the religious upbringing of his children. Chilliwack Provincial Court Judge Kristen Mundstock made it clear she didn't want to limit the religious freedom of the father, who is known in court documents as JKH. But she said she feared his three young children — who live with their mother, AJH — would become social outcasts if they adopted their father's extreme views. ...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fundamentalist-christian-custody-upbring-1.5548238

Fundamental Baptist church pastors cover up sex abuse, rape | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The pastor is in complete authority in an independent fundamental Baptist church, a former church member explains.....

https://www.star-telegram.com/living/religion/article222576310.html

Southern Baptist minister embroiled in election fraud controversy - Religion News Service

The Rev. Mark Harris, a Southern Baptist pastor turned aspiring congressman, is facing allegations of election fraud in North Carolina, where authorities are investigating whether an operative for his campaign paid workers to take absentee ballots from voters illegally.....

https://religionnews.com/2018/12/04/southern-baptist-minister-embroiled-in-election-fraud-controversy/

The Southern Baptist blowup over white supremacy, explained

Racism is hard to condemn, apparently. ...
https://thinkprogress.org/the-southern-baptist-blowup-over-white-supremacy-explained-af5b6f9e80b4

Leading Christian Organization Denounces Alt-Right and White Supremacy in Powerful Statement

The Southern Baptist Convention is severing its ties to white supremacists. During the organization’s annual meeting Wednesday in Phoenix, the convention officially passed a resolution to formally “denounce and repudiate” white supremacy and the alt-right movement....
http://www.alternet.org/activism/leading-christian-organization-denounces-alt-right-and-white-supremacy-powerful-statement