Direct, thought-provoking commentary from Mike Smithgall on atheism, religion, politics, and free expression. Each episode takes one topic and breaks it down with reasoned analysis, skepticism, and accessible insights for viewers who value critical thinking.
Can “God told me to do it” excuse a crime? Penn Jillette once noted that while the law allows “not guilty,” “guilty,” and “not guilty by reason of insanity,” it never allows “not guilty because God said so.” In this episode, Mike breaks down why: the secular foundation of the justice system, the legal role…
“I’m not rejecting God. I’m rejecting YOU.” That’s the core idea in this episode of Mike Drop. Host Mike Smithgall breaks down why most atheists aren’t denying the existence of a god, they’re questioning the authority of those who claim to speak for one. From televangelists to politicians invoking divine will, this episode explores how…
Kim Davis is back, and this time she’s asking the Supreme Court to overturn marriage equality. Legal experts say it’s a long shot, but the case reveals a deeper, ongoing strategy to chip away at secular rights using religious liberty claims. In this Mike Drop episode, we look at why the odds are low, the…
Pastor Doug Wilson has spent decades building a global church network — and now he’s bringing Christian nationalism to the heart of Washington, D.C. From repealing women’s right to vote to reshaping laws by theology, his mission is clear. In this episode, Mike breaks down Wilson’s plan, his allies, and why it matters for everyone…
When abuse happens in religious institutions, it’s not just a scandal, it’s a system. In today’s “Mike Drop” from the Pulpit of Reason, Mike Smithgall tackles one of the most disturbing moral failures in modern religious life: the widespread cover-up of child abuse by churches. From Catholic dioceses to evangelical megachurches, this isn’t just history,…
📄 A new Trump-era memo is raising eyebrows by giving federal workers more freedom to express, and promote, their religious beliefs at work. But is it really about freedom, or is it just another way to privilege the majority? In this solo commentary, Mike Smithgall unpacks why this policy might seem harmless but carries troubling…
I received a handwritten letter addressed to the former resident….or current occupant. I’m not sure if I have received a handwritten letter in 20 years, so that part of the marketing worked. When I opened it, I was a bit amused, but I do sort of find it sad, if that’s the right word, that…
Have you ever met someone that was surprised to find out your were an atheist? I’ve met people that were surprised and as a result never spoke to me again. Thirty years after having met them they find out I’m an atheist and they run for the hills. Nothing changed about me but they suddenly…
When i happened to mention that I was an atheists a friend asked me if I was trying to recruit him. LOL…but was I? Do we try to recruit people or do we try to help people come to their own conclusions? I think we are very often guilty of the former. But ask you…
When you ask a Christian for proof of God they typically turn to the Bible. This of course makes no sense as a stand alone book. In fact Harry Potter has more books in his series so a single book is not proof. But what is the second proof? I’ve never had a christian tell…
