In this Mike Drop, I explore why prayer works, but not in the supernatural sense. Prayer doesn’t move mountains or cure illness. It does something more subtle and powerful. It offers comfort, control, and connection. I break down how prayer acts like structured self-talk, ritual, meditation, and social bonding. I also sound a warning: when…
By Mike Smithgall | September 3, 2025 | Atheistville Here’s a conversation starter that’s guaranteed to make dinner parties awkward. Does prayer actually work? Ask most atheists and they’ll give you a hard no. Ask most believers and you’ll get an emphatic yes. But here’s the problem, both sides are having completely different conversations because…
What happens when religion claims it can “cure” someone’s sexuality? In this candid conversation, Mike and Scott tackle the harmful myth of “praying the gay away.” From personal stories of identity struggles to the church’s predatory tactics, they explore why these claims persist, the real damage they cause, and how patriarchy and religious dogma still…
Join Mike Smithgall, Larry Warren, Mike Gonzalez, and Cynthia McDonald for an episode of The Unholy Roundtable. This raw, unscripted conversation about life after faith covers everything from the struggle of feeling lost after leaving the pulpit to the sudden intrusion of religion in everyday spaces like a doctor’s office. Our panelists confront how belief…
Mike Smithgall and Mike Gonzalez respond to the tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. With early reports identifying the suspect as a trans woman, this discussion tackles how narratives form in the aftermath of tragedy, why scapegoating marginalized groups misses the bigger picture, and the uncomfortable reality that most mass shootings in…
In this episode, we discuss the tragic Catholic school shooting and the way media outlets are framing the story. From Fox News fixation on the suspect’s identity to broader questions about bullying, mental health, and accountability, we look at how narratives are shaped in real time. Viewer Question Do you think the media focuses too…
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…
In this Mike Drop episode, Mike Smithgall discusses Penn Jillette’s observation about the law’s treatment of insanity versus divine claims in court. He emphasizes that reliance on evidence over revelation is crucial for fairness and accountability. The episode critiques the influence of religion on the justice system and advocates for secularism.
By Mike Smithgall | August 27, 2025 | Atheistville Picture this: A defendant stands before a judge, accused of a serious crime. Their defense? “Your Honor, God told me to do it.” The courtroom falls silent, not out of reverence, but because everyone knows this argument will go nowhere fast. American culture overflows with claims…
What if leaving Christianity isn’t about the devil’s tricks, but about asking honest questions? In this roundtable, we tackle Pascal’s Wager, the idea of being “deceived by Satan,” and the absurdities of faith claims like Noah’s Ark. From critical thinking to rejecting authoritarian voices that claim to speak for God, we dig into what it…
