Does God Exist? A Candid Conversation About Atheism, Agnosticism, Theism & Secularism with Dr. Phil Zuckerman
Self-HelplessShow Notes
Delanie Fischer chats with Dr. Phil Zuckerman—prominent sociologist, author, professor of secular studies, and founder of the first academic Secular Studies department in the U.S.—about atheism, agnosticism, and theism, including some of the most compelling arguments for and against religion and the existence of God, and how religiosity, skepticism, and secularism shape society. Whether you're a devout believer, a lifelong skeptic, or somewhere in between, this conversation will make you reflect on what you believe, why you believe it, and inspire you to sharpen the arguments behind it.
Episode Highlights:
Atheism, Agnosticism, Theism, Secularism, and Humanism
Debunking Common Stereotypes About Atheists
Religion vs. Secularism: Which Benefits Society More?
How Internet Use, Opportunity, and Welfare Impact Religiosity
An Argument for the Existence of God: The Watchmaker Analogy
Can Both Miracles AND Atrocities Be Attributed to God?
The Problem of Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Goodness & Free Will
The Appeal to Ignorance: The Pilot Example
Can You Thrive Without Belief in God or Gods?
What Can Everyone Agree on Despite Different Beliefs?
Books by Phil Zuckerman: https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/phil-zuckerman/254049/?srsltid=AfmBOoq_5GK4BJfFHIbq-NhR-_ZIJpJ04eKqFRJOPYvTVMhQj6DeaDFE
____
Self-Helpless Stuff:
A 5-star rating means a lot! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-helpless/id1251196416
Get free Self-Helpless goodies: https://www.selfhelplesspodcast.com/
Ad-free episodes now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/selfhelpless
Your Host, Delanie Fischer: https://www.delaniefischer.com
____
Related Episodes:
Ancient Jewish Wisdom for Modern Life with Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz: https://www.delaniefischer.com/selfhelplesspodcast/episode/f19d1b15/ancient-jewish-wisdom-for-modern-life-with-rabbi-dr-shmuly-yanklowitz
Awakening: The Power of Ritual, Creative Energy, and Nature’s Wisdom with Rebecca Campbell: https://www.delaniefischer.com/selfhelplesspodcast/episode/1ba4a939/awakening-the-power-of-ritual-creative-energy-and-natures-wisdom-with-rebecca-campbell
Rethinking Intuition, Belief, and The Nature of Reality with Vincent Genna: https://www.delaniefischer.com/selfhelplesspodcast/episode/23db0212/rethinking-intuition-belief-and-the-nature-of-reality-with-vincent-genna
Stop Asking Yourself the Wrong Questions: How to Unlock Deeper Fulfillment with Elliott Connie: https://www.delaniefischer.com/selfhelplesspodcast/episode/365204fb/stop-asking-yourself-the-wrong-questions-how-to-unlock-deeper-fulfillment-with-elliott-connie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Self-Helpless
Delanie Fischer chats with Andy J. Pizza, illustrator and New York Times bestselling author, about the difficult feelings surrounding creativity. They discuss why “success” doesn’t always feel the way you expect, when to problem-solve for clunkiness vs. when to let a project go, and how to balance individuality and cohesion in creative collaboration.
Delanie Fischer chats with Timothy Burki about the near-death experience that changed his life. Ten years ago, Timothy was involved in a motorcycle accident that led to an out-of-body experience. He shares what he witnessed and came to understand about life and death—and how it's impacted his beliefs, desires, and goals.
Delanie Fischer chats with Dr. Sailesh Rao, Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers and systems specialist—with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University—to discuss the basic principles of Hinduism, how to understand and implement our unique purpose, and our duties as a caretaker species. Dr. Rao also shares how his faith has shaped his life, work, and health.
Delanie Fischer and subscriber and guest co-host, Madelyn, chat about creating opportunities personally and professionally that result in more connection, fun, and meaning. They share personal experiences around leveraging their strengths, interests, and values for exploring their career, building relationships, focusing on health, and prioritizing creativity. If you're feeling the pressure of the status quo, tune in for a reminder to embrace your unique qualities and enjoy what makes you, you.
This is one of the most unconventional episodes of Self-Helpless yet, while still grounded in curiosity and respectful skepticism. Delanie Fischer chats with Elizabeth April—author and spiritual influencer—to explore her claims of extrasensory abilities, alien abduction, and ongoing ET contact. They discuss Elizabeth’s beliefs about past life regression, remote viewing, consciousness, the nature of reality, various species of extraterrestrial beings, hybridization, and the Galactic Federation of Light. No matter your beliefs, we hope this episode encourages exploration of mysticism across religious and cultural traditions through a fresh lens.