1. “We were baffled by climatic and cataclysmic events: earthquakes, tidal waves, storms, lightning. All of this was to us terrifying. Religion works as an attempt, then, to make sense of things. We are pattern-seeking mammals, after all. It’s a good thing that we are, because if we weren’t pattern-seeking mammals, our curiosity would have no outlet and we wouldn’t be capable of the great innovations that have liberated us from so many things, including religion.”
  2. Today on the Almanac, we tell the story of the Vox Pisces, a theological work found in the belly of a fish?
  3. Today on the Almanac, we remember the Dominican Yves Congar and his role in the reformed Catholic teachings of Vatican II.
  4. Today on the Almanac, we go to the mailbag to answer a spiky question about Polygamy.
  5. Today on the Almanac, we remember Belgian Priest and Scientist Georges Lemaître.
  6. Today on the Almanac is the anniversary of Edwards v. Aguillard the landmark SCOTUS decision regarding science in public schools.
  7. Christians Aren’t Good, or Moral. In this episode, we continue to read and discuss Christopher Hitchens’ speech on religion and morality. Does religion delete our need to confront reality?
  8. Today on the Almanac, we go to the mailbag to answer a question about heretics, blasphemers, and how to be a gracious historian.
  9. God is Good… or Not. In this episode, we read and discuss Christopher Hitchins’ speech about religion and morality. What’s the point of attaching the forgiveness of sins to morality?
  10. Today on the Almanac, we remember Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon known as “Lady Bountiful” on account of her support of Evangelical revival.
  11. Today on the Almanac, we remember the Russian Christian philosopher Sergei Bulgakov.
  12. Today on the Almanac, we remember St. Vitus the patron saint of mimes, Prague, those who oversleep, and more.