User:Mindme/Dogma Free America

Dogma Free America is a political podcast that discusses current events relating to the intersection of religious dogma and American/International politics. The hosts believe, in their words, that "dogma makes you crazy" and try to elucidate this philosophy with news items of religious dogma being taken to the extreme by both practitioners and by the state.

The show regularly has notable guests on to discuss topics relating to the problems caused by the misapplication of religious dogma. Such notable guests include Lars Vilks (a Swedish artist who touched off an international controversy when he exhibited drawings of the prophet Muhammed as a dog), Out Campaign organizer Josh Timonen (producer of the DVD The Four Horsemen), author Frank Cress (author of Reason For Life), Edward Tabash, Ivan Stang, Bob Park (author of Voodoo Science), George Ricker (author of Godless in America), cult expert Rick Ross, Brian Dunning of Skeptoid, Jason Torpy (President Of The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers), Ezra Levant, Terry Sanderson, Joe Kaufman (founder of Americans Against Hate) and leading atheist Margaret Downey.

History
The show began December 10, 2006 and publishes a new episode roughly every week. The show went on what was intended to be a permanent hiatus after the 50th show (November 11, 2007) although it returned five months later with a slightly new format and publishing schedule (projected to be bi-weekly). Dogma Free America's main host Rich Orman explained the podcast was consuming too much of his personal time and show 50 was a good round number upon which to end. Episode 51, Orman explained the return owing to him missing his platform to the world. Orman's caveat was the show would likely move to a less demanding bi weekly release schedule.

Listenership
Dogma Free America is a top ten rated show on iTunes in the Religion & Spirituality / Other category. It is frequently listed by iTunes as the first noteworthy show for its category.

Religious Violence
Despite the show being titled "Dogma Free America," most of the news items relating to religious dogma are sourced from abroad, such as Malaysia, Pakistan, and the UK. The show has done a lot to make listeners aware of religious violence being perpetrated against people in sub-Saharan Africa and India suspected of practicing "witchcraft."