The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast · Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

PEL Presents PvI#111: God Smites Elijah Dann

·54 min·5 clips

A former theology PhD explains how he shed his religious beliefs like exfoliating dead skin from his mind.

Mark Linsenmayer and Mary Hines host this episode of Philosophy vs. Improv, joined by philosophy professor and author Elijah Dann. Dann discusses his journey from religious belief to skepticism and his recent book, "Unbelieving God: A Skeptic's Guide." He taught for 35 years, most recently a popular course on critical thinking in an age of conspiracies and ideology at Simon Fraser University. His book aims to make philosophical critiques of religious belief accessible to the average person, examining both historical and contemporary arguments. Dann explains his gradual shedding of belief, beginning with his conservative evangelical upbringing in Alberta and studies at a creationist Bible college. He describes how exposure to science and critical thinking led him to compartmentalize conflicting ideas, a process he calls maintaining "epistemic danglers." The story of Adam and Eve became a key point of doubt, particularly after the birth of his son, as he questioned the logic of a literal reading and the theological implications of a metaphorical one. He notes that debates by critics like Christopher Hitchens impacted him more than dense philosophical texts. Mary Hines shares her own background, raised in a strict Catholic household where she privately questioned doctrines while valuing community and music. The conversation explores the psychology of belief, where faith is tied to identity, family, and community, making factual challenges less effective. An improvised scene features God appearing to Elijah to challenge his unbelief, humorously debating the nature of evidence, biblical interpretation, and divine communication. Dann argues that the vast scale of the modern universe revealed by science makes traditional religious narratives seem implausible as accounts of a creator's actions. He addresses the common believer's stance that faith is separate from logical argument, emphasizing the problem of conflicting truth claims across thousands of world religions. The episode maintains a conversational and humorous tone, blending personal narrative with philosophical debate and spontaneous improvisation. Listeners interested in the philosophy of religion, deconversion stories, or critiques of religious epistemology will find this engaging. Those seeking devotional content or who are uncomfortable with skeptical perspectives on faith may prefer to skip it.

As heard by us

A comic philosophy face-off that keeps testing what counts as evidence.

Philosophy vs. Improv plays like a comic face-off, with Mark Linsenmeier and Mary Hines bringing Elijah Dan, an actual philosophy professor in Canada, into a lively talk about belief, evidence, and what people accept as real.

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Why you'd press play

God, skepticism, and improv walk into your queue.

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