Alice Roberts | Morals Without Religion: the Unholy Mrs Knight and the Hypocritical Humanist

[@madgeordie4469]

A meaningful and thought provoking talk given by an intelligent and articulate woman. Alice Roberts is a welcome breath of fresh air who fights for the right of ordinary people to think for themselves.

[@tomgreene1843]

That's a dodgy 'RIGHT'

[@asgio27]

That is a total, honest, unemotional, analytical , YES !

[@TesseractPleiadesOrion]

@@tomgreene1843 Why?

[@philipsmeeton]

There is though a far greater and deadly religion than christianity that should concern every atheist.

[@timsmith6675]

What an accomplished person Dr. Alice Roberts is, a M.D., a PhD. in anthropology and a humanist with communication skills we need for our societies. Thank you Dr. Roberts for trying to help.

[@goodun2974]

An interviewer asked Frank Zappa what he thought it took to be a good parent and raise good kids. His reply, "keep them as far away from religion as possible, until they're old enough to choose a religion for themselves if they like, or to choose no religion at all".

[@godislove8740]

He also railed against many 'sins'. I suspect he was aware of the lies of his brethren . 😁

[@stevious7278]

You only have to listen to Frank's song "Dumb All Over" to get the message loud and clear. Succinct and sharp. All praise Frank!! lol

[@danbain59]

Frank Zappa is your moral compass?

[@stevious7278]

@@danbain59 Why not? He never took drugs or alcohol; raised four children as good citizens; had a strong work ethic; had the ability to think critically; saw the stupidity inherent in religion and the capitalist system. Need I go on? Oh, maybe I should clarify in case you are not capable of thinking... i do include Locke, Hume, Voltaire, Marx, Hobbs, Socrates, Plato, Camus, Sartre, The Buddha and numerous others to a greater or lessor degree. How about you?

[@godislove8740]

@@stevious7278 you forgot the humour. Bad you. I do like reading the Bible but of course you can't rebuke using humour....you have to throw stones instead. It really gets the message across to Catholic girls.

[@JohnHarmer]

Such a pleasure to listen to Dr Alice Roberts on this topic. I had never heard of Margaret Knight, but she is now one of my heroes.

[@ericdondero3217]

Such a displeasure. She's a flaming hypocrite. Hey Alice, it wasn't a Christian who beheaded 6 year old Emily Jones 5 weeks ago in a park in England. That was a Somali Muslim. You spew hatred for Christianity yet say nothing about Muslims.

[@Johlibaptist]

Dr Roberts is a good scientist, but a very poor philosopher. Momento mori.

[@richardh8082]

@Tim Webb My apologies. It was a knee-jerk reaction to a topic dear to me and which I wished to defend. Sound familiar?

[@MrRational59]

@@ericdondero3217 When did she spew hatred against christianity? I think you should stop lying.

[@MrRational59]

@Tim Webb You are a disgusting excuse for a human being. Seek mental health counselinmg.

[@edwarddavenport9881]

Let's just call Professor Roberts what she is, a national treasure. Incredible and facinating person.

[@MrDaiseymay]

--AND A LOVELY BIT O STUFF AN'ALL

[@101mosioatunya]

What an excellent lecture this is. I shall now hunt for a copy of Margaret Knight's radio essays and I won't stop until I find one.

[@SqwarkParrotSpittingFeathers]

Have faith that you will be successful in your holy quest, lol.

[@101mosioatunya]

@@SqwarkParrotSpittingFeathers You didn't read what I wrote 4 days ago so your comment is both silly and redundant :-(

[@SqwarkParrotSpittingFeathers]

@@101mosioatunya It was meant to be silly, hence "lol". And, I'm sorry that I didn't trawl the net to find what you wrote a number of days ago, and I suspect I certainly will not bother now. Have a nice day.

[@101mosioatunya]

@@SqwarkParrotSpittingFeathers You didn't have to trawl the net. The comment is just underneath this one!!! Have a nice day too :-)

[@csnowutube]

I'm looking for her on KZbin and can only find the "inventor of the flat bottom paper bag machine" (which is cool but not what I'm looking for)

[@brianashcroft688]

Always liked Alice Roberts for her tv programmes, now I have admire her as well for her beliefs and courage speak of them. I wish I had a morsel of her use of the English language.

[@alasdairniven6578]

I agree, but it took me years to realize that she and Victoria Coren were not the same person.

[@aronjaxxon7165]

Instablaster.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Wow what courage to talk out against church based education in a country that is large atheistic

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

What is a “humanist”? naive … imagine a world where the Roman Empire had not moved toward Christianity…..Stalin, Genghis Khan, Hitler. Nothing more stupid than atheists expending energy destroying a belief system that promotes love, empathy and Forgiveness. Sconce cannot “prove” that God doesn’t exist.

[@seamusmergatroid9190]

@@alasdairniven6578 without trying to sound too pervy, you weren’t looking in the right place

[@patrickgleason2066]

We’ve definitely had enough of, religion without morals.

[@jhonadam1420]

Why seak to 'believe' anything? I' know' aboout a lot of real things and I enjoy trying to calculate the probabiility about things being true, but in general my honest andwer is simply " I don' t know"

[@oppothumbs1]

How moral can Jesus be when he wants to send all nonbelievers and worshippers of all religion, to an eternity in hell? When we think about that, that's a worse than a horrible thing to do. The problems with religious morality are found in the book itself, and this is just one example. I could give dozens.

[@benvanrensburg4261]

What a stupendously intelligent speaker! I envy her for her eloquence and for the quality of her thinking.

[@davidbanner6230]

RELATIVE MISCONSEPTIONS : There have been some recent reports that there are movements by New Zealand’s Mouri’s to have - what they call - there own version of science to be taught in schools. As can be imagined this idea has, understandably, raised the hackles of the scientific community that “science is science” and it should be irrespective of race or culture. Although this is interesting, it highlights a misconception about religion, and that the oft claimed by Atheists, that belief in religious concepts is somehow a threat to acceptance of science itself. As we know there have been many eminent scientists, who have also been believers in religion, it is a misconception to say that science has to be mutually exclusive to religious belief? Atheists, have for too long, and for often nefarious reasons, purposely erected barriers to protect the notion that anyone who believed in forces, beyond understanding/proof, were simpletons? Atheists know it’s not easy to sell yourself as a purveyor of enlightenment, if you allow your message to be contaminated by things too hard for you to understand yourself? There is a world of understanding outside the wonders of science, and the world is not full of fools and idiots. It’s not just true, but vital, to understand a world not just made up of what we call science, but also a world where what people believe, also guides our lives. Including indigenous beliefs’…

[@MrDaiseymay]

@@davidbanner6230 SO 2+ 2 = 5 ? BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAID SO ? WHEN COMMON SENCE IS IGNORED ,AND SCIENTIFIC CALCULOUS TOO, IT EQUALS , CHAOS !

[@bdm-astroscorpion5025]

On a personal, family level, apostasy can be a very traumatic experience to go through. It splits the closest of families apart, especially if the head of the family has deeply held religious views. Alice's mother sounds just like my own mother, tolerant on most issues except that of what religious views her children are expected to hold. This is why I remained the "respected" church-going non-believer for well over 20 years. I admire Alice for her honesty in the way that she confronted her parents about her convictions, doing so at just 15 years old. I admire her more so for her having the courage to stick to those convictions despite the parental hostility she had to endure because of those views. It took me until I was 35 before I stopped living the pretence of going to church. If we meet, to maintain the peace, talking religion is a taboo subject with my immediate family members, the elephant in the room who is going no place elsewhere. Everyone else I associate with, all my friends and work colleagues, are aware of my atheist beliefs. I am always open with them on the subject. It's just my own family that talking religion is a no no. That good morals require a religious based belief is just another delusion of the religious mindset. Keep up the good work Alice.

[@jhonadam1420]

Posobly the attitude of her parents helped Alice to be convinced that she was correct.

[@00stobart]

She's a brilliant communicator. For me morals based on following the rules because of an abstract idea you'll get payback in some imaginary afterlife is fundamentally IMMORAL - the atheist/humanist who does right because it's the RIGHT thing to do is far more moral in my eyes. Dx

[@duaneshort186]

Try as one might, there is no grounding the "RIGHT thing" without an ultimate authority who has defined it as such. And I wonder if you'd agree that it is immoral to speak as if you _know as fact_ that which, inherently, you _cannot_ know as a fact.

[@rominiyi1385]

​​​​​@@duaneshort186 You do not need an "ultimate authority": 1. "Do not do unto others that which you would not have others do onto you", and stick to this even if you do not stick to anything else. 2. Do not engage in certain sexual practices, full stop; do not engage in unprotected sex ever; adhere to safe sex practices as medically and scientifically outlined always; do not be promiscuous or hang around and about promiscuous people because science has revealed to us the unfathomably diverse multiplicity of sexually transmitted viruses, bacteria, parasites, pathogens, etc., out there, their evolution, their routes of transmission, their propensity to precipitate devastating illnesses through their infinitely horrendous modes of infection and propagation prepicitating epidemics and pandemics with long term consequences extending well into the future, impacting not only ourselves but future generations health-wise, quality of life-wise, socially, economically, etc. 3. Do not mistakenly bring children into this world you did not intend to and have not rigorously planned for, and which you do not have the time, energy and next to inexhaustible sources of funds to bring up properly. To contravene this is really monstrous in the true sense of the word. And, do not bring children into an unstable relationship. 4. Do not be misogynistic because it's monstrously unfair, and if you can't see that, surely you realise that we all had a 50:50 chance of being a male or female at conception as science informs us of sex-determining X and Y chromosomes .... 5. Do not use addictive substances or intoxicating substances due to their ability to co-opt, hijack, and totally disrupt our natural neurochemistry including our dopamine-reward systems, other neurochemical systems, our endocrinology, our physiology, and thus make us drug-dependent, criminal, very ill, wreck our lives, and wreck the lives of all around us, etc. 6. Do not enslave others, pay them unfairly, or engage in attitudes, activities or practices that can be rightly construed as slavery like practices towards others, etc. 7. Deep respect for high quality education and high quality extracurricular activities, etc. These are "just seven truths" "self-discovered" that I have adopted without any requirement or aid from an "ultimate authority" and without compulsion or duress from anybody, which makes me stick with them through thick and thin without being forced to do so by anyone, apart from constantly reviewing the evidence around me of those who are on a contrary pathway, whether this evidence is manifesting itself in the real world or is hilighted in text-books, research papers, or in the media, etc. I concede that if you do not have a deep understanding of science, morals and ethics and you are not actively searching in these fields, it may be difficult to come across these truths oneself in which case adopting a religion may be an option better than having no values, no morals, and no ethics at all ... however, religions come with a lot of deeply unethical and immoral baggage attached if you are prepared to dig deep enough to find out! (Well, all this evidence is not really "self-discovered" as thousands and thousands of people have done all the prior foot work I have gone in search of, learnt, and adopted; and thousands of people in multiple disciplines in the sciences, history of religion, the social sciences, ethics, history, literature, journalism, etc. are still engaged in on-going research to discover even more). It is "self-discovered" only in the sense of me actively searching for and finding it, and then using these strands of knowledge in constructing a personal moral code I am sticking to without any effort, whatsoever, because I believe deeply in it as I put it together myself and as it is keeping me safe, happy and free of worry in the outlined domains at least; and I am not being forced to believe in it; or any other moral code by promises of heaven, hell or eternal damnation, none of which I believe in at all because none of these are substantiated in any way whatsoever by scientific evidence ... and religions which are deeply immoral have no capability of promising a thinking person any of these in any way shape or form ...

[@mjwilliamsb2676]

​​@@duaneshort186what, you mean like religious people do, as if they know 'facts' when all they have is faith? You do not need an arbiter to say whether you are behaving morally or with good intent, even very young human children have an innate understanding of what is moral and what isn't. And ultimately, we have the law to control people's behaviour when necessary Sadly, religious teachings often warp this innate morality, twist it into a rules based system of feeling guilty or being approved of, depending on one's level of compliance.

[@jeremymead8546]

I don't know anyone who believes in being moral based on payback in an afterlife. It is most certainly not a Christian idea.

[@MrDaiseymay]

@@duaneshort186 IT'S CALLED LOGIC, ARRIVED AT BY USING ONES BRAINS. IT'S WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, VIA A ONGOING QUESTIONING MIND.

[@asgio27]

I will repeat , as I have for so long Professor Roberts, you are amazing, and really enjoy your work, intellect, and contributions in every way. Thank you.

[@evad7933]

OMG. Go and buy some screen cleaner.

[@ericdondero3217]

Well, except for the fact, she's a flaming hypocrite. She'll attack Jews and Christians with spewing hatred. But will never offer even the slightest of criticism for Islam.

[@ericdondero3217]

So, you're okay with her attacking Christians?

[@asgio27]

I don't think I mentioned religion in any context. . I understand she is not a Christian, but I also have never seen her spew hatred, or 'attack' Christians, or any faith. I could not imagine her hating or attacking anyone. Of course, all too often today, if one disagrees, politically, religiously, philosophically, - it quickly turns to ad hominem attacks and equivocating the other side as hateful, evil, etc. I stand my my assessment of Dr. Alice Roberts, and not only think she is an amazing documentary producer , and much more, but a genuinely kind, good person, with morals, and a very good character with a good compass. I think I have many different parameters for what constitutes a good person, call me a simpleton. As long a religion is mentioned, do I really, really need to mention how many I have encountered that profess to be good Christians, Jews, Muslims - whatever, and seem to think that gives them a license to do , act, and say what they think with relative impunity? Please. Dr. Roberts, I so admire you , and your work, and like me, I feel assured you treat people very well, do a lot for others, and wish to cause no one harm.

[@ericdondero3217]

Dude, here entire lecture was spewing hatred against Christianity. I'm a Jew. Just for the record. Why doesn't she attack Islam with such vehemence?

[@WiggyB]

Enjoyable and thought-provoking as ever. Dropping the Hitchens quote in just after all the old ones - delightful.

[@stevenryle5709]

As I grew up in the 1950's, in the USA, Church was an important part of daily life. My family went to Church 3 times a week. We still had prayer in school everyday. There were "Blue Laws" still in place that kept stores and bars closed on Sundays. Since then I've met many moral and honest people who were either agnostics or atheists. I've also met many religious churchgoing people who were in trouble with the law. I have concluded over the years that religion is not required for a person to adopt a good solid moral code or develop a solid ethical backbone to stick with it.

[@forestdwellerresearch6593]

You knew that already. Before conditioning got to you. They just blurred it out with religion.

[@thecrow4597]

What a silly conclusion. So you met people who consciously disagreed with a fundamental axiom of their culture for over 1000 years but they still had other parts of their character and behaviors that were effected by that axiom? Obviously! That doesn’t mean their current worldview justifies those morals or that those morals will survive even a few generations once the causal axiom is discarded. It’s called riding the wave or cruising on fumes.

[@willmpet]

I remember reciting the Nicene Creed every Sunday. One day I decided to only say what I agreed with; I was quite quiet.

[@nonfecittaliter4361]

Sorry for you.

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

@@nonfecittaliter4361 dito

[@paulneeds]

Excellent talk - thank you Alice. The school my son went wasn’t Religious as such - here in my part of South Wales, the choice was RC - which there was NO chance of getting him into had we wished, and we didn’t, or mildly Protestant with no ‘interference’ from the clergy. He’s now a healthy 20-year-old skeptic with a profound sense of good, bad, and most importantly, equity. I’m very proud of him.

[@bjb8847656]

Much respect for a clear, intelligent and brave person.

[@gowdsake7103]

Ummm brave ?

[@ratgrrl1]

Loved listening to Professor Alice Roberts. As a new aunty I very much hope my new niece will be brought up this way and with the critical thinkings of Margaret Knight.

[@markanderson1658]

Wonderful stuff Alice, keep up the good work and don't let the so and so's grind you down - this talk is inspirational and one I will share with some family members who are very religious and like to try and evangelise me sometimes so could take a dose of their own medicine - your Mum can't be all bad as she brought you into the world but I admire people who can stand up to the kind of emotional blackmail that comes from families whilst still keeping on good terms - and as a flexitarian well on the way to vegetariansim it shoes how strong ethics and values tend to coalesce around the same important issues. Good on you!

[@Yanquetino]

You've made my day with this keynote speech! What a wonderful gift you've given me for YOUR birthday today! I hope you have a warm, mellow, memorable celebration for having completed yet another spiral around the sun.

[@imansfield]

Went to see Alice live a few months ago. Was secretly dreading sitting there for 3 hours but it went in a flash! She could have kept talking all night and I wouldn’t have minded. It was so interesting! She just speaks so much common sense.

[@silentbob5566]

It's not common sense, it's just ideology and simplistic pseudo-reasoning you like.

[@kenrobinson8060]

Being born in 1934 this presentation really got my attention, Alice represents true HUMANISM to me and I have followed her throught the years as a scientist and a true humanoligist and will continue to do so.

[@davidroberts8874]

Alice, always articulate and rational, a hero of common sense. Surely for religious schools there is a better chance of making converts by including others on the inside looking out than excluding them.

[@MegaPeedee]

Absolutely wonderful. Dr Roberts is captivating in everything she does before the camera and her education, passion and breadth of understanding shines. She is an example of what this world needs more of, a humanist who is not cowed by the religious juggernaut, or by the ideologies that man tends to blindly jump into without first looking for the hidden dangers. I salute you, Dr Roberts.

[@wulfenii64]

Alice, you are a gem.

[@wulfenii64]

@@snowrider4495 read what book? And why?

[@snowrider4495]

@@wulfenii64 woops my bad my dyslexia kicked in and for some reason it read germ! Lmfao I'm an idiot!

[@wulfenii64]

@@snowrider4495 No problem. I thought you were some sort of crazy religious person too. LOL

[@wulfenii64]

@@snowrider4495 and no hard feelings here : )

[@snowrider4495]

@@wulfenii64 me neither just a discussion and religions are one of my favorite hobbies!

[@TonyToneRanger]

Dr Alice Roberts, thank you for your outstanding work and efforts.

[@mecima]

Well my late dad brought us up to have absolute principles and morals based on right and wrong, none of it based on religious beliefs. Thanks dad, you were absolutely right to insist academia was the way forward for humanity.

[@midoann]

Oh my goodness! Happy to see Humanists UK here in You Tube ❤. Love from 🇯🇵

[@rayamis9509]

Professor Alice Roberts, you are the perfect communicator, making the bridge between "Intellectuals & Common Folk", so much easier to cross. Here's wishing you all the best for all your future endeavours.

[@lewisrangi9123]

I was raised a Mormon and became a Pentecostal in my teens. My childhood was disturbing to say the least. I was adopted because my mother didn't want me, my adopted parents abused myself and my fostered siblings, so I would constantly be asking god to help, to no avail. so I began asking him to kill me just so it would stop. As you can see I had already deceived myself into believing in something that could not help. Obviously there is a lot more to this story. however what I have written is enough to make my point.... Ethics and morals should not be taught by any religion or belief system. Simply because they can do damage to a young developing mind. As far as I'm concerned Dr Alice is completely right, religion should be taught as myth and legend. Religion should not have a say in education or politics.

[@jenniferflower9265]

I just want to hug you. 🤗😪 I grew up in abuse but different circumstances than you. I turned to religion as a way out. God did nothing for my internal struggle that resided in me after leaving. I eventually found the power in myself to overcome it. Religion only reinforced the idea that I was a bad person in need of repentance only to realize that all the struggles I faced were normal human reactions to abuse. Healing began at that point. Hugs to you.

[@lewisrangi9123]

@@jenniferflower9265 I agree the healing does begin when we acknowledge that it's only ourselves that have the power to change how we see ourself. For me it was extremely difficult I spent 7 years in counselling from the age of 17 just to get the tools I needed to understand that what I experienced in my childhood was not normal. I didn't understand what love really meant until I had my first child "my daughter"when she was born in front of me I finally understood that love was a dedication to do anything and everything I could beyond my normal means. My daughter changed the way I thought, believed and even the way I reacted, it was a lot of work and the work continues even at the age of 48. She doesn't know exactly how much she means to me and she probably never will.

[@jenniferflower9265]

@@lewisrangi9123 I get that. I don't think many come out of that kind of abuse and take the time to change or understand what has happened to them. I am so sad for those who don't find help and suport. I was 17, with child, as well. Left home, went straight into counseling. I'm 42 now and am still in counseling. It was hard work, the work still continues but well worth it. I had to deconstruct my normal as well. My kids were bug motivation for me. Good luck to you. Carry on the good life. 😊

[@lewisrangi9123]

@@jenniferflower9265 good luck. 😊

[@richardh8082]

I remember putting 'C of E' as my religion in a national census when I was around 10 or 12 years old because that was what I had been told I was by my parents. Thankfully a balanced education and willingness to think for myself won over and i am now more likely to put 'Jedi' than Christian. Actually I would strongly encourage everyone tempted to put 'protest' answers such as Jedi to simply put 'none' as this will help with our transition to a secular society and maybe then Churches will finally have to start paying tax like the rest of us

[@nssherlock4547]

HA,I'm also a Hughes,the last census in Australia, 70000 people including me, marked Jedi as their religion, the UK nearly 400000 (0.8%) did the same,making it No 4 on the list ahead of Judaism, Hinduism and Islame. I agree it was funny at the time, but even putting Jedi, counts towards the overall percentage of people who have an affiliation with religion. Yes make it clear NONE is the only option.cheers.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

i just commented that when i was a kid i thought c of e meant atheist.

[@esphilee]

You are lost, you should join the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

[@robertsmith-qb2ke]

You are certainly not alone. Religious instruction (as opposed to education) was pretty widespread back in the day, (not to mention 'assemblies' at school) and youngsters were not discouraged from putting 'C of E' down. In fact the number of folk doing this in the 1970s / 1980s TV show 'Crown Court' suggests this was a common phenomenon. Me, I'll plump for Cat Worshipper...

[@briansmith3791]

Haha. The Jedi, of course, speak of 'The Force', which has been long known of in spiritual circles as The Atman, the Inner Body, Awareness, the 'spark of God' etc. George Lucas believes in a Creator but not in Religion.

[@phantomplastics6582]

"Numerous studies reveal that atheists and secular people most certainly maintain strong values, beliefs, and opinions. But more significantly, when we actually compare the values and beliefs of atheists and secular people to those of religious people, the former are markedly less nationalistic, less prejudiced, less anti-Semitic, less racist, less dogmatic, less ethnocentric, less close-minded, and less authoritarian (Greeley and Hout 2006; Sider 2005; Altemeyer 2003, 2009; Jackson and Hunsberger 1999; Wulff 1991; Altemeyer and Hunsberger 1992, 1997; Beit-Hallahmi 2007; Beit-Hallahmi and Argyle 1997; Batson et al. 1993; Argyle 2000)." and "The claim that atheists are somehow more likely to be immoral,’’ asserts Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi (2007, 306), ‘‘has long been disproven by systematic studies.’’ Source: Atheism, Secularity, and Well-Being - How the Findings of Social Science Counter Negative Stereotypes and Assumptions

[@TCGill]

Sorry@James Strawn I don't agree. My compassion and goodwill comes from a humanist perspective. Some of the most immoral and corrupt people I know are religious. They wash off their selfish behaviour by following their faith. There is good and bad in all and religion is not the only answer to be "good".

[@TCGill]

Nicely put. That resonates with my own personal experience. Not saying all religious people are bad... but many are misguided. Sometimes it works in a life-affirming way... sometimes it just goes horribly wrong.

[@threepguybrushwood539]

@@TCGill I think you missed the sarcasm. ;-)

[@SnuggLeona]

@@threepguybrushwood539 It would only count as obviously sarcastic, if it was highly unlikely that anyone would actually hold those beliefs. Sadly it is not highly unlikely, and therefore the so called sarcasm is not detectable.

[@previouslyachimp]

@James Strawn - I'm afraid it is you who is 'utterly irrational' James, all of the things you mentioned are simply evolved traits that can aid survival within a collaborative society, and require no belief in any particular deity, just in humans. As for what is 'moral', like every other word we make the definitions, there's nobody else to do it. Even if there were an omniscient entity making pronouncements through scripture, they are still filtered through the flawed human brain which produces the problematically different understandings and outcomes that we see in the world. If there WAS an all-knowing God, it would have known that writing rules in a bunch of old books would be a genocidally inadequate way to present your truth. It would be 'utterly irrational', would it not?

[@markrichter2053]

Margaret Night’s “most dangerous idea, then, was that ordinary people could dare to think fur themselves.” That’s a strong end to a brilliant talk.

[@louispaquet8185]

When one person is delusional, it’s called insanity. When many people are delusional, they call it religion.

[@robertseavor4304]

You're a moron.

[@digitalperson108]

Louis Paquet spot on

[@christopherseton-smith7404]

@@robertseavor4304 : I don't think you've quite learned the way to coax a constructive discussion out.

[@robertseavor4304]

@Alex McAuliff Which religion? Christian faith is based on reason as well as revelation. Unfortunately, most atheists are as philosophically illiterate as Dawkins and Hitchens. Also, science supports theism, not the absurd materialism in which atheists have so much blind faith. I heartily recommend "Undeniable", by a bio-chemist named Axe, who brilliantly chops up the half-baked "theory" of evolution, which is so devoid of genuine evidence it barely ranks as a hypothesis, let alone a theory. (Pun intended btw).

[@robertseavor4304]

@@christopherseton-smith7404 You haven't quite learned that for some statements, "You're a moron" is a sufficient response.

[@mayms9181]

‏I left Islam when I read the Qur’an and the biography of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam ‏Now I live in Iraq and I can't talk about it even with my family I might be killed, and society will reject me, it's very difficult for me ‏and many Arabs leave Islam every day, but they cannot announce that because they may be killed and of course society rejects them .

[@ridefast0]

If they keep you in by force, its a cult or a prison. Please enjoy the support of others who now, like you, think for yourself.

[@josephhenry4725]

We have a moral obligation to bring our children up with what we believe to be right ..not what we have been indoctrinated into...let kids come to you... their questions will test you and make you reaccess your received position.

[@douglasmccabe7743]

I also have always Liked Prof Alice Roberts, the is woman brilliant, I have been a humanists for a few years now I know I am on the correct path now, thank you Alice.

[@metalguru9333]

HUMANISM ! : ) I always think about the Virtues of Humankind, every August 6th ! AND every time I walk into a Museum to see a plastic replica, of a Dodo-bird !

[@argustuft]

This is one beautiful, lovely lady. Could listen to her for hours.

[@unstoppableExodia]

100%

[@olabaskerville]

So am I

[@olabaskerville]

Her speech always amazing!

[@ThePeterWilliam]

Played her at a board game once. I won.

[@argustuft]

​@@ThePeterWilliam Nonetheless, I'd still prefer to listen to and see Alice ;-)

[@wightdruid]

Wonderful talk! I was 11 when I walked out of Sunday school, never to return. Ever since I've been deeply concerned about faith schools. In this age, there is no way they should still exist. My children have very clear and strong morals/ethics. And they never needed to invoke a god. Proud of them all! One of my boys' schools even put his religion down as CofE when he told them he wasn't of that persuasion. I was LIVID!

[@MauriceBower]

@Tim Webb Never challenged anyone's right to their faith. Many people find it empowering and all the best to them. It's just not for me. I prefer my own logic. And I don't think the religions of others should be foisted on to anybody else, so faith schools really should not exist.

[@splitpitch]

@Tim Webb The teaching of stories from any mythology should be encouraged in schools, especially those with cultural relevance- as long as they are put into perspective. Greeks (and other western civilisations) should learn, and be proud of, Homer's Odyssey. They should be taught the moral lessons, and be made aware of how the stories use fiction and conflict to pass on important information. The same with the Judeo-Christian stories- some awesome storytelling. it becomes problematic when it is presented as fact, and no contradictory ideas are allowed. It is also problematic when it is presented as a moral code as approved, (or even written by) God. You can see the problem when other texts are presented in this way; the book of Mormon, L Ron Hubbard's Sci fi adventures, the Quran, etc. Yet you seem oblivious to the fact that your own texts were written by men to guide and control the behaviour of other men (and women). that is NOT to say the concepts espoused are necessarily wrong, many of the ideas are still relevant today.

[@splitpitch]

@Tim Webb Homer's Odessey is mythical as it includes accounts of beings generally accepted as mythical such as the sirens, the cyclops, and Cerces. Homer, or the writers collectively known as Homer cleverly used known historical places and ebvents, much like the writers of the JudeoChristian stories. "How could these things be written into the sacred text except by the direct authorization and foreknowledge of God?" Quite an easy one really, they were written after the fact as I said- edited, revised. I will admit I am wrong if you can refer me to a Jewish text with those things predicting Christ written in them- as you describe them. Not the Christian version (the old testament- a heavily edited and revised version), but an actual Jewish text, still used by the Jewish people. The dead sea scrolls were found to be very close to the texts used today- perhaps they predict Christ, i don't know. Please don't think I am attacking your faith- but faith is exactly that- faith- no truth, evidence or knowledge required. However, I think the Christians that do open their minds to knowledge that challenges the "direct authorization and foreknowledge of God" idea greatly benefit from that knowledge. they seem to become more tolerant of diversity, less evangelical with their own ideas.

[@splitpitch]

@Tim Webb actually, I did not equate faith with credulity, you appear to have done that all by yourself. You start calling me stupid- this is known as an ad hominen attack- a tactic people stoop to when they do not have adequate words to argue with. Jewish source of the Torah...בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ: However, i found your 'barasheet' all over the internet alright- always from 'Christian' sources. A message hidden in plain sight?- talk about cringe!! Next you'll be claiming the world is flat. If you are going to claim something is factual- check your sources. You belittle your own God with such weak attempts at unnecessary justification. Honestly, that was just embarrassing.

[@splitpitch]

@Tim Webb kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKa9hKuohbSXaM0

[@MissLynSanity]

Somebody needs to record Knight's essays for an audiobook format!

[@HumanistsUK]

What a great idea!

[@richardh8082]

Alice should record them!

[@MissLynSanity]

I would be willing to put a little money toward this project if it could make it happen! Does anyone know if there is already a project or organization working on making humanist writing more accessible to the general public?

[@patmorrow6872]

Humanists UK that might raise some funds for Humanists UK. I would order a download.

[@lawratify]

I take somewhat a different view in defining humanists. Humans have evolved not only biologically but are also evolving CONSCIOUSLY ( in religious jargon spiritually) . Most humans are trapped in the lowest state of human consciousness, the" fight or flight" or animal consciousness. To these people the less developed reptilian brain ,which is mainly concerned about survival. self-preservation , fixing and safeguarding territories and boundaries, is dominant over the much larger, more evolved and advanced, Limbic and Neo Cortex parts of human brain which longs to expand, explore, for oneness, universality and break all boundaries and barriers. Sadly these people who are trapped and languish in the lowest state of human consciousness (who I might add are in the majority at this point in time) are devoid of any CONSCIENCE ,COMPASSION OR EMPATHY, the most important attributes that set a fully fledged , decent human being from the rest of the animals. Because of the absence of these important attributes , these people find it impossible to decide or distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, moral and immoral, truth and falsehood etc. without some sort of guidance . This is where religion comes in, with rules and commandments, promise of rewards and punishments, , rituals and host of other dogmas. People in a higher state of consciousness can clearly understand the humans in the lower state of consciousness but unfortunately the humans in lower state find it impossible to understand the people in the higher state, i.e. the HUMANISTS. . It is very much similar to an adult who can understand a child but not vice-versa. Most people who are CONSERVATIVES or belong to other Right-Wing groups fall into this lower state category

[@bamber2000]

‘Think for yourself. Act for everyone.’ encapsulated in a splendid lecture.

[@sfperalta]

Another thoughtful lecture about why religion should never be a consideration in any public decisions.

[@robsengahay5614]

I love this lecture, the readings and commentary from Professor Roberts. Religion - all religion - is absolutely not about morals. It is about patriarchy. As can be seen so vividly in Afghanistan there are still many men who are prepared to kill or be killed to maintain that patriarchy hidden behind the veil of religion. The sad part is that so many women in the world have been so abused by these religious notions that they are ultimately willing cheerleaders for their own subjugation. Alice’s mother was clearly one such. We have come far in my lifetime (60 years) but clearly have a long way to go. There cannot though truly be equality whilst religions still persist. Religion is the tool of the mysoginists and the weapon of oppression.

[@MeMyself-jz9ms]

What’s great about listening to Prof Alice Roberts is that she articulates scientific discoveries and ideas in an accessible way for the unscientifically initiated audience. But it goes deeper than a skill in communication. What Alice seems to embody (and I use that word intentionally), is a beautiful down-to-earth-ness. Literally, she investigates old human bones in the ground and in doing so she shares with us the elevating wonder of the natural world and of our own physical beings, in such a way that inspires hope for the future of humanity and meaning for our own lives. I feel that this sort of approach to life carries the possibility of a more humane and constructive matrix of meaning for humanity than that which has resulted from religion. Just as the universe evolves, and biological life and ecosystems evolve by adapting to reality as it is experienced, so humanity’s understanding of our existence, our meaning and purpose must develop and adapt to make room for these scientific discoveries. I had naïvely hoped that reason in our culture would prevail by reason of its own reasonableness. This was to not take into account both the Machiavellian nature of opportunistic populism combined with politico-religious hegemony and the polarisation and sensationalisation of social media fuelling extremist tropes. Every good public act, every healthy appeal to reason can now be twisted by malevolent forces to fuel the culture wars. There are two consequences of the worldwide resurgence of right wing politics resulting from this doubling down on religion. Firstly, accelerating environmental degradation and climate chaos and, secondly, the corrosion of democratic values. Both are a real and imminent threat to civilisation as we know it. I think it’s not over dramatic to suggest that they may together combine to bring about human extinction. It’s my contention, therefore, that the reasonable and winsom appeal of scientific humanism and scientifically enlightened education from an early age has never been more urgent.

[@logik100.0]

Support you 100% Alice.

[@logik100.0]

@@fuckfannyfiddlefart ??

[@logik100.0]

@@fuckfannyfiddlefart If you have nothing sensible to say. Don't bother to post.

[@logik100.0]

@@fuckfannyfiddlefart I had no idea what your comment was about. Hence the question marks.

[@logik100.0]

@Clement Smith You must be a thiest...

[@mattlavin2677]

Thank you for introducing, to me anyway, Margaret Knight. Excellent.

[@theitineranthistorian2024]

america needs a religion reality check. sometimes it seems hopeless. people choose to be ignorant.

[@digitalperson108]

Control of and for the weak.

[@daragildea7434]

And you're not ignorant of the fact that your lifestyle is contributing to the destruction of the Earth, are you?

[@digitalperson108]

Dara Gildea my lifestyle? What do you know of it? Nothing. Furthermore. Why cannot destroy the earth. We can only make it less habitual for US. It will be here long after humans.

[@daragildea7434]

@@digitalperson108 Ignorant nonsense. EVERYBODY's lifestyles is destroying the Earth, that's a FACT. 60% of all the wildlife on the planet has been annihilated by humans in the past 50 years, that's also a FACT, you ignoramus.

[@digitalperson108]

Dara Gildea And I thought all the name calling and shouting down was on the political feeds. I bet you are fun at parties. So....lemme guess...you live completely off grid in a wigwam, living off the earth...generating no excess carbon...no pollution...in perfect harmony with mother earth. Yet...here you are on boobtoob, which if you walked your own talk...you would have no access to. What are you doing to change it, besides railing at people here on boobtoob? Just sit down and stfu up you pontificating hypocrite.

[@hughgraham6587]

A fitting tribute to a woman ahead of her time, by a critical and empowering woman, also ahead of her time. Intellectually stimulating.

[@helenweatherby1694]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Every word echoes with my feelings and thoughts.

[@chriswales1952]

My late mother, who was baptised Church of England, but totally non religious, became a Roman Catholic in her 70’s. I asked my sister why on earth she did this. She replied withTwo words “Death Awareness”. I was more than a little surprised, but glad, that she reverted to her true “faith” in her final days. When the Father came to visit and comfort her she told him to F**k off. I had never heard my mother swear before in my life. Priceless.

[@MsPokey1234]

As a Atheist ~ I have no problem with treating people ~ how I would like to be treated!

[@al2642]

Cold, hard reason makes us softer... a beautiful sentence that makes us think about the misconceptions regarding WHAT makes us humans, usually considered to be the instincts of the mammals and the reactions of the lizards within us.

[@maralvor]

Alfio Rosario Di Mauro Interesting-but ignores completely the fact that there is a complete lack of morality in the animal kingdom!

[@al2642]

@@maralvor on the contrary, I think the statement means that we make morality, or should make it, by using cold reasoning, hopefully selecting only the bits of instinct that we, with reason, understand to be the ones that give more happiness to the most consciousnesses.

[@stevious7278]

I would suggest that cold, hard reason, without being somewhat moderated by emotion, can be a very dangerous beast. Reason without empathy too easily leads down the road of eugenics and genocide. Isn't it our ability to empathize that elevates us from the mud?

[@al2642]

@@stevious7278 agree. But empathy is the one.

[@al2642]

@@stevious7278 do not mix eugenetics and genocide. There is nothing wrong with eugenetics. It can be done right

[@briancampbell8449]

A funny, true story. This was told to me by an ex-girlfriend's father. Set in the 1980s in Derbyshire. When she was at that age, she wanted to join the local guides with her friends. It was affiliated to a local Anglican Church, held in the church hall. When his wife enquired about her daughter joining, she was informed there was a weekly dues for the guide troop spent on activities etc. Also, that not only did the family have to attend a church, but it had to be an anglican church. There was a 2nd option where they could join the church by registering for 'Freewill Offering' envelopes and paying into the church. Attendance didn't matter. Not being religious, they decided on option 2. For years her father sent her to guides every week with the little envelope with thirty 1 pence pieces in it. He told me he'd wished that pennies were silver at the time. I wonder if they ever got the irony? Bums on sets or flowing coffers? I suppose they didn't have enough faith in the former option.

[@matthewmitchell4666]

You are correct - that was wrong, they should have insisted they go to church.

[@briancampbell8449]

@@matthewmitchell4666 But for what purpose?

[@tomthomassony8607]

This is the game we all play. We don’t want our children to ‘miss out’ or not be with their friends so adhere to society’s mumbo-jumbo. And then history keeps repeating itself so frightened people can hang on to power.

[@iandoughty7142]

Your talking shite. I wouldn't go to your Church. Knobby.

[@JamesSmith-kt3bi]

What a thoughtful, considerate, and kind human being, willing to be vulnerable with her inevitable contradictions for the benefit of others. As a self-confessed secular humanist and Buddhist who loves ritual, I am moved to respond. As I stand in front of the shrine, rejoicing in my own and everyone’s potential to liberate from the unnecessary suffering of the contradictions arsing from the fixed views of themselves and the universe, I bow in kindly mindful practice (and it is a practice not an injunction to believe) to rejoice in the universal values of doing no-harm, of not taking the not given, not engaging in sexual misconduct, harmful speech and intoxicants. All this ethical practice and not a single deity in the room, just a plaster cast Buddha avatar as an inspiration to express my fullest human potential, to give over to an aspiration greater than myself and, at least in the moment, let go of the burden of the delusion of an eternal me. May all beings, without exception, be well be free from the unnecessary suffering of fixed views and find peace.

[@kmac499]

I've often thought what would happen if the Sec of State for Education said "By all means you can have faith schools; But you cannot have single faith schools".

[@richardh8082]

Alice, you WILL be the first Humanist contributor to BBC Radio4's Thought for the Day! :)

[@chriscavanagh1347]

Eloquent, confident, on point. A worthy successor of the leadership. And made me really keen to research Margaret Knight further.

[@WritewheelUK]

I'm in my dotage. I was born in 1946 into a UK that more or less demanded conformity with regards religion. It's remarkable that we complained about other restrictions, but not the one with the handcuffs. Neither of my parents were religious, but I went to Sunday school because my friends id. The cultured, friendly, generous Miss Thomson was the best advert for atheism for a young kid and she believed everything in her version of the bible, even the conflicts. I'm embarrassed at how much we baited her. School services were led by our nasty, vicious head who believed what he said. Yet he was the devil. Then the swinging 60s and the knowledge that just because you were older, it did not mean you knew everything. I became anti-war and more or less an atheist. I wish there was an active organisation to help in those days but one risked being ostracised. I didn't know about Margaret Knight 's broadcast - before even my time - so I felt a bit marginalised. There were few books on the subject, but the one or two bits irregularly on TV helped. In the end, though, it didn't matter. Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens more or less, ironically, confirmed my point of view. As regards brother Peter, I feel, in a small way, sorry for him. Compare Christopher's Wiki page in content and sheer size to that of Peter's. Not only that, brother Perter's page has a prominent image of Christopher. That's got to hurt. Not only that, compare manner and, dare I say humanity of the two. No wonder he's a critic of Wiki. I've known nasty people who are not religious and nasty people who are. I've never met a humanist who has not given their stance a great deal of thought. Shame I can't say the same about religionists. So thanks, Alice, Dawkins, C. Hitchens and the plethora of others who have/had access to mass media and given people like me, who felt a bit marginalised, a feeling that I fit in. And, just in case I haven't made myself clear, religion should be taught in schools, including Thor, Cargo Cults and even Sun worship (the last at least has logic on its side) but religions must be kept away from running them, from deciding who is allowed in, and the subtle indoctrination of vulnerable children for one religion and against all other beliefs.

[@johnlawrence2757]

Harvey Yates: 74 and in your dotage? Hmmm... maybe. You don’t write like you are, I must say, spelling, vocabulary, syntax all holding up well!!! I was born on the last day of the blitz and I don’t consider myself to be in my dotage. When I was your age I climbed the first half of the Everest Base Camp Trek, reaching Tyanboche at 3,900 metres. This year I climbed the rock of Gibraltar and back down again: here’s the video I made: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6W9YWyEjJKbf9E Why don’t you nip down and have a look for yourself?

[@johnlawrence2757]

Jayne Kennedy I’m not atheist, I’m a yogi, healthy, sharp and productive There is no sense in atheism it’s wrong on every level. That’s why you are so bad-tempered: it’s so uncomfortable being wrong all the time

[@richpalm616]

Alice I have followed you on your various archeology/anthropology presentations and stumbled on this lecture. Thank you so much, I shall be sharing this with my friends, yes friends that want me to be like them, but I couldn’t explain why I couldn’t embrace their need for me to love their religion. This will help me. Again thanks

[@mikejurassic]

Simply the best youtube I've watched since Julia Gillard's mysogny speech in Austrailia -

[@Longtack55]

Julia's was a beauty maaaate!

[@iainrae6159]

As Lowell George sang, I see Alice in every headlight ....Dallas Alice ' Beautiful, articulate, inspirational girl.

[@crawford1083]

You know when you're on the correct side of an argument when you have that nauseating less worthwhile Hitchens brother against you. Peter (S)Hitchens only purpose is to remind us how missed is Christopher and how public life is lessened by his absence.

[@crawford1083]

@Billy McCarthy I cannot abide Gorgeous George but he did tear strips off Shitchens.

[@crawford1083]

@@jessebryant9233 The entire body of Charles Darwin's research, I would use, to debunk bullshit religion. And the work of far better minds than Peter Shitchens, not least his superior and late brother Christopher and the eponymous Richard Dawkins after whom the talk was named. You brainless nark. Jesse is a slang term for a girl in Ireland and Scotland apparently. Apt for you YFSC

[@godislove8740]

@@crawford1083 hilarious. Darwin didn't believe himself😂. For a few fact checks try Charlie was wrong on FB. I'm missing the link.

[@godislove8740]

@@crawford1083 also....what's Darwin's book called? 😷

[@DEEJAYWAL]

Ah, yes, that well known atheist Hitler who introduced belt buckles with the phrase “Gott Mitt Uns” (God With Us), said in Mein Kampf that in fighting Jews he was doing the Lord’s work, and claimed to have stamped out atheism in Germany. “He quarrelled with the Pope!” - Peter Hitchens. Okay, Pete, that’s a clincher. Either you’re an atheist or a loyal follower of the Pope. There are no other options.

[@deckiedeckie]

Morals W/O religion is better than what we have now....Religion W/O morals!!...jejejejeje

[@vylbird8014]

It's worse than that: It's religion with conviction. No person is so dangerous as a person who has real conviction that they are a good person, doing the right thing. If their confidence in the nobility of their cause is strong enough, there is nothing that cannot be justified to advance it.

[@brendanpmaclean]

dread true I’m an atheist. You say I have conviction in nothing and yet you don’t know me. Please explain.

[@brendanpmaclean]

dread true You know nothing about me.

[@gazza595]

@dread true Interesting level of obtuse ignorance from a theist. Typically attempting idiotic "deep" comment. Shows you to be a genuine fool.

[@brendanpmaclean]

dread true Are you still puking out your bullshit? Any more pearls of wisdom you want to share with the world? Any danger of a proper discussion or will you remain in the ‘worst advert for Christianity’ ever section?

[@venkatadrinarayanan2693]

Madam,I m from India.and I consider dawkuns and yourself as my brother and sister.god bless you both..you have given such a wonderful lecture..like dawkins.

[@MeMyself-jz9ms]

Alice Roberts closing sentence about Margaret Night: “Her most dangerous idea then and now, was and is that ordinary people might dare to think for themselves.” 👏 👏👏👏👏👏

[@tedblowers9400]

I cant believe that Peter Hitchens would have the cheek to talk such tripe when his brother Christopher had it so right and an intellect to almost worship. We miss him.

[@andybeans5790]

The two really were chalk and cheese, I find it quite unsettling to hear such ultra-conservative tripe in a voice so similar to Christopher's

[@1man1bike1road]

they were on opposite sides of the debate on whether the catholic church is a force for good

[@kingsman428]

@Tim Webb Don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't drive, don't mountain climb, don't sky dive in fact, don't do anything with risk. Of course he had common sense but like all humans he ignored the risk and assumed it wouldn't happen to him.

[@tedblowers9400]

@Tim Webb You cant say he didn't have common sense, I think like most of us he did many things in life, that at some time he wished he hadn't, Like smoking and drinking maybe to excess. Very difficult in the circles he moved particularly being a writer with his intellect and keen wit. I would imagine that he quit smoking when he got the diagnosis but it would have been to late anyway.

[@kingsman428]

@Tim Webb *"...the blackness of darkness forever..."* Yep and that same ending awaits you too. Difference being, you didn't have the *common sense* to not waste what precious little life there is on a load of piffle making you just another *tragic individual* *"...his just reward..."* Another vile Christian deciding another's death is justified because he held differing beliefs. I would take the honesty, the courage and humanity of Hitchens over the beliefs of some snivelling Christian trying to worm his way into Heaven. See you in the *blackness of darkness* because it's where we all go, our atoms return to where they came from, the mighty Cosmos.

[@oskarfabian5200]

Wow, I appreciate the fact that Czechia is an atheist secular nation even more.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Czechia also outright oppose the EU’s migration pact along with Hungary and Poland. They must be smart.

[@johndaly1799]

Enjoyed the subject and its presentation. Thank you.

[@adrianemerson]

Excellent lecture verbalising perfectly my own views on this subject. Thank you Alice 😃

[@teodorapetranova3266]

Many thanks for this lecture - and for expressing the concerns of many, many, many parents who have to put us with the religiously minded schools where they need to send their children. If non-believers were a bit more active and demanding as citizens, there would be not so many faith schools, no religious representative in the Lords, no faith-fueled claims and comments in various media against thinkers... 🐝🌸🍬

[@cassieoz1702]

I watched Bronowski's Ascent Of Man as a teenager in the 70s and bought the series on DVD some years ago. It still buoys me

[@stubdo16]

The book of that Bronowksi series got left to me when my grandfather passed away. Great book.

[@kenmann7626]

Thank you Proff Alice - simply brilliant!

[@DEEJAYWAL]

No surprise that Peter Hitchens tried to stir things up by asking a question that had already been answered. He also asked "Why do the atheist buses tell us to stop worrying?". I can't believe he didn't do the basic research to find out those buses were a response to another bus ad campaign that threatened unbelievers with Hell.

[@Longtack55]

Yeah, who needs a religion that wants us to live in fear?

[@thedougal9244]

Good for you. I'm living in the West of Scotland. I've always lived by morals over religion.

[@alangaillard2988]

Anyone who has a serious look, cannot avoid the conclusion that Religion is without Morals.

[@Seekerofknowledges]

Thank you Dr Alice Roberts

[@vgrof2315]

Wonderful. Bravo!!

[@margarethayes7474]

Hello Alice, Wonderful introduction to a debate, amongst, very old people like me, who have thought these thoughts forever. You must know, before anyone, what this " new ( not new) reasoning entails. Not only is it going against the " perceived establishment, but it is going against the common man, and what he has been lead to believe. This is the main area that you should address, not the big high ups that feel so comfortable in their skins that you, or anyone else, are going to mess that up for them. They probably already know this anyway and love to put someone like you down, protecting their own status quo. apologies for my English and spelling, but there you go, doesn't mean I don't think and understand. What I can say is, your fight is going to be long and I applaud you for taking the time on behalf of humanity. It's about time we, as sentient beings, woke up and, as my father used to say, read the patterns on the wallpaper. You obviously know, but I will remind you, how long it took for Cromwell to bring in the ideas that where, very slowly, marching across Europe. He made England, in the process, a whole lot richer. Unfortunately he lost his head, but that was a different matter. All I'm saying is, keep up the good work, but know it's going to take a long time. People, on the whole, don't like change. They're frightened of it. Don't let anything frighten you though. From a 73 year old lady who's brought up her children and grandchildren with the ethics you espouse. WELL DONE!

[@riebell1680]

Go Alice. Brilliant. You are making a huge difference.

[@capitalb5889]

Plenty of those that attacked Roberts will have no religious beliefs themselves, but simply have a conservative outlook and don't like anyone that takes aim at it.

[@hareecionelson5875]

I'm baffled that we have 'faith' schools in 2020, but also that they still take it seriously. *unintelligible noises of disbelief*

[@Johlibaptist]

Unintelligible noises of disbelief, well that's a good definition of some forms of humanism that were spread by French students during the 1960s.

[@hareecionelson5875]

​@@Johlibaptist Whether the arguments for humanism are solid or not, it doesn't mean religion is good enough to fill the gap. Whether morality is subjective or objective, the Abrahamic faiths are no help at all.

[@alansimmons9621]

Yes, My wife and I were faced with the primary school dilema. Our local school was a CofE affiliated school and to be assured of a place for our son you needed the approval of the local vicar. It was a good school and my wife was a pagan (don't ask) and I am an atheist. So we had to pretend to be good Christians and attend church for six long months. This is a state funded school and yet I had to have a signature of the vicar. I think he knew we were not Christians but he went along with the charade. I begrudge the church forcing me to give up my Sundays to get my son into a school that my taxes pay for.

[@marktyler3381]

CofE churches are full of people doing just as you did. It is outrageous that a vicar of all people has this power.

[@johnroesch2159]

Why did you not just home school them? A pathetic English atheist married to a witch. Church of England Schools are not as good as Catholic Schools. You make a decision and act like a charlatan and then begrudge the Church of England for getting your lazy ass out of bed on Sunday morning. How pathetic an Englishman are you!

[@matthewmitchell4666]

Church goers pay taxes too - thus they are entitled to receive the same tax support as parents of athiest children, that is why their schools also get government support. If there are no good non-church schools why don't you put your energy into creating one instead of taking advantage of a school created by a Christian community and then moaning about it. With all the time and energy that went to anti-Christian public lectures like this you probably could have done it by now. Would you rather they close it down? No -- you just want to be able to take advantage of something a community of Christian built, and not have to feel bad about being a liar.

[@misererenobis8900]

CREDO in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.

[@marktyler3381]

@@matthewmitchell4666 Again, I don't think you understand the situation in the UK. CofE schools are not superior because of the faith aspect, but because they are allowed to be selective. There are schools in my town where 95% of students have English as a 2nd language, I would not want to send my kid there, because his education would be in hold until his classmates learnt English. Churches in the UK would be entirely derelict if it wasn't for this bullshit game.

[@bristolfashion4421]

Like your patient & reasonable tone - I will support your ambition to do TFTD :-) Trouble with religious believers is the colossal effort required to stick to believing in any type of god leads to an equally large reluctance to abandon the construct! They have my sympathy, bless 'em! We humanists, on the other hand, can relax and get on with behaving nicely and being reasonable! Easy-Peasy!

[@rush2112andahalf]

Lets hope this enlightened amicable intelligent hard working humane person becomes Prime Minister of the UK one day. Imagine, someone who knows what they are talking about as Prime Minister. Once you get over her beauty and adorable english accent ( I had a crush I eventually got over, reality set in ) and actually start listening to her without bias , watching her TV programmes and reading her books, you realise what a gem the world has here. And nothing but sense she speaks.

[@paulpugh5315]

Thank you Dr Alice Roberts for putting your head above the parapit. .....

[@Jesuslovesus599]

Alice is wonderful and should be free to speak as she wishes. But God is real and Jesus abides in heaven waiting for you. Whrn you pass you wil be offered a place with Jesus. If you continue to disbelieve you will be cast into darkness. I have had visions off this.

[@mauricecasey5556]

@@Jesuslovesus599 You are the disbeliever - in reality. WAKE UP!

[@jackthebassman1]

a nader Yawn, the same old threat - believe in something for which there is not a shred of evidence or I'll send you to get barbequed. Sorry old bean, such silly threats don't work on rational people, there's nothing to be scared of. Also a "god" that says worship me or ELSE is such a corrupt, vile and completely immoral.

[@HondoTrailside]

Yeah nothing says courage like white privilege bashing religion to keep on the side of the majority.

[@jackthebassman1]

a nader Lay off the vodka

[@ElrohirGuitar]

I am surprised at how similar this is to the attitudes through time in the USA. Some people just seem to need to have another tell them what to think and believe. That is a concept very difficult for some of us to understand.

[@tomthomassony8607]

You can now hold a cigarette paper between the ideology of the Taliban and the Republican Party.

[@Hollis_has_questions]

It’s not a lack of faith, it’s the freedoms: from faith, from indoctrination, from ingrained hatreds. It’s not godless, it’s godFREE. I neither lack nor am I less. I am free. How about you?

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

To quote John Inman, 'I'm free'.

[@Barbreck1]

Beautifully put, Hollis.

[@revolvermaster4939]

Think you’re confusing spirituality with religion. Religion is man made and corrupt.

[@Hollis_has_questions]

@@revolvermaster4939 I just checked my trusty Merriam-Webster, and here’s what it says about “spirituality”: “something that in ecclesiastical law belongs to the church or to a cleric as such; CLERGY; sensitivity or attachment to religious values; the quality or state of being spiritual,” and when I looked up “spiritual,” here’s what it said: “of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : INCORPOREAL//spiritual needs; of or relating to sacred matters//spiritual songs; ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal//spiritual authority//lords spiritual; concerned with religious values; related or joined in spirit//our spiritual home//his spiritual heir; of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena; of, relating to, or involving spiritualism.” So basically, spirituality is a concept invented by and totally belonging to the church. I reject (1) religion, (2) spirituality, and (3) love as a cure-all for what ails us. IMO the world would be a better place if we all respected each other. I don’t need you to love me, and I don’t need to love you, etc. All I’m asking for is a little respect. The same respect that I give to you.

[@revolvermaster4939]

@@Hollis_has_questions I don’t need anyone to read the dictionary to me. One can have a spiritual life with ZERO connection to man made religion!

[@louiserose2609]

At the age of 7 I didn't believe in God, Jesus and all that was taught to me! Luckily my parents allowed me to stop going to church when I asked to stop. When 10 yrs old I was one out 4 other children that didn't go to religious instruction once a week in the whole middle school... this was a public school! The other 4 were foreigners from India, Japan and Pakistan...I cleaned the art cart that traveled from classroom to classroom which I enjoyed instead of just sitting in a classroom with teacher whom seemed pissed she had to watch us. I couldn't help but feel sorry for all the children that went to religious instructions unable to choose...I knew the difference between right and wrong also possess empathy which is so much important than anything taught in religious instructions!!!! Thank you for your courage against the religious bullies that fear others who think for themselves! Thank you truly 💗

[@louiserose2609]

@KTTGHMTJWYCBLAC Ha-ha-ha! LMAO 🤣

[@branscombeR]

Chose to watch this because I admire Professor Alice's TV documentaries and discovered ... I'm a humanist, too! I thought I was just an atheist. Subscribed. R (Australia)

[@royarnold1901]

I have always thought Peter Hitchens was a pillock, now there is undisputed proof.

[@bulwinkle]

There are three primary schools in the town in which I dwell, one RC, one C of E and one Methodist. Not one secular.

[@retroonhisbikes]

I find reality unacceptable therefore I will believe in something that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside no matter how unreal it might be. = religion

[@angelamcentee1277]

That is not true faith.

[@gazza595]

@@angelamcentee1277 Faith = believing without evidence, pretty much what he said.

[@geraldlloyd9631]

I fully accept reality, and reality has to accept that there is a Creator. If I wanted to feel warm and fuzzy I think drugs may be a better choice. I choose God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and life is truly more than amazing! Love is real, life is real, pain (of all types) is real, peace is real no matter what happens. There are millions who can testify to this and some people choose to belittle them, but it doesn't change anything. The choice is up to each person, and each person must be sure they check this whole matter out carefully.

[@retroonhisbikes]

Gerald Lloyd how very sad

[@angelamcentee1277]

@@geraldlloyd9631 Amen.

[@stevencoffeen6684]

This whole doctrine extends well beyond morals and religion, but to much of what we do or are supposed to do and how we are supposed to think. If in the education system a basic method of teaching is adopted, which it is, then it makes the doctrine easier to teach and to control the educated, i.e. the children, the way we want them to think and believe and thus easier to control later on. I had frequently found myself as the wrong cog in the wheel where challenging the prevailing dogma in the name of creativity was unaccepted. Fortunately, for me I continued pursuing a more creative way and through effort, and often more than I should have had to exert won over. So, thank you Professor Roberts for your lecture, which like so many of your other presentations opens minds to allow real thought to prevail.

[@jckensway2956]

I’m only a couple of minutes in but Ms. Roberts description of that big ol’ church, the smells, the sound, and the community evoked memories of my own much smaller village church where for me the selfsame experiences and sensations occurred. But more than anything else it reinforces my contention that it’s 2,000 years of spin that has left Christianity where it is today, a pervasive, often divisive movement that has accumulated a wealth of experiences , sensations, testimonies and claims that individually amount to not very much but when rolled into and rolled along BY that Christian spin becomes a thing that can seduce and overwhelm the gullible and feeble-minded.

[@secretsquirrel6124]

it should be law that no religious instruction be taught until we reach the age of 18

[@robertweissman4850]

So what religious instruction would you be thinking of, particularly? And why is 18 the best time to start, do you think?

[@userwl2850]

I'm surprised she was 15 before she binned religion. The first page of the buy-bull is enough to convince anybody is nonsense. I'm 55 and grew up glued to sir David Attenborough and that made me question God from 6 or 7 years old.

[@DeviantDeveloper]

All depends on your environment doesn't it. I don't remember Attenborough even mentioning religion on TV. Having said that I wasn't confirmed, I always found church boring and stopped going as soon as my parents would let me.

[@claudiaxander]

Richard Dawkins was religious till at least 13! So it doesn't have to mean anything. Personally i have never understood the desire for a supernatural anything, but i guess that's just my inherently distrustful nature. I can only relate to Diogenes the cynic!

[@unstoppableExodia]

The Deviant Developer IDW Podcast it sure does depend on environment. I began questioning religion at a young age but only because I happened to emigrate to a secular country away from my religious extended family. Also my mother didn't baptize me so that helped. But not everybody is that fortunate. Some come from stiflingly religious homes where they have to completely move out before they can start asking some genuine questions. The fear of going to hell can be quite intimidating and not an easy thing to get past.

[@unstoppableExodia]

Stefano Portoghesi yes the effects of religious indoctrination can be scarring much like the effects of war. My grandparents certainly instilled the myth of god into my mind as a young child. Learning about the mythologies of Ancient Greece, Rome etc in my new country was helpful as it helped me piece together the truth. Learning that ancient cultures were just as afraid of their gods as people of the present were of _the god_ helped me to ask myself "if peoples of ancient times were fooled into worshipping gods we know to be false then how do we we know _god_ isn't also fake? At the time it felt like I was grappling with something huge only to discover plenty had wondered that but not many questioned it openly

[@Jesuslovesus599]

God is real. Jesus is waiting for you. That's it

[@andrewmartin6445]

The claim that Christians don't believe in the devil any more is simply untrue. It is impossible to be a Christian without believing in the devil.

[@rodshop5897]

And yet, some Christians don't believe in the devil. Are you planning to pull a "no true Scotsman" fallacy now?

[@godislove8740]

@Phillip Scott lol. What do you think about gays, blacks, media and tar brushes? All good or all bad?

[@godislove8740]

@Phillip Scott you don't get it. That's not my issue. Christ wasn't a Christian. I heard Christian is Roman slang for cretin. You have to learn how to read the Bible and philosophy too. It starts with a modicum of objectivity. I don't attend church and I don't care for Darwin or eugenics. 😊

[@scoots8519]

Gotta have the devil to scare the money out of the faithful.

[@julianwilliams9088]

This is completely false I was brought up in a Christian religion that didn't believe in the devil. They believe that the original word just means adversarie and that mainstream Christianity adopted the idea of the devil from paganism.

[@rufuselliot3725]

How innteresting to find such information on Margaret Knight. As a student of psychology , Aberdeen 68 - 71, I knew none of this. Anyway, thankyou Alice for the lecture

[@RLeaguer_Saint]

Absolutely wonderful. A joy to listen to this for some many reasons. A new hero.

[@fakshen1973]

We teach religion but we don't teach empathy. Funny how that is.

[@SurajSharma-pv3di]

Empathy is not something that you teach people.

[@koshersalaami]

Depends on the religion and religious organization

[@koshersalaami]

The problem with empathy in this context is that it’s a feeling, not an action. Feelings are not generally voluntary.

[@cuscof2]

@@SurajSharma-pv3di Nonsense. My parents did it very easily, having me visualize what it would be like to be the ant that I had just burned with my magnifying glass or the spider that I tried to poison with my concoction of kitchen chemicals. Worked very well.

[@ohiostate4515]

Empathy can only be recognized as good when you acknowledge that God exists.

[@ChicagoTurtle1]

Wait. Humanism is against dogma. So we shouldn’t take a dogmatic interpretation of communism simplistically, adopting the view of the ‘red scare’ era, narrowly defining real communism, as late Stalinism.

[@stephenmason5682]

It's best to not do isms at all?

[@ChicagoTurtle1]

@@stephenmason5682. I’m not sure if you know this but she is the leading face of Humanism in the UK, an organization based on the humanist ideology. I also consider myself to be the same. Let’s pretend that’s not basic fact - how is it that your suggestion to not discuss “-isms” applicable to me and not to her? Do you see the incongruity here? And I guess you don’t believe in free speech too.

[@stephenmason5682]

@@ChicagoTurtle1 of course I know?

[@chrisc9755]

She is quoting an historical document that is critical of what Left leaning apologists for Stalin described as the "actually existing" Communism of its time. I'm a humanist and I agree with a lot of Marxist thinking, but it's undeniable that historical Communism has been antithetical to the rights of individuals. Humanists can accept the need to take collective and cooperative action. But not at the expensive of Lenin's "dictatorship of the masses" which sent any dissenters to the Gulags. Communism is generally very authoritarian. Unlike the Liberal and social democratic forms of government. The biggest weakness of Communists and other leftists is that they haven't worked out how to harness entrepreneurship as a valuable form of Labour, and to recognise the value of entrepreneurs as workers rather than exploiters. A humanist take on Communism is entirely possible.

[@ChicagoTurtle1]

@@chrisc9755 Actually this video is not about any of that at all. She just had a tangent and took an opportunity to smear the critical left. It’s a typical pro-establishment, British, Cold War era smear - aka political dogmatism. Humanism doesn’t (and shouldn’t) have such hostile dogmatism done in one broad stroke. Also, what you are describing is not real communism. You’re describing nation states that took on the name of communism because of the name - communist party. It’s unfair of you. And you are willfully or ignorantly dismissing communism by saying it’s something else. There’s much more to point out about what you wrote but I’ll stop here.