Why do religious believers hate reality so much?

Recorded in the Keynes Library of Cambridge University on Jan 10th 2018.
If you like what I do, please consider becoming a patron.
/ aronra
This presentation was given at Skeptics in the Pub gatherings in Reykjavik, Amsterdam, Cambridge and London.

[@radiatorbacon5239]

The last time someone asked me "Were you there?" I said "Yes." And it went on as "No you weren't!" and I said "Yes I was." And then I eventually said that they couldn't prove I wasn't because they weren't there.

[@Roxor128]

That sounds like it would have been funny to watch.

[@radiatorbacon5239]

Yeah. Then I got called a satan worshipper...

[@Roxor128]

What is with these idiots? If I don't believe their god exists, why would I believe their boogeyman does? It just doesn't follow.

[@乙-f1s]

Yeah, i use that sometimes myself. kinda hilarious to pull the same shit they do. "I was there, and that;s not what happened!" "No you weren't." Prove i wasn't." fun :)

[@seider780]

Roxor128 because the retarded bible sais that you either worship god or Satan. You worship god by playing life with his rules and you worship Satan by just living a normal “worldly” life. I choose Satan

[@karlrschneider]

Science asks questions that may never be answered; religion preaches answers that may never be questioned.

[@logikylearguments6852]

Trademark that shit lol

[@matthew_natividad]

Now that is eye opening

[@davidsmith4416]

Make t-shirts with that on it.

[@jadavis7235]

LMAO. "Science" is an inanimate, immaterial, abstract concept that doesn't do any such thing. Reification logical fallacy.

[@willgeorge5644]

I also see this, the more we find out, the deeper we get, the more we see that there is to know, I don't think the human mind is capable of understanding what there was without the big bang. I have listened to all I can find on it, some of the top people explaining how it can come from nothing, with no outside cause, but they start with space/time existing. Science has all knowledge, but we are still far from understanding all science.

[@pellythirteen5654]

Take away healthcare , medicine and surgery from the believers and see how their God saves them.

[@mikepondo2549]

Ease give us more science.

[@gottgainz6477]

@Back25unday I can't tell if that other guy is trolling 😂

[@gottgainz6477]

@@queenisrael8158 what is God?

[@GabS-o1m]

Diane Athey Personal experiences and testimonies do not count as evidence unless they can be be verified. Many people have claimed to witness several things, should we automatically believe them? How can you determine that it is a true story? Because it gives you the feels and aligns with your belief system? That’s great and all, but if you’re trying to convince people of its validity, then a KZbin video about someone’s personal experience isn’t going to convince anyone. This person may have seen hell, but we cannot truly know and should never say we do. There could be a different explanation for his experience. Truth is what we can demonstrate to be true and factual. I can tell everyone that I witnessed a pink unicorn, but you should never believe me unless I am able to truly convince you of that claim. There could be many explanations that haven’t been verified yet, but we should never jump to impossible, supernatural conclusions in order to make up for it. The fact that everyone has different experiences according to their beliefs, shows that just stating claims isn’t reliable. This person may have seen their version of hell, but someone could claim that it’s completely different from that. Who should we believe? Also, any god that creates a hell for those who don’t believe, worship, or love him is petty and corrupt. Not worth following in my opinion.

[@t.c.g.thecentregod2809]

@@queenisrael8158..... How do u stay so nice and sound so psychotic?

[@RustyNickels]

Remember when Homer Simpson got smart and disproved god and made flyers about it, then Ned Flanders saw one, realized it was true, then destroyed it so he could remain religious? Yeah...

[@p.bamygdala2139]

The Simpsons were frikken brilliant... back when they were.

[@mensetens6391]

@David Parry _That cartoon described the Reformation and the Enlightenment_ Ah, well, that figures...you don't know history, either.

[@mensetens6391]

@David Parry Again, no argument, no evidence, no logic, no reason, no details, no explanation, no thought. No worries about what you say, then. Have fun, my Lord Vacuous.

[@mensetens6391]

@David Parry Imagine a David Perry who knew history. It wasn't 'questioning religious orthodoxy' (which orthodoxy? There are quite a number of them) that gained us 'a useable understanding of how reality works' (what do you mean, 'reality'?) We've had quite a 'usable' understanding ever since Aristotle, and the Church added to that. What you probably mean is the modern sciences, whose only advantage over the medieval Schoolmen is their measuring instruments' precision. The logic, use of evidence, and organization of interpretation passed directly to the sciences from the Church. _comparing it to the nonsense written in some 'bible' by ignorant peasants_ not that you showed that this is actually true, I note. _find reality is the only truth_ If you read the Bible, you'll find that you are agreeing with it on this. _and the bible is clearly wrong_ Again, you seem to leave out all that evidence that you appear to believe in, O man of faith. _even going so far as to allow us to make machines that allow us to discuss these very points down a wire and via satellite links through space._ Yes, the sciences are very useful. Limited, but useful in their way. _Imagine rejecting reality and clinging to the 'bible' instead_ One would have to imagine it, since it does not happen. your enthymeme has led you to a Hasty Generalization fallacy. _But you don't have to imagine that, do you MeE?_ No, I see it every time you post. You cling to a false Bible so that you may criticise something, but you are clinging. Good luck with that.

[@mensetens6391]

@David Parry _Did you just invent the 'No true Scot's bible fallacy'?_ No, I showed that you cannot read, as you proved by that question. You don't allow yourself to think, either.

[@TheZeroNeonix]

What was the sin of Adam and Eve? They ate a fruit that granted them knowledge. The story of the Bible begins with knowledge as the enemy of God.

[@ExtantFrodo2]

“The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.” ― Benjamin Franklin

[@Roxor128]

Maybe we should start referring to the Bible as "The Big Book Of Anti-Intellectualism"?

[@12thdegreeninja64]

As a former Jew, and one well versed in the Torah, it has to do with knowledge of GOOD AND EVIL. As these were concepts, especially "evil" that God, in his perfect garden, didn't want his creations subjected to. Once man "knows" the evils of the world, he is susceptible to them. All that is b.s of course, but it's their way.

[@MegaChickenfish]

And keeps going throughout: Tower of Babel in a nutshell: God/A multitude of Gods depending on translation: Oh no, the humans are PEACEFULLY COEXISTING and WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL! If they keep this up... [and I quote...] "nothing will be impossible for them!" I'd better destroy it! *Who's the good guy in this story again?!*

[@albertrogers8537]

I suspect that there was a far better Babylonian precursor to that silly story. The deadly Knowledge was Carnal Knowledge, and they found that It Was Good! That's why they hid those bits from God. But they had learned to Multiply, which of course is God's fault anyway, and that's why everybody has to die. So the problem is Arithmetic, not Sin.

[@sovietbot6708]

When I was in 8th grade, I said Earth's revolution around the sun was elliptical, not a perfect circle. My answer was marked wrong. Yes, I'm still mad about that.

[@Vigamadur]

That's fucking stupid

[@kathleen5237]

Yes, it's an elliptical orbit

[@TheREALSimagination]

I've heard both that Earth is slightly egg-shaped, perfectly round, flat on the poles and eliptical. Now I just don't know. I've also heard it's flat but that I DO know.

[@resourcedragon]

Oooh! Your teacher was a fucktard. I don't blame you for being mad about that. You were right.

[@anikmonette2140]

What the actual fuck... 😯

[@MichaelVileleagueofintrigue]

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ~ Isaac Asimov

[@0x777]

Just recently I was informed (by someone who actually does think that way, too) that some people think that "science" is just some sort of arrogant way of believing stuff, and that "doing research" means you come up with some harebrained idea, put on a lab coat and tell it convincingly so people believe it. And whoever manages to convince the most people gets to teach his shit as reality. Kinda like thinking that reality is some sort of democratic system and what's "real" is simply what the majority believes is real.

[@mypetcrow9873]

Beautiful!

[@bsqwahlE]

I am finding it increasing difficult to tolerate the intolerance of Christians in the U.S.

[@KMRB951]

They don’t hate reality. They fear it.

[@starfishsystems]

The two emotions are different, but often causally related.

[@Conan-Le-Cimmerien]

Well fear leads to anger and anger to hate...

[@lupa9527]

Scared to face the void

[@KMRB951]

@@lupa9527 true. They really are.

[@diggie9598]

​@@Conan-Le-Cimmerien Fear does not necessarily lead to anger. If it does, that does not necessarily lead to hate. If it does lead to hate, it may not lead to hate against that which is feared.

[@charlesmcmillion5118]

If religious people could reason, they wouldn't be religious.

[@jasonhurley1293]

💝

[@longleaf1217]

I think that is the crux of it. i grew up in a religious household but pretty quickly gave up the faith after i moved out and went to college. point being, i can reason and it became clear once i was out of that environment that there is no god and that there is no need for god.

[@ministryofarguments3525]

Religious belief is an arational belief that is not based on or governed by logical reasoning. There are plenty of illogical theists in the world.

[@pattyb6003]

Yeah, like that Aristotle guy. What a schmuck! And don't get me started on Isaac Newton. Pfft. Differential calculus my arse!

[@antediluvianatheist5262]

@@pattyb6003 Yep. That's smart guys, totally failing to apply their reason to the problem of their own faith. Step 1 is faith. That's the problem. You only need faith, if you don't have reasons.

[@johnleone6193]

Brilliant. As a former fundamentalist minister, I can’t thank you enough for all you do.

[@johnleone6193]

LuthAMF I was trained at a Fundamental Baptist seminary in Pennsylvania and ordained in a conservative Evangelical church after I left the Fundamental Baptists. A few years later, I left Christianity altogether.

[@kenwilliams3208]

Good for you sir....!

[@albertrogers8537]

Idiot LuthAMF! what is there not to detest in the idea of torturing a good man to death? Ceremonial barbecue is what I believe animal sacrifice usually was. The sons of Eli made a good thing out of it, AND lay with the women who gathered at the front of the tabernacle. But I agree with Shaw's tale of the cannibal who thought the burning of Saint Joan and not eating her was wasteful.

[@SpirosPagiatakis]

Frank289100 is the caps lock key broken? You are a moron. Period.

[@wayneelliott1180]

John Leone - Good for you! Welcome home, mate, where the thinkers live.

[@Soggy_Cake]

The points he made towards the ending about existence had me tear up...Beautiful words, thank you

[@kentonbaird1723]

You might enjoy the fiction writing of the late Sir Terry Pratchett.

[@meeeee9407]

Every time you repeat a lie, those neurons grow stronger, eventually, ones own mind tricks people into believing things they once knew to be false, as true. Many believers, truly do believe the lies they spout. “One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” Carl Sagan

[@z.deutch1334]

That's how Trump supporters delude themselves.

[@meeeee9407]

Cameron Lorna Yes, and how many people delude themselves over many things. Like believing a certain dance will bring them rain, or just thinking about someone will make them call you, or wearing a special item of clothing will make their team win a game. People are superstitious, it is human nature, what is not natural is questioning your own beliefs, it takes practice and offers the rewards of being called cynical as well as infinite conflicts with naive and delusional people.

[@MegaChickenfish]

*No wonder they make you repeat the same crap every single church service HUNDREDS of times for DECADES until everyone sounds so monotone about it you'd swear they were zombies.* I could tell something was off for years but the sheer level of intricate brainwashing that goes into it makes you swear they were doing these things on purpose.

[@meeeee9407]

MegaChickenfish Exactly! Trump repeats his lies for the same reason, he may not have a high IQ or a good brain like he claims, but he is a genius at being a con artist and selling his lies. The people that buy his lies are the same ones being brainwashed at churches across the country.

[@0x777]

Big lies are easier to sell that small ones. Simply because nobody would expect anyone to have the balls to tell such a huge tale.

[@lexivorwartz685]

I’m very glad to have found this KZbinr, thank you for your insight. I came out as an atheist last year, and I’m not the best spoken person. But you’ve given me the right tools to explain to family, friends and those who are of faith why the evidence shows God doesn’t exist. It’s hard to explain something when believers have such an obnoxiously staunch fallacy, oftentimes speaking over me as they become more flustered with my answers.

[@eternaltruth1666]

Hey Lexi I find that Richard Carrier Ph.D. gives a great professional analysis on the rudimentary fundamentals of various circumstances that very likely disprove the bible as credible.

[@kangaroo1888]

Lexi Vorwartz if you are American its a brave act coming out be safe

[@johnlopperman2161]

Lexi Welcome to freedom luv.

[@JamesRichardWiley]

Ask god to appear if he is real and wants to have a relationship.

[@chrisstevens1156]

You have an impersonal worldview in which everything is determined by your evolutionary chemical interactions. You live in a deterministic world that is void of meaning, logic and purpose. This speaker is inconsistent because he is claiming truth in which in his world view, truth is relative. He claims absolute truth but ultimately, he can be certain of nothing. He is a man who is fighting for people to turn from God. The reason we call him a warlock is because he doesn't even realize satan is controlling him. This man worships the universe and had no value in a deterministic world

[@masonnickerson8541]

AronRa, I just wanted to say thank you so much for being such a driving force against ignorance and providing a "Flood" of Knowledge to others. Thank you sir, keep up the good work!

[@user-fy1nq3nf1q]

Mason Nickerson I love how he redpills people

[@masonnickerson8541]

Moment Of Faith. Yeah, he totally looks like a Zombie Jew, who wants us to blindly follow and hate our Families while also bringing the apocalypse to slaughter billions and throw them into the Lake of Fire. I can see the resemblance!

[@robw2327]

Mason... Please check out the science in my playlist. The Holy Dopamine Ghost kzbin.info/aero/PLQATeZAnm87BaJjBtM1vMIq_gHRmBq3ie

[@masonnickerson8541]

Moment Of Faith. Clearly, you have never read your Bible, through The Impossible Flood Myth, the Horror Stories of The OT and NT. The insane Rape Laws (Deut 22), you're blessed if you smash your Children with rocks (Psalm 139:9), and the horrid Revelation, where Yashua is going to come back and destroy anything and everything. Here's that verse when Yashua tells people to Hate their Families. Luke 14:26 ""If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple." I bet you don't even know the Ten Commandments.

[@masonnickerson8541]

Moment Of Faith. Can you tell me the Genealogy of Yashua? How about who provoked Israel and struck down 70,000 People in 2st Samuel 24 and 1st Chronicles 21:1? What was Yashua born in, a House or a Troff? Who was at Yashua's Tomb when he rose from the Dead, and why don't we have any records of the Roman Population rising from the Dead too? Who is Satan in your Mythical World, God's Anger, a random Thought, or a Rebellious Angel? Which is it? Why don't you follow all the instructions of Yashua and God to the letter? It is said in Romans 2:13 "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." But now that commences a whole mess of other problems and contradictions.

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

AronRa, the sledgehammer of reason!

[@theGADGETSplaylist]

Aron, what you do is extremely difficult. Anyone who's ever tried to reason with a believer would only have but a glimpse into that difficulty. You do this against "pros" in a public forum. You really have to be on top of your game to avoid the traps they're so capable of setting. But if you've freed but 1 mind, then your efforts are worthwhile. And my guess is that you've freed countless minds.

[@elwoodmayne6594]

logical canuck I’m so, really so fucking familiar with the feeling you just described 😕 discussing with believers is really a waste of time. Even if you state so many logical and proven facts. They just be like: yes, you are right, but I will still continue to follow my belief. I don’t understand, I really don’t understand how in the 21 century, some people are really still that narrow minded and brainwashed.

[@Ronnymikkonen2686]

Fantastic explanation. Thanks. When I was young I heard all about how discusting and bad the fallen world vas, how we have to endure this terrible pilgrimage and reject every pleasure because it was satan's temptations to us. The nonbelievers didn't have that problem because satan didn't wanted anybody to the truth. That's why he never bothered them. How come that the satan is only in the religious realm????. Religion really turn every thing upside down. Or should we call downside in to us. Greetings from Sweden Regina.

[@jacobkobald1753]

Here here!

[@Moosemansmithy]

@LuthAMF go ahead and send us a couple of examples

[@Moosemansmithy]

@LuthAMF so you're doing the Christian thing of not answering the question or proven your point but someone else is a hack? Like I said. Provide examples. All the sudden you seem to be acting like you have no examples.

[@mikekovacevic9337]

Been looking forward to this one. Once again Aronra knocks it out of the park

[@dw-fe2ww]

The Bible = "The Sheepherders Guide to the Universe"

[@WilbertLek]

@LuthAMF Your whining = not a counterargument.

[@TheREALSimagination]

That must be the grandest title I've ever heard.

[@TheREALSimagination]

@LuthAMF Idiocy has nothing to do with religion. Unless you're in Muslim-Land. It just means you don't know politics.

[@MrKit9]

@LuthAMF Spoken like a pridefully ignorant, lying dumbass!

[@poplionandrew5803]

Newspapers contain bacteria. Printing ink smelt like petroleum. Air produces sound -- no need to show evidence to prove its existence. Our eyes are unable to see the oxygen, but our lungs know its existence, so it is evidential fact.

[@xtscarfacem8255]

47:40 sooo true. When i finally accepted that there is no gods it gave me a different perspective of life. More calm and less worrying. But at the same time i feel i walk with brainwashed people.

[@paxmule]

You do (walk with brainwashed people).

[@Ronnymikkonen2686]

Me too! There was a point in my life too, enough for me! I couldn't cope with the narc anymore! Jesus and jahve! It's the most shitty thing. It takes years to recover.

[@Ronnymikkonen2686]

@Byron Kelly Good for you! A big help for me was to move, and, a lot of learning from KZbin. Aron, Marilyn Winell, and many more. Religion is a really shitty thing to your brain! It's damaging! Listen also to Darrell Ray here on KZbin! Best wishes to you!

[@robheusd]

The belief in imaginary deities, should better be called : a disbelief in reality.

[@catalyst3713]

Arealists.

[@rudra62]

Immediately before watching this, I was debating online with someone about conspiracy theories. This person understands the scientific method, concepts such as the burden of proof, how to form a hypothesis and test it, Occam's Razor, and all of that. However, is choosing to believe this impossible nonsense. Most of the first part applies to belief and believers in any unsupportable notion, especially the burden of proof, the "proof by verbosity" (AKA Gish Gallop), and realize they KNOW they're wrong.

[@andrewharper1609]

Also known as delusion.

[@rpk5568]

Oh that's easy. They have a terrible fear of reality. They have spent their whole life denying it and replacing it with a fairy tale. They're afraid of just about everything.

[@johnny50424]

wrong . that is what y\you atheists do. nice projecting you are doing.

[@33roses]

This was a masterful talk. It was literally like hearing the best poem, ever.

[@bigronnie9629]

, "If somewhere within the Bible, I were to find a passage that said 2 + 2 = 5, I wouldn't question what I'm reading in the Bible. I would believe it, accept it as true, and then do my best to work it out and understand it." - Pastor Peter LaRuffa You can't reason with the unreasonable.

[@gageblackwood8832]

Very true and although the bible writers didn't think that 2 + 2 = 5, they DID think that Pi = 3.

[@Nolongeraslave]

The LittleRock Clydesdale Sure. Nothing created something.

[@bigronnie9629]

Explain "nothing" and what created the creator?

[@bigronnie9629]

When has any scientist ever said nothing created something?

[@Nolongeraslave]

The LittleRock Clydesdale Biologist Richard.

[@WealthGiantAcademy]

You never let us down Aron. Your points are consistent and strong.

[@paradisecityX0]

Emperor Atheist The guys also an Atheism+ shill, a third-wave feminist, _and_ a Christ-myther. But he's an Atheist preacher so he must be right, no matter the crap that comes out of his mouth

[@WealthGiantAcademy]

If that's how you think. Thats your warped perception all by yourself.

[@paradisecityX0]

Emperor Atheist It's what l concluded based on what l observed of the condescending cynic for quite some time. I know your ideological but you don't have to defend a guy like that just bc he claims to be the arbiter of reason (this is a guy who thinks Carrier is credible). Ah well. Till next time, Emperor

[@WealthGiantAcademy]

I hear you. But him believing in the Christ-myth does not make him a bad guy. You called him a ''third wave'' feminist''?? Really? How did you come to that observation about him?

[@paradisecityX0]

Emperor Atheist You didn't know that? kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2G9k2yriM9qnNk The feminism was a pretty big part of the failed Atheism+

[@HeadGodoftheGodCouncil]

So, they need to see a fish become a reptile with their own eye. I want to see god create the universe with my own eyes, otherwise, I will not believe he created it.

[@seider780]

God exactly. Christians hate the “I believe in him when I see him” argument but they do the same thing lol.

[@HeadGodoftheGodCouncil]

Exactly, why should that argument only apply one way and not the other?

[@0x777]

God Sorry, don't believe you exist. :) And it's no problem to watch evolution in progress. All you have to do is choose a species that has a very fast reproduction cycle, produces a lot of offspring and put it under a lot of evolutionary pressure. To make it ethical, try a species that supposedly doesn't feel pain. Or at least that's not fluffy and cute.

[@0x777]

LuthAMF I have the impression that you expect a specific fish to turn into a specific ... whatever. I know that this strawman is common with religious to ridicule evolution, but this is akin to "so that wafer turns into god's flesh, eh? Then why does it still taste like bread"? What happens is that the offspring of anything living is slightly different than the predecessor. The traits that are beneficial in an environment will allow the ones to have that trait to survive, others will perish. Those that survive will have offspring. If the environment doesn't change, species don't change. You can actually test it yourself. Take a culture of bacteria and slowly, over the course of generations, change an environmental property. Make it hotter. Make it colder. If it wasn't so dangerous I'd say add antibiotics. Many will perish, those that happen to have had a mutation that is more beneficial for the new environment you created will multiply. THAT is evolution. Simple as that. It also happens in higher animals, but with generations that take months or even years and with literally millions of generations being required to actually see any relevant progress, you probably won't be alive anymore to see the outcome.

[@0x777]

You still don't get it, do you? A particular cell will not change, the descendants are where the change happens.

[@scottsmith2235]

We realize that if we help feed someone hungry--we just did something that God couldn’t and wouldn’t do.

[@elatedatheist]

Beautifully Said...

[@waltsnow1762]

.....science flies you to the Moon ......religion flies you into buildings.........

[@johnny50424]

wrong l.iar. man your dumb we never went to the moon. atheism kills billions. atheism promotes and defends everything evil.

[@Klee99zeno]

it is strange that people blame ALL religion for the crimes of Islamic terrorism. This would be no more rational than saying that politics is evil because politics causes wars. In fact only certain types of politics cause wars. There is only one religion that is committing acts of terrorism these days. There are no Christians performing suicide bombings.

[@waltsnow1762]

Sure hope you hear that popping sound SOON !!!!

[@waltsnow1762]

Go back to your Alex Jones show.........

[@69slide]

Those werent planes on 911

[@Whitewing89]

"Can you show me a fish turning into an amphibian" *Goggles mudskipper. here you go.

[@MrDigztheswagking]

Joshua Werner 😂😂😂

[@rubberlegs15]

B...b..b.but *gawd* made it like that. It ait no transitional form, its special just like *gawd* intended it to be! Hell he even gave some snakes these itty bitty legs that don't hit the floor, just so they could show off (Captain Dan, you got laygs!) I hear the angels are starting up a fine line line of designer nail polishes for manatees soon too, will keep you all posted when sky daddy lets me know!

[@MrDigztheswagking]

Glenn Carr 😂😂😂

[@SchiwiM]

Or search for Lungfish

[@TheDevian]

As well as the Walking Catfish, the Climbing Perch, and the Mangrove Rivulus. We also have the Mexican Spotted Handfish growing limbs, if not lungs. ...Oh, and I forgot to mention there are certain kinds of eel which are also able to breathe through their skin now.

[@FaterDestini]

i cant be religious if i wanted to, i dont have much of an imagination , im straightforward with reality, call it bad or good, i dont care

[@mycount64]

You cannot reason people out of something they did not reason into... People are not religious because it is factually true... they are part of it for social, cultural, economic, security, status, belonging etc.... they have to accept the hocus pocus woowoo to be a part and often even if they think otherwise the consequences of abandon are too much to face so they continue to go along. It is not until they live in a or have access to a community of people that accept differing opinions or beliefs (off to university, college or a multi-cultural community) that they are comfortable they can reject the untruth of the faith and still be accepted in a social group or not face being expelled from the group. So, this is a great well worn exercise in examining the facts it is not why people believe or do not believe.

[@akeem4772]

FAAALSE!!!!!!

[@АЛЕКСАНДРФИЛИПС-м6р]

Exactly

[@CayeDaws]

Outlaw creationism, home schooling, and religious schools and the whole issue of creationism would fade in a few generations.

[@richardlawson6787]

How true...that's why it's a cult...they scare their children with hell...and cram it down their throats...it's of course child abuse...

[@TheREALSimagination]

And some are part of it due to having experiences that other don't think are possible, and so are dismissed. But yes, I definitely think most people enjoy the cultural and social aspects of religious interminglement (it's fun making up words from time to time). Not really any of these types myself, but I get enough nagging from those who are to know that what I said is very often the case.

[@sefcakjames8254]

Using the concept of God as an emotional crutch is not a way to accept life as it is but to use it like a blanket to cover up things you don't want to see or know.

[@JamesRichardWiley]

The challenge is to turn fear into power without believing you have an imaginary friend you read about in an ancient book.

[@Skeptical_Numbat]

Y'know something he said towards the end about how horrible it would be to exist with an omniscient being reading your mind & judging all of your thoughts - that sounded _really_ familiar to me... Anyone who's a fan of *The Twilight Zone* would know that one of the best Horror episodes is called *"It's a Good Life"* (first shown in 1961) and stars a young Billy Mumy as a super-powered 6 year old child who has the power to read minds & warp reality. He's cut the entire town off from reality, forces everyone to obey his narcissistic whims on pain of disfigurement, or a kind of death: euphemistically stated as being "wished into the cornfield". Everyone is exhausted at constantly "thinking good thoughts". It's like a little corner of hell. It never occurred to me that there might be a subversive sub-text about the Judeo-Christian God, as a childish self-centered brat, who demands constant obedience to ridiculous, arbitrary rules (that don't reflect reality) and kills people for thinking "bad thoughts", or sometimes, just on a whim...

[@jimmyfool826]

Amazing Speech. 🎉

[@nadinewhite993]

Absolutely brilliant, an absolute joy to listen to.

[@stevenbaumann8692]

“Watching a fish how to salamander”. 😂 That is now mine! I’m glad you talked about this. I’ve thought it for years.

[@stevenbaumann8692]

Clade Starfish 😂👍🏻

[@adamc599]

The verb is "to salamand"; a salamander is one who salamands.

[@stevenbaumann8692]

OdinAlgeron we are also still rodents and reptiles and everything on our ancestral history.

[@stevenbaumann8692]

pi314159 I stand corrected

[@OdinAlgeron]

rodents are a separate mammal family

[@todbeard8118]

I'm almost disappointed I can't find a Christian comment on here to dispute but I guess they figured they'd get hammered.

[@knightclan4]

I used to believe in evolution and millions of years. I have a degree in science from LSU. Studied both zoology and geology. I really never heard any other theories concerning origins. I finally opened my mind to the possibility that maybe Jesus was real and was telling the truth. Understanding the difference between observational science and historical science lead me to see that your axiom tends to bias your worldview. Type in folded mountains in Google images and see the world wide evidence of folded sedimentary rock layers bent to the extreme that can only be explained by all the layers being soft at the same time. Remember the rocks are sedimentary not metamorphic. Uniformitarianism is not a viable theory with so many anomalies world wide. Any comments about that ?

[@trillmixin6999]

@@knightclan4 im sorry for your loss of grip on reality

[@TheREALSimagination]

I was gonna say Christians don't drink but then I recalled that mine and ... 3 other denominations keep to that guideline.

[@johnemerick5860]

The book of 1st John says: "do not love the world!", Yet God so loved the world that He died for it as Jesus? No double talk there...

[@TheREALSimagination]

He's talking about how his followers should do all the anti-God stuff that the world does.

[@MrKit9]

No evidence for god. No evidence for a Divine Jesus. No evidence that the Bible is true. What else do you have>

[@TheREALSimagination]

@@MrKit9 My testimony that I know that he, his divine son and Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are real beings who watch over us, guide us if we wish to follow their directions, and love us. I've had numerous experiences of this throughout my life that I cannot deny, and I myself am an example of this on a personal level from around the period I was born, among other instances. I'm not telling you this to convince you there is a godhood, because only the Holy Spirit can do that. You asked what else I had after I simply explained a point in the Bible that seemed to confuse the other comment, and I'm giving you my take. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.

[@ChaplainBobWalkerBTh]

God loved the perfect word he created before the fall that messed things up. not this present mess he does not love.

[@ChaplainBobWalkerBTh]

@Steve John 10:29 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

[@BFDT-4]

Excellent presentation. I recommended it to a friend!

[@BestBibleStories]

BFDT lame

[@j.j.1064]

This is so good. I wish I'd heard this 50 years ago.

[@markk3156]

Get a frog. Frogs are born like fish with gills and tails and no legs. Over their lifetime they develop limbs, lungs, and lose their tails. Evolution can be witnessed every day of every year. Frogs are functional at every larval stage. At one point they have gills, and at another point they have lungs, but who's to say which day it is a gill and which it should be called a lung.

[@АЛЕКСАНДРФИЛИПС-м6р]

Butterflies evolve but they deny that still. They don't call it evolution they call it transformation, a miracle of god.

[@sovietbot6708]

We can also see evolution by watching an embryo develop in a pregnant woman.

[@Stuit3rb4l]

For a religious person that would only be even more proof that God does exists... "How can you not believe in a devine entity after witnessing the miracle of life with your own eyes? - Halelujah"

[@aaronstypes4083]

@@sovietbot6708 But they don't evolve into a completely different species of animal; they just evolve in a better version of the same animal. Big difference there. A fish evolving into a better version of itself is miles from a fish evolving into human being, through many intermediate stages.

[@fluxpistol3608]

That’s a good point

[@jaycampbellross1872]

I really like this guy...hes provided me (along with others) with some great talking points while religous people try to impose .

[@rudyhill9286]

I question having a plurallity of talking points. One point: show the evidence.

[@paxmule]

@@rudyhill9286 They'll tell you "fulfilled prophesy" _is_ evidence.

[@soulbeatzmajor]

It's been over 5 years since I had the God virus and I feel better than ever.

[@proud2bpagan]

I tell ppl i'm not afraid of the destination, but the car ride scares the shit out of me. I'm Wiccan, but i used to be SB..it was such a relief to not feel like i was being watched by a Deity waiting to hit me over the head with a cosmic baseball bat if i fart wrong.

[@jestermoon]

It's because they don't want to see it. Leave them to thier hate. Walk away. Stay Free

[@patkearney9320]

Wow I'm blown away by all Aron say's I lost my belief and always felt bad about it, my religion is treat others like I like to be treated myself. I think that covers me in anyone's book. Thanking you Aron

[@lisaratley4858]

For some Republicans, Conservatives, and Libertarians (most really just Republicans) it’s about fitting in, the identity they have adopted, and will get angry if anyone tries to talk about reality or challenge the things their ‘team’ believes, espouses, and hold dear. It’s very sad.

[@amberkat8147]

I remember the moment I gave up on creationism, or even intelligent design, and realized that evolution isn't as stupid as they said in Christian youth camp. I was in college- yeah, took me that long to break out- and our class went to see an exhibit at the local natural history museum on evolution. I was especially struck by the whale part, how the whales still had tiny back legs in their skeleton and all the transitional forms, and I went "oh wow, this isn't bull sh!t, this is real!" And now my Dad keeps trying to reconvert me and my mother very rarely mentions how she things God put dinosaur bones in the earth to as some kind of trick. *sigh* 22:40- isn't that just how to do a vision quest?

[@updownleftrightinout]

I like to use my family, specifically father, brother, and my children to explain diversity. The simple question "Why don't I look 100% (exactly, perfectly 100%) like my father and my brother and why don't my children look 100% like me? Diversity and evolution is right before your eyes in your own family.

[@updownleftrightinout]

You completely ignored my point. Diversity. even within normal families, is merely the humble beginnings of evolution and speciation.

[@enigmatic9118]

Up until about two and a half years ago, I truly believed in a god and creationism. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to believe in reality, but rather that I had been brainwashed in a devout independent fundamental baptist community. About a year and a half ago I started to question, but that scared me. A year ago I no longer believed in god or creation, but I didn’t believe in evolution. Within the last few months, I’ve started to see the evolution thing, and I want to learn more about it. I was homeschooled, so I was never taught anything true about evolution. While I will say there seems to be enough evidence for evolution, at least what I’ve seen so far, there doesn’t appear to be any evidence for the Big Bang theory... I could be absolutely wrong, and there are amazing scientists with more knowledge on the subject than I have, so I’m open minded. I’m always open minded... all this to say, I’m shocked how many religious people simply want to believe, but don’t actually believe, like Aron said. While I personally did believe, it makes me wonder how many people that brainwashed me didn’t believe.

[@gageblackwood8832]

There is actually overwhelming evidence for the Big Bang including a) The universe is expanding b) The residual heat predicted to be left over from this event 14 billion years ago has actually been detected and is called the "Cosmic. Microwave Background" radiation - it fills the entire universe c) The relative abundance of hydrogen and helium matches what theory predicts based on conditions at the Big Bang. If you're interested there are many excellent videos here on the subject by top experts.

[@enigmatic9118]

Gage Blackwood thanks for the response :) I’ve read a bit on the stuff you are talking about, but it just doesn’t seem like real evidence... but like I said, I’m not the expert, so I’m not gonna act like I’m the authority on the subject. If I become a scientist in that field, and I study through all of the data, then I can talk, but until then, I’ll just remain inquisitive... anyways, thanks again for the response, and thank you for not attacking me for being unsure.

[@gageblackwood8832]

Hey, no problem Jackson. My pleasure. Like a lot of atheists I used to be a believer in God and the bible so I would never attack anyone who is honestly searching for the truth. We former believers know how tough it is to rethink our whole world view. I think one great thing about science,compared to religion, is it doesn't say you're a "bad person" or a "sinner" or a "heretic" for saying "I don't know" or "I'm not sure" or "this doesn't seem real to me." It also does not require any faith or belief in miracles or the supernatural. Even if some accepted scientific theories don't seem real to you, the question is if the bible's account of creation seems more real. However, I don't agree that you have to be an expert scientist to understand the main ideas of scientific theories, just like you don't have to be a certified auto mechanic to know the basics of how a car runs. Anyway, good luck in your search!

[@EnnoiaBlog]

Actually, you have to ask yourself, once you learn how scientific methodology actually functions, what you think WOULD qualify as 'seeming like real evidence'? Quite frankly, the evidence for the expanding universe is overwhelming. All you need to do is do a search on KZbin to find any number of videos that explain the evidence that demonstrates this expansion. And quite simply put, the simplest explanation is that it's the result of a giant explosion. You need to first familiarize yourself with these facts about the expansion -- Dr. Krauss is an excellent source here on KZbin. I find his skills at teaching to be rather exemplary. And then if you think you have another explanation that would account for the data, propose it. That's what makes science so very different from dogma. Science doesn't do dogma. If you find a better theory that fits all the evidence, then submit it for peer review and see what comes back. Millions of scientists would love to be able to disprove something currently accepted as true in science -- as that's generally how one attains the fame that comes with such discoveries.

[@EnnoiaBlog]

Go take a logic class. And after that, go take an intro psych class, or even better, a cognitive science class. You don't know more about GOD and the Devil than any man walking the face of the Earth. You're just another deluded man who is so prideful that he can't accept the imperfect nature of his own brain.

[@gjbeaudry1484]

I love learning from Aron Ra!!! He's one of my favorite teachers!!! Atheists, and agnostics are so lucky that our side has the smartest members!!!

[@wizardsuth]

"My God poofed every living thing into existence." "Actually the evidence shows that modern species evolved from other species over a long period of time." "Oh yeah? Then show me how evolution poofed a fish into a reptile!" "That's not at all how it works..." "You can't prove me wrong! I WIN!!!"

[@barkYdarkATFB]

lol. You sound like that *one guy * that shows up in every comment section under every atheist-centric/science video.

[@WilbertLek]

@@barkYdarkATFB Or 12 YOs who keep thanking their personally preferred imaginary friend when a veterinarian heals a dog or cat in those pet videos...

[@barkYdarkATFB]

@Wilbert Lek it was the “you can’t prove me wrong!! I WIN !!” that reminded me of the science-god screamers. I wouldn’t (knowingly) tell a 12 year old that it must have been their god that threw the kitten down the well in the first place. But if I did, there’s always a butthurt adult saying to let them believe whatever fucked up thing they want, and I’m the reason they can’t have nice things. 🙂¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@jerrylanglois7892]

Leprechauns and fairies exist, you can't prove me wrong... I win !.

[@twoforfive9228]

Most Christians actually believe in evolution.

[@thephantomeagle2]

Yet again another great talk. I’ve been bully that very building, as a kid

[@MsKariSmith]

Great talk, logical and straight forward. I agree religion is a form of addiction and mental illness.

[@ExtantFrodo2]

Faith is not built upon evidence, but ultimately some assumption. Which is precisely why no intelligent god would demand or require it. Because even if one did happen by accident of chance to happen to worship something remarkably like the real thing (given of course that one exists), does it then reward this accident and punish those who's accidents didn't happen upon the same kind of god? If that were so, why would one worship such a god? Faith is intellectual bankruptcy. If the only way you can accept a assertion is on faith, you are conceding it cannot be taken on its own merits. Faith is pretending to know what you don't know. Why would faith be so legitimate when it's very essence is the falseness of pretending to know what you do not?

[@stevephillips8083]

Amazing lecture. Evolution is fantastic as it’s like a map of how to reason through something. Is this descended from this? How can I find out? Was I wrong about this this other thing before? We can be pretty good at classifying things, but to do that you need to learn about loads of things! Epicurus was an amazing person too. Thank you for all your hard work, and for using your time to help others.

[@jamesmiller7457]

He can't explain the Cambrian Explosion or how we supposedly came from chimps yet we are substantially different, especially mentally and/or consciously.

[@p.bamygdala2139]

Thanks for a great speech! I’m drawn to the uniformity of theist tactics. It suggests to me that whatever funny little thing that is happening in their brains is common across all. If neuroscience can identify the source, benchmarked against an atheist mind, then we might get closer to developing a cure. Voluntary, of course. Marketed cleverly, though. Too dangerous of a thought?

[@areuarealman7269]

That's an amazing idea I feel like humans would be in a better place without all the isms and gods there is enough for everybody and science can make it happen but @ everyone knows all these tribes full of it must be this way its like fighting a bear with bare hands buck naked in sex lube .

[@WilliamsWorldView]

Wouldn't that one fish, the theist wanted to see evolve, be the Tadpole? (... ...) Fish turning in to a legged animal... Doesn't even take one generation.... doesn't even take a lifetime... Evolution for the win...

[@Cruz8R]

16:51 "And they also want do do it in a form where you actually can't show any evidence" Even if you show the evidence they keep denying it or lying about it.

[@markheatherington8367]

I don't understand how you can repeatedly wade into the waters with apologists Aron, but I'm glad that you do. Personally I took my undergrad bio advisor's advice.... "it's not a debate when your argument is based in magic."

[@Anne--Marie]

I never put their "witnessing" together with the actual definition of the word. Thank you for flipping that switch in my brain.

[@Mozart1220]

I love how the FIRST thing the Bible does, is blame all the problems in the Universe on women.

[@JayTee78NIN]

This was a great talk.

[@NikkyKicks]

I take some solace in the idea that I will be kind of immortal. All the things that make up my body right now will become part of something else, just like the corpses of endless stars made the iron in my blood and the genes of all my ancestors built my body and the proteins and nutrients from the living thing I eat fuel me. I will just continue to be part of countless other things on our little blue marble, both living and not, and then when the living things die they will become a part of something else, so on and so forth, for what would seem to me to be an eternity.

[@ExtantFrodo2]

That dust is not you. YOU are the pattern thereof. You know all that shit is replaced/recycled every 7 years or so, but you remain the same. So it's not the shit your made of but how it's put together.

[@NikkyKicks]

ExtantFrodo2 oh, I'm aware it's not really me. I understand that what makes me uniquely me exists cause my brain is alive, and when I die obviously that will stop. But hey, I get to help other things exist - I like that.

[@ExtantFrodo2]

Your best bet is to preserve the pattern somehow... either digitally or physically. I'd get frozen if I could afford it.

[@NikkyKicks]

ExtantFrodo2 I mean, while I don't want to die, I'm kind of ok with it? Like it's not ideal but living forever seems a bit lonely, considering most of the people I love won't. I'm also concerned about the ethics of it because, frankly, not everyone is going to be able to afford this tech when it comes out and having the rich live forever on top of everything else is kinda fucking imo

[@z.deutch1334]

The water we drink was once upon a time dinosaur piss

[@asmodeushare2833]

I often get asked if I were there on Evolution. I asked if they were there when Jesus was crucified. "but the bible says!" And this stack of books on Geology, Genetics, Paleontology says this happened. my ten books are bigger than your one or 66 depending on if you treat each one separately Eitehr way 300 pages in the bible is less than 3000 in my stack .

[@jimbeckwith5949]

Brilliant and incisive as usual, first time I've seen this one.

[@Ghost-xx4wm]

Thanks for posting

[@loriw2661]

My mother says, after I told her about just a few of the horrible things written in the Bible……”I’m glad I haven’t read it. I don’t want to know it says THAT stuff in there.” Yes, willful ignorance. I hate that she feels that way.

[@saturnray1260]

5:45 to 6:18 perfectly describes my entire family...

[@whydoyouexist9721]

Well that's just sad But my extended family isn't much better :/

[@TheZeroNeonix]

Same. Even when my grandmother sends me a birthday card, she puts religion into it. "Don't forget to put God first."

[@stevebrookes2887]

Amazing speech AronRa! Your organization of thought is simply amazing! Thank you so much for your lecture, I really enjoyed it!

[@bthearen]

It's soooo silly when they ask you to "show them the transformation." Is that really the stance they want to take? Because we can turn that question around and ask, "Show me a god creating the universe, the earth, the trees, the animals, and then man. Show me a god doing anything. Heck, just show me god" It's absurd. Do I actually need to witness someone killing another person to convict them of murder? Or can I follow the preponderance of evidence and then make a decision using reason? This is exactly what we are doing with evolution. I think they know the answer to that.

[@WilbertLek]

"It's absurd. Do I actually need to witness someone killing another person to convict them of murder?" It gets even better. With your example you're talking about an event that literally happens daily and consists of recognizable, familiar concepts. What they are proposing has NEVER been demonstrated to happen because it is based on *MAGIC* ... And we must accept that over reality?... Yeah, right.

[@citizenVader]

The weight of proof from a creationist only lasts for 6000 of their idiotic acclaimed years. That's definitely not enough. It's just enough for me and almost everyone else to say shut up and stay under your rock. You have had your chance.

[@ogreman-lll-957]

I’ve actually seen believers say reality isn’t real before no joke.

[@chrisskinner8055]

Because death is certain. We all have but this one and only life to live throughout all eternity. Grow - up and get over it.

[@adropofgoldensun27]

"Think of the egotism of a man who believes that an infinite being wants his praise!" - Robert Green Ingersoll "If there is in Heaven an infinite being, he never will be satisfied with the worship of cowards and hypocrites." - Robert Green Ingersoll

[@Imbosiliack]

I wish I was a creationist so I could take AronRa's challenge.

[@steveskeyboard6752]

Same

[@Roxor128]

If you were a creationist, you'd never take him up on it.

[@johnatspray]

People of faith: “but isn’t it better to believe that the bla bla etc?” I’ve heard that argument so many times. And it shows (I think) the difference between (many) atheists and believers, religious people actually choose what they believe in.

[@sovietbot6708]

Creationists, show me a complex organism appearing out of nowhere after God speaks it into existence. Not the Bible, not what your church says, not arguments against evolution, a complex organism suddenly appearing.

[@n1ghtmar3mach1n3]

🤔.....I like that.. I'm totally stealing it

[@fungiuse]

The EVIDENCE compels you !!!

[@tdotjazzberryram61]

🤣🤣🤣🤣👍 !

[@queenisrael8158]

But there is no proof that God is not real.

[@byronkelly4374]

WOW! THE FIRST 5 MINUTE OF THIS VIDEO DESTROYED CHRISTIANS AND RELIGIOUS BELIEVERS! AMAZING DUDE!

[@joshuasnore3600]

Because they cannot grasp the unimportance of their existence.

[@josephlifort483]

Evolutionist and atheist don't believe in God ,my question is do they believe in Satan ,I would have think not...well if that's the case why get on a podium and fight creationists after all to you it's just a belief it's not real but yet you find time to fight it and want to fight it... the fight should be Satanist and creationist... there is no Concrete tangible evidence of evolution it's all theoretical... science have find concrete and tangible evidence of a god.. this guy said a whole bunch of stuff but it's all preaching and denouncing creationist but never proved evolution in anything he said the entire video...

[@TheCheapPhilosophy]

The kind of "Evolution" that creationists, like the one from the example, imagine... is exactly the one required from dust to a fully mature male, or from male rib to a fully mature transexual clone called Eve: fantastic magic.

[@eirintowne]

The answer to the "Were you there?" question would in many cases be "Possibly", because the atoms that make up the body that currently carries my brain around used to be elsewhere, and it is quite possible that at least one of them were somewhere in the neighbourhood when whatever happened.

[@TheKyrix82]

If a pastor said that line about immortality in a church, someone should counter with "Well, if you can't have a trillion dollars, you don't even want one dollar. So everyone skip the collection plate from now on" and see if he notices how stupid that mindset is. I would love to have a million dollars, but I don't have a million dollars. I'm not stupid enough to turn my nose up if someone hands me a dollar though

[@TheZeroNeonix]

True. Just like with life, the more of it you have, the less precious it is. If you have a million dollars, what's one dollar to you? But if you're broke, that dollar is your next meal. And imagine if you had an infinite supply of cash in the bank. How worthless would a dollar be then?

[@TheKyrix82]

And the scientists in nazi germany made the space program possible, so that means we should be grateful that the holocaust happened, right? I don't give a fuck what the churches built, just because they did it first doesn't mean they were the only ones who could have. Here's an idea: It's entirely possible that if religions didn't literally execute people for not following their religion, that atheists would have built those hospitals and schools, and made all those discoveries. We have no way to know how many of those early theist scientists were true believers and how many were atheists because church policy was to kill non-believers

[@bobross8008]

I wonder why an all powerful God needs money to keep his churches intact and feed his preists.

[@TheKyrix82]

Frank289100 No stupidity there. It's a valid question. Especially since Jesus told his followers not to hoard money

[@bobross8008]

Frank289100 The guy who needs to scream in caps calls other stupid.

[@soulbeatzmajor]

People of religion rather believe beautiful lies than to accept the ugly truth.

[@Aconitum_napellus]

'If god existed, it would be necessary to abolish him.'

[@papashort13]

You have a unique way of speaking and explaining things much like the late great Christopher Hitchens. Carry on Sir, you are apart of the beginning of the age of reason, you and I may or may not live to see it but without people like you this great day most certainly will never come.

[@bc1248]

Because of their feelings and codependency. Anything outside of that is not wanted. Their reality is codependency. Even their god is codependent. Can’t live without their worship of him.

[@roskichan3001]

Keep covering your ears Keep covering your eyes And keep being ignorant

[@helenohenzo2778]

true, evolutionists think life slowly formed, they literally think heart waited for vein, blood... to evolve, brain for heart, lungs for nose, mouth for stomach. do u believe these people are this ignorant, they believe life survive waiting for what keep it alive, how can life survive w/o what keep it a live. they also illogical

[@parajacks4]

THIS IS BRAVA You are trying to tell us what scientists think? You can’t even think for yourself. The irony is palpable.

[@roskichan3001]

THIS IS BRAVA They have a point, this why we are here because of evolution. The statement I made: Keep covering your ears Keep covering your eyes And keep being ignorant Is for those close minded religious people who appeals to ignorance, those who can't accept the cold hearted truth and those who assume things even though that they don't know what they are talking about.

[@unnilnonium]

I stopped thinking that believing something absolutely could make it come true when I realized that sometimes shit surprised me. Like when you are jogging around to the back of the house, and try to jog through the obviously open back door, when your face slams into a glass plate. Shouldn't your absolute belief allow you to pass through the glass door? Just before impact, you believe that there is no door there more strongly than you can believe anything.

[@WilbertLek]

@Stefan Urban I think you're missing the point of the post...

[@unnilnonium]

@Stefan Urban No, WIlbert is right. I'm saying, the religious think that if only they can believe X hard enough, X will come true, but, you already believe certain things as absolutely as it is possible for a human to believe something, and it turns out on occasion to be wrong. The instant before your face smashes into the glass plate, you in fact do believe absolutely that there is no obstruction there, and yet you do not pass through the glass, so we all have experiences when absolute belief clearly does not work, so willing yourself to the same state obviously can't achieve anything, even if it were possible. So, again, the religious say, "The only reason reality change doesn't happen is because we simply can't will ourselves to believe hard enough," and I'm saying, "but you are overlooking the fact that we do believe some things absolutely, and it's logically impossible to believe something any harder, and yet it still doesn't happen, and this fact amounts to disproof of concept." I'm sorry, I wasn't just telling a story about how I discovered an independent reality, or making the case that you should pass through the glass.... But I'm glad you're on the right side....

[@puffin51]

I was - I guess the word is "interacting" - with a creationist Flood legend believer on another video. We were talking about the seaworthiness of wooden vessels the size of Noah's ark. I remarked that the few wooden ships that approached the ark's reported size were all unseaworthy, because their planked hulls were subject to leverage sufficient to open the seams. All of them required steam pumps to stay afloat - and for the largest ones - like the schooner _Wyoming_ - even steam pumps were insufficient. And this was with iron bracing, to boot. The response of the creationist was: "How do you know Noah didn't have steam pumps?" Yeah. That was a religious nutjob who hated reality, all right.

[@WilbertLek]

But don't you understand? With magic anything is possible...

[@AngryBilleh]

Religion says that we atheists hate reality due to our disbelief when they show no care for this life, but moreso for the thought of an afterlife

[@elyadrian8871]

Nevermind this science and faith talk. What shampoo do you use Mr. Aron?

[@helpyourcattodrive]

Love this.❤

[@southbeachmiamiart895]

The title of this video takes me back to Don Piper's book: 90 minutes in hallucination. I read it, and all he posted was that he wanted to die just to go back there. Look at the convicted inmate population. They think that this life is temporary and their lord will forgive them of serious crimes. It's greed. All they want is that eternal greed. I don't miss the last billion years so I have no problem perishing into eternal nonexistence. This life is more than enough. I'm very thankful for this life as a bipedal, featherless animal.

[@brianvance1178]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but what you’re saying is that the only way to become truly immortal after death is to do something that makes it into the history books

[@Artman1]

I think the closest i will get to being immortal are my comments on KZbin.

[@brianvance1178]

Yarwun ok, but what if someone hacks your account and deletes all of your comments?

[@EarlFaulk]

Eventually youtube will either go down or be replaced. The digital archives of your comments will also eventually be lost as well. Not much immortality there.

[@brianvance1178]

EarlFaulk but there will be history books for as long as humanity can survive

[@munstrumridcully]

Valentine Erindros or ensure you genetic line continues? Isn't that considered a type of immortality?

[@humbertojimmy]

31:40 "they consider their faith too precious to risk, much like that junkie considers his drugs valuable"... That particular analogy didn't quite work. Aron should have used the "placebo example" instead, THAT would be a better match for faith. Because drugs actually *work!* People take certain substances for specific goals, and the substances *provide the desired effect,* period, they don't have to imagine that it worked or convince themselves against what they know to be wrong. The fact is that if a junkie is in withdrawal and uses his drugs, he WILL get better (doesn't have to lie to himself) and in that sense, yes, those drugs are valuable because they deliever. Religion does NOT! It needs a huge amount of make-belief for that. And for that reason, as i said, Aron should have used the placebo effect example instead.

[@christopherfreeman2858]

perhaps, but i guessed he compared it as of some type of societal sustenance

[@craighorton3502]

They killed Pat Tillman. Thank you for your service.

[@DoctorBastard]

Come on everybody and do the Salamander!

[@LordPenguinYourLeige]

Doctor Bastard that's why I left the boy scouts

[@stephaniecuellar3192]

I'm thinking the best music for that would be the Beach Boys? "Ohhhh... grab your boy and come sal-a-mand-rin' with me"

[@normalsaline8913]

Doctor Bastard yeah do the salamander kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnS2YYalrsuehdU

[@chrismarek7864]

I like your name, Doc. lol

[@daddyaf945]

It's not difficult to win over creationists. Just understand them. They don't care about their own interests or truth or self improvement. The religious only care about their values. Help them through their confusion about the values they think they are exhibiting and the religious start to break free. By way of example; loyalty. Most evangelicals mistake loyalty for obedience. They mistake understanding for acceptance. The mistake faith for experience. They don't know that magic does't exist. They think that doubt can validate lies. Reason should be tested in the real world with a trial period and with revision based on performance. The list goes on and on. This doesn't work on the ones who earn money from religion, however.

[@Angel-nl1hp]

I remember reading a book on Greek mythology as a child and asking myself "Why are all these gods such assholes?". Then I read the bible and realized that Yahweh was the worst of them all...