Atheist Debates - God is just pretend

[@billirwin3558]

Unlike the deconverted, I have been an atheist since I was 8 years old. I remember asking my father at some point during the Apollo missions if the astronaut's saw heaven or god up there? His answer was "No, there is no heaven and there is no god for them to see.". I believed him. So I have been unburdened by religion ever since. And after hearing the horror stories of what religion has done to people, I am very grateful to my father for that piece of wisdom.

[@marylamb128]

Science proves the Bible. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXe8pKqsfNSUhrc

[@charlesedward313]

I like that belief has to be warranted when u think 🤔 about it shit load of morons out there in the world I've always been a non believer I don't think about religion in that way.

[@beachcomber1able]

Sounds like a smart fellow your dad. 🙂

[@JesusSavesSouls]

So because of some dumb question you asked as a kid, you don’t believe in God? Wow…. didn’t take a lot to convince you did it?

[@billirwin3558]

@@JesusSavesSouls The question may seem dumb to you, but I was a kid, and I got a very wise and truthful answer. And it started me down the road of questioning what I was being told by others, and ended up saving me from the horrors of religion.

[@feedingravens]

I would love to see a debate or similar with the explicit start to first define the MANDATORY properties of the god we are debating about, and only when this set is agreed upon and written down, THEN you start to look for arguments for THIS god. So each time when the christians come with a claim what god does, thinks or makes, you can return to that list and say "but this contradicts your own properties". Christians are outright conditioned that the divine properties are wholly situational, i.e. are changing according to the situation. From loving and forgiving in one moment to just and unforgiving in the next, and wrathful and capricious. I love it how much christians know about the unchanging character of God, of his exact plans and intentions, and then say no one can understand God's ways. What one CAN understand that such phrases are perfect copouts.

[@cypherpunk12]

As an ex Christian you pretty much hit the nail on the head with everything you said. The way my mind was conditioned was that even the obvious testable things were God's doing. The best example of this was my school exams. I would study all night and every chance I could then pray to God to pass. After I did well on the test I thanked God for the pass. However I know that if I didn't study, but prayed I would fail, and if I didn't pray but studied I would pass. It was obvious that the outcome of this exam was my own actions, yet I still thanked God.

[@Dr_Wrong]

God: "A being that is significantly more powerful than us.. That is also significantly interested in us.."

[@EverythingCameFromNothing]

I’d love a t-short that said “all gods are pretend….*except yours” 😂

[@mindymild]

Brilliant

[@bodricthered]

That's really good, I want one now too...

[@xXxTeenSplayer]

I now really want ANY t-short!

[@EverythingCameFromNothing]

@@xXxTeenSplayer 😂

[@cnault3244]

Aron-ra has a great shirt. "There is no god but Allah...just kidding, there is no god"

[@thekwjiboo]

In my opinion, the single biggest strike against any religion is that the single best determining factor that decides what religion a person follows is where they were born/live. So instead of trying to examine the evidence and come to a conclusion, you just do what the people in your geographic area do. And needless to say, that isn't a prime way to have accurate beliefs.

[@uncleanunicorn4571]

The Supreme ultimate truth of the universe becomes a function of geography.

[@Dr_Wrong]

Then it's primary use/motivation is not about truth. It *_must_* therefore be chosen for *_other_* reasons.. Is it possible that those "other" reasons may be valid?

[@sj205]

This is a good response to the whole freewill thing. Believers will say that we have a freewill to choose whether or not to believe in whatever religion/god, but the most reliable indicator of a person's belief is something completely outside of their "freewill"

[@missk1697]

Then why we have, say, Buddhists in Belarus?

[@dlon4539]

@@Dr_Wrong I agree, I don't think this geographical argument proves or disproves any claim

[@stoneybologna1982]

I live in WV. I may not be entirely safe walking around here in that shirt. I do believe that some of my neighbors would feel compelled to kick my ass for Jesus.

[@sberry3963]

But Jesus never kicked anyone.

[@chrisgraham2904]

There is no hate that compares to Christian love.

[@gowdsake7103]

Kick them in for being bigoted christians !

[@wizardsuth]

@@sberry3963 Allegedly he whipped a few people once.

[@cnault3244]

Reminds me of a bumper sticker I bought but haven't put on my car to avoid having my car keyed by a Christian: Jesus protective from your followers

[@Laystraight]

I've just done a web search for " God is just pretend" T shirts and yes, they are still available. Although none that I could see were as stylish as Matt's.

[@kevchard5214]

Thanks I will order one now to go with my collection I wear on Sundays.

[@jamesparson]

This Halloween, I was going to wear "Boo, I am an atheist" I now have to reconsider.

[@theflyingdutchguy9870]

😂😂

[@angryatheist]

Don’t reconsider hold a sign saying you sacrifice children to nothing too

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

Please don't, and take what @Angryatheist wrote to mind too! It would be a nice addition!

[@bobdobbs943]

Wear a shirt saying "My Master is Satan" truth in advertising.

[@martymodus7205]

I've been curious about the eye patch mostly out of concern, hoping it's something like the double vision rather than losing vision. Still, if it's needed much longer, my humble fashion advice is to replace the patch with a steampunk style telescoping lens. That way you can pause in a debate and say, "I think we need to look at this a little closer..." followed by the whirring motor of the lens being extended. Sure, it's a stupid idea, but sometimes if you can't beat em... Nevermind.

[@Dr_Wrong]

I looked it up, yep.. _"it's something like the double vision rather than losing vision"_ indeed

[@wjpperry1]

I like it.

[@CataVendetta]

6:01 Really good point. It's really frustrating when friends and family try to "reconvert" me with overused fallacious arguments that are often made by apologists.

[@henrikrolfsen584]

I saw a bumper sticker, that read: "All God is, is Dog spelled backward."

[@wjpperry1]

You have helped me in a considerable way. I thank you and you have my respect. Keep on keeping on, let us know if we can do anything. You might be surprised how many of us got your back.

[@jestermoon]

Take A Moment Matt, my brother. May I suggest a Canadian t-shirt? "Canada Eh?" It uses the Brian Cox double-take and chuckle . The Professor is great at pushing the burden of proof back at the reader. It works everyday.

[@cato451]

“We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.” Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

[@kylebookout1789]

Great video Matt! Glad to see your eye has healed up. Reminds me of an argument Richard Dawkins made. Something like "I only believe in one less God than you do." Great stuff

[@Atheism.Intensifies]

I found The Atheist Experience while I was exploring what "atheist" actually meant because I thought I might be an atheist regarding gods other than my own. I was then faced with the question, "How do I know my god is real?" Oops!

[@Dr_Wrong]

My search to discover how to obey what God truly desires of us _(to save my eternal soul)_ lead eventually to my discovery that God is a lie.. If you truly care about your very soul's eternal life v. hell, you would desperately seek how to survive.. "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and *_only a few find it."_* Matt. 7:14 So I conclude that anyone who makes god claims without 'seeking' to save their own 'eternal soul from eternal damnation'.. are liars AND know it.

[@realitycheck966]

Atheism is intellectually weak. Dillahunty indoctrinates his dupes to claim a non-standard, extremely weak definition of atheism as something other than an intellectual belief position negating God.

[@thedragonofechigo7878]

@@Dr_Wrong do you have proof that either the soul or that we have eternal life is real?

[@Dr_Wrong]

@@thedragonofechigo7878 _"do you have proof that either the soul or that we have eternal life is real?"_ I do not.

[@wizardsuth]

@@Dr_Wrong Why would you believe something that can't be demonstrated to be true? If you accept faith as a valid justification for belief, why do you not share the same beliefs as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, or ancient Egyptians? If their faith has led them to accept false beliefs, how do you know your own faith hasn't done the same?

[@bsoc1977]

Matt made a point I've been thinking about for a while. There are 34000 different Christian denominations and they each have a unique set of rules which must have been put forth by their "god". The one true god cannot have that many different opinions. When I was a theist as a kid, I used to ask these questions. Another reason I'm an atheist.

[@chrisgraham2904]

I don't know if there are that many Christian denominations, but they certainly have Baskin-Robbins beat with only 31 flavors of ice cream. No matter what you believe, there's a Christian denomination made just for you. If not, you can start a new denomination tomorrow. The mark of a great product is it's ability to service the needs of a wide market and guess who's more profitable than Apple, MicroSoft and all the oil companies?

[@blue5had0w]

@@chrisgraham2904 is there a furry denomination?

[@chrisgraham2904]

@@blue5had0w LOL, Probably. Run by Reverend Fox and his wife, Miss Kitty.

[@EdwardHowton]

@@chrisgraham2904 The 33,000+ number comes from a sort of census that became known about some years ago where, if memory serves, an organization counted up all the different _names_ of churches worldwide. So in practice, _The High Enlightened Order Of The Really Jesus-y Guys_ church and _The Enlightened High Order Of The Really Jesus-y Guys_ church would've been two different churches. Considering that, especially in the USA, churches are a *_business_* and they have *_franchises,_* I think that's a fair way to look at it, since most of those competitors hate each other and actively try to hatemonger about each other and call each other false christians. The reason this is a useful number is because otherwise you're going by definitions, and that's pretty arbitrary. By some definitions, literally everybody on Earth, _including atheists,_ would be christians, and so there would only be a single denomination that includes faiths utterly hostile to anything Abrahamic or that have never even heard of it, and by other definitions, Every. Single. Christian. would be their own "denomination" with the exception of some overlap if two people just happen to have the EXACT same HIGHLY SPECIFIC beliefs about their version of christianity. And if you think that's completely absurd (which, really, it shouldn't be any more absurd than faith itself), then we're still left with whether we count all Baptists as one denomination or Southern Baptists and Westborough Baptists and Midwestern Coloradan Revived Baptists are three. And when you start doing that... and add them all up... you're getting close to that 33,000+ number. If it wasn't a typo, 34k is probably fair because like I said, churches are businesses, and new stores open all the time.

[@EdwardHowton]

@@blue5had0w Funny you should ask, because I saw something about that just the other day, but yes, there's a group of very conservative christian furries, and they're upset that the rest of us don't like them very much. Shouldn't be too surprising, though. We also have the unpleasant distinction of having... how to put it in a way that won't get censored... shall we say unsavory early-1990s German political fanatics. We REALLY don't like those, but the roaches get _everywhere._

[@MisterRorschach90]

I had a medical condition in kindergarten where I had to wear an eye patch for a couple weeks. Truthfully I lied that my eyes got stuck crossed to get attention from my parents. But then when they started doing literal surgeries on me I couldn’t take it anymore. I remember one of the teachers freaking out that I was wearing an eye patch. Asked me if I thought I was a pirate or something. I was like “rrrr no, just sick matey”

[@slang1517]

Holy sh*t... I hope you' got the counselling you needed.

[@xBoLtiCuS]

Good to see you relaxing and just having fun.

[@illithidinfidel2464]

(reads title) Yeah, that pretty well sums it up. Yes, we don't need to bear the burden of proof. But I think we can have a justified positive belief (though not certainty) that no being exists for which the label "god" is appropriate, and also that each god worshipped by humans is in fact a fictional creation.

[@skepticsinister]

Outstanding take, gotta add that to my bits of excellent word series 👍🏽

[@baconsarny-geddon8298]

Yeah, but Matt's spineless. He's great at (usually justifiably) attacking OTHER PEOPLE'S standards, but when it comes to HIS OWN standards, his intense fear of making even the weakest, safest positive claim quickly reveals that his own position is exactly as 100% unfalsifiable, as even the unhinged Christian pre-supp. Arguably, even MORE unflasifiable. And that whole problem of the 100% unfalsifiability of Matt's position, which Christian apologists like Turek and WLC looooove pointing out (and sadly, the apologists are RIGHT, on that one point), is easily avoidable... IF Dillahunty would just grow a spine and say "No, I DON'T believe in the supernatural. And I have enough confidence that spooks and magic don't exist, that I'll change my position and admit I was wrong, IF if you can scientifically demonstrate, to a solid, rigourous standard (ie. repeatably, on cue, under observation by unaffiliated scienists), that your 'supernatural' mumbo-jumbo is real, with empirically-observable real-world effects, but no possible mechanism within conventional science"... Or in short- "show me the supernatural (to a high standard), and I'll change my mind". But Matt has said the exact opposite- He's said that even if you could (somehow?!?) show him the most inexplicable supernatural phenomenon, on cue, under the most rigourous scienific observation, over and over again, Matt would STILL reject it, and cling to his existing (100% unfalsifiable) position. (and let's be real; OF COURSE the supernatural/magic doesn't exist. So saying "I'll change my mind, if you can legitimately SHOW ME the supernatural" is the safest goddam thing in the world... But Matt's too gutless to do that, and put his money where his mouth is.... Instead, he's chosen to be the atheist equivalent of the Creationist who says "I reject evolution... and I don't care HOW MUCH evidence you show me, that evolution's real!! You could show me species changing, right in front of my eyes and I'll STILL reject it, and just assume it must be Satan, trying to trick me!!!") It sucks, because Matt's great at refuting standard xtian arguments... but because he's so gutless and refuses to take a stand, at root, Matt's position is EXACTLY as circular and unfalsifiable (and intellectually dishonest), as braindead christian pre-supps like 'Darth Dawkins' or 'Mr Batman'...

[@chrisgraham2904]

A belief requires proof and evidence, but that evidence is not required to be 100% or absolute. Our courts require only "proof beyond a shadow of a doubt" in order to make a very important decision concerning an accused. On the other hand, is it wise to fashion and conduct your life based on unproven, circumstantial evidence and hearsay? If your doctor told you; "I can fix your crooked toe with surgery, but your chance of surviving the surgery is less than one percent." Would you have your crooked toe fixed???

[@truerealrationalist]

"....we can have a justified positive belief...." Such a belief cannot have an evidentiary basis, though; and to hold it would be logically inconsistent.

[@illithidinfidel2464]

@@truerealrationalist But it can have evidentiary basis. It depends on how you define "god", of course. I see evidence that each god (of which I'm aware) ever worshipped was invented by humans and is fictional. I somewhat understand early universe conditions such that no being could exist at that time. I see that all known minds have a material matrix. I see no phenomena which require a god to explain. Gods, in short, violate things about reality which we have good reason to think true, and explain nothing. Therefore, in my opinion, no such beings exist. Now, this belief of mine can never rise to certainty. It is subject to revision given contrary evidence. But I think that I have sufficient evidence to justify it.

[@richardfrederick1885]

Matt, one of your most interesting discussions.

[@bobdobbs943]

Matt, the pied piper of lost souls. Get up and dance when he blows his godless horn.

[@Tenno-Frame]

I like this video. I have a shirt with the atomic structure and it reads "Question Everything" I haven't had anyone comment on it yet, which is surprising here in the South and being a black American as well. Appreciate the video and look forward to the next one. Cheers!

[@jdsartre9520]

Does everything include the atomic structure? I hope you question that too.

[@Brickerbrack]

One of my favourite shirts says: "There are two types of people in the world: 1: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data" And yes, I _have_ been asked what it says on the back... 😜

[@Tenno-Frame]

@@jdsartre9520 Explain. You hope I question what's observable?

[@pansepot1490]

@@Brickerbrack lol

[@jdsartre9520]

@@Tenno-Frame Oh. So you've observed it, have you?

[@spitfire184]

I love scrolling through the videos on this channel and seeing the pirate Dillahunty arc.

[@qemiorcasdiruru2422]

Nice job! I tend to forget how most theists I've known do believe all gods are pretend... except theirs.

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

Matt, I hope you're feeling better. Keep up the good fight!

[@Petticca]

Happily atheist my whole life, I had no issue clarifying that I mean that in the hard atheist way until a couple of years ago. Several people whose opinions, intelligence, expertise, discussions and intellectual honesty I held in high regard kept saying essentially: 'You can't say that there isn't any god(s) - you would have to 'prove' that, because it's a positive claim.' And it legitimately caused me to have an intellectual crisis of sorts. The idea didn't strike as reasonable, but I knew that despite hearing how it's a positive claim, I obviously am unable to demonstrate my assertion. I'm now back to happily asserting my hard atheist stance because I realised three things. 1) I had never heard anyone use the 'it's a positive claim, so now the burden is yours' argument for anything other than "god". No one ever said this about unicorns, fairyfolk, or any other fictional characters and ideas created by humanity's many cultures and civilizations through the ages. 2) Just because cultures have given their gods the 'only possible explanation for and thus the sole definitional ability to create everything' does not then mean that someone must provide evidence if they do not subscribe to that culture's, or any culture's god of the gaps' defined necessity. It also doesn't mean that 'god' is always a possibility that must be considered. 3) The whole now the burden's yours if you strong stance atheism is, to me, no different than if someone were to say "Ok, so you've shown why Last Thursdayism can't be right, but you can't prove it isn't one of the other days of the week." Sure, you can have those kinds of conversations if that kind of philosophy is your thing... Shoot the shit and play the 'technically you can't disprove this definitionally non-falsifiable, non-verifiable proposition' game, but that is where any claims that 'you can't say that this thing mankind has made up can be dismissed without evidence' should stay.

[@truerealrationalist]

I appreciate the intellectual honesty here. At the end of the day, sixne we can only logically provide evidence of things within the _observable_ universe, the universal nonexistence of an entity is as much an unfalsifiable claim as that of the existence of some undetectable entity, and I am glad you acknowledge it as such. By extension, sure, one can believe that no deity exists; however, for that very reason, such belief cannot logically have an _evidentiary_ basis, as this would require the examination of evidence from beyond the observable universe which no one has or even _can_ have.

[@pollydoom5039]

Matt I love you and i appreciate your honesty, ive been a follower for a long time, im so glad you took time to be honest here to bring greater understanding, see you soon.

[@toddwolford2021]

We pay close attention Matt. We love you and can’t help ourselves. People we care a great deal about will fall victim to our scrutiny. So yes we notice almost everything. Please know that for some of us it’s just because we care. I can’t speak for most. The sacrifice you make to be famous I suppose. Thank you for all you do.

[@tameling1973]

Always superb Matt

[@lightbeing8174]

Look into the devil's foot prints in devon england in 1855.

[@Andrea.1tree]

For me, the need for proof of a god is colored by the cruelty of the followers of these gods. According to the christian bible, god is a narcissist, and serial killer, to name a couple traits. It’s not in my current ability to pander to their beliefs at this time.

[@SunnySecular]

Exactly 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@uncleanunicorn4571]

But, but, you don't know where the universe came from, therefore any absurditrocity in Scripture becomes moral.

[@Dr_Wrong]

@@uncleanunicorn4571 might makes right

[@jrskp3677]

Yes, petty and cruel too. And orders genocide and commits mass murder. Even babies and pregnant women.

[@jrskp3677]

@@uncleanunicorn4571 It's written on paper 📜🗞️"it's true!! 🤮

[@lilfr4nkie]

I’m not into religion like Christianity or Atheism but this guy Matt is hands down my favorite atheist! Always a great conversation but I like how he gives his views or talking points without bashing others’, it’s a level of class we don’t often see regardless of beliefs. Like I’ve seen one where he’s openly invited to speak at a Catholic Church! Incredible. At the end of the day I believe it’s just language/interpretation issues, sure I believe in God just not in the way or what you think I believe God is.

[@sgsupreme17]

Atheism is not a religion

[@ibejiopo]

Hey Matt. I love what you do brother. responded to a comment I saw below that caught my attention because of who wrote it. My response to BardMagickClore: So this got me lightweight excited. I'd tune specifically to hear this conversation. I too think conversations are often more fruitful for participants and listeners. Keep me posted. You're like a heavy hitter I think Matt might enjoy and get something out of it. I'm gonna post this higher to let Matt at least one person would like to hear you specifically with Matt.

[@bobdobbs943]

Matt swears there aint no heaven and prays there aint no hell.

[@ibejiopo]

@@bobdobbs943 😂 is that a bob dylan line?

[@bobdobbs943]

@@ibejiopo chicago

[@rubydog99benson21]

With you matt, ironically, or more algorithms, gave me 2 Christian ad’s during your short vid.

[@SteveEwe]

I've always had a problem with this distinction between "god" and "gods". Seems like monotheistic religions have appropriated the generic term for gods and claimed the word "god" just for their own use as a proper noun. As if a presumption is expected that you know which god they are talking about. I think perhaps the only way to disabuse people of this convention is to always ask which god whenever the topic comes up. To force a believer to specify, and to always refer to "your/his/her/this/that god", instead of just "god".

[@bellezavudd]

💛

[@littlecoloreddots]

I'm big on T-shirts. The selection for atheist themed ones are few. I often where one that says 'HASA DIGA EEBOWAI' that I got at The Book Of Mormon performance. It can open the conversation very gently or not at all.

[@mism847]

Agreed

[@lemonpeelangelfish]

Thank you Matt - excellent video!

[@thomashugus5686]

Your going to rock it on the national “talk like a pirate” day!!😊

[@Bradley_UA]

Yeah, not wearing a shirt, like a bad boy!

[@Brickerbrack]

Does the USA have a _national_ TLAPD that's different to the _International_ one... which we just had on 19th September? 😉

[@chrisgraham2904]

Halloween is just around the corner. hmmm...I wonder what Matt will be this year? lol

[@bobdobbs943]

@@chrisgraham2904 Same thing he is every yr. His master the Devil.

[@chrisgraham2904]

@@bobdobbs943 An Atheist can't have a belief in God(s) or anything supernatural, so that rules out the Devil.

[@ARMYStrongHOOAH17]

Atheism is indeed an intuitive rule of thumb. I like that description. Even among theists, as you and others have pointed out, they're atheistic in regards to other gods.

[@wizardsuth]

It's more than a rule of thumb. It's the logical default position. _If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time._ -- Bertrand Russell

[@blackswan8653]

When your belief comports with reality in a way that can not be shown otherwise, it's probably safe to continue with that belief. I may or may not need to back that belief up any more than reality already backs that belief up. When I say a god does not exist, I still don't need to say much more until someone says something about it. Then I merely work off what the person with objection says. I have many arguments based on what the objector believes. I feel no need to disprove every god. There are so many and all of them can be explained in the imagination of men.

[@thetruthaboutscienceandgod6921]

Please share with other people my two brief videos. Thank you!

[@KyouTGD]

There's nothing wrong with pretending. I make believe and day dream and fantasize all the time. It's fine. It's probably good for you. But we have to remember that pretend things aren't actually real, and we can never force our pretend beliefs on other people.

[@jursamaj]

Pretending doesn't even have to lead to beliefs. I have a particular fictional book that I've read several times (probably the only book I've ever read more than twice). Every time I read it, I have very visceral emotional reactions, honestly stronger emotions than I feel about pretty much anything else. I can even provoke those emotions just by *thinking* about parts of the book, months after the last reading. Those emotions are *why* I keep re-reading it. And yet, I don't form *beliefs* from the story. I continue to know it's fiction, even while reading and reacting.

[@VestigialHead]

Can we pretend to force our pretend beliefs on a pretend person? Or would that be pretentious?

[@Z4r4sz]

*_"There's nothing wrong with pretending."_* When it comes to theism, we arent talking about daydreams or playing with kids..

[@Z4r4sz]

@Mike JJJ Thats an entirely different context.

[@theboombody]

What about the pretend belief that single moms or dads that sleep around with others frequently isn't damaging to children?

[@chrism6315]

The court analogy is great for highlighting the point, however if you really dig into it it doesn't work because if a case were ever to he Brought to decide if God were guilty of existence the case would be thrown out for lack of evidence before any trial ever happened.

[@greaper123]

As an adjective, pretend means, "not really what is represented as being". Since I have not been given any real evidence that a God exists, I think that "pretend" applies nicely. Could I wear that shirt here in Nebraska - with a church every 3 miles? Hell, no .. Would I love to? Hell, yeah...

[@landsgevaer]

Nebraska, is that in the land of the free and the home of the brave?

[@greaper123]

@@landsgevaer No, Sir .. Nebraska is, "Equality before the law" (which is BS as well...). I'm not afraid or ashamed of my atheistic beliefs (35+ years) - and I'm not afraid of discussing or debating it with anyone; however, there would be a "personal cost" if I began to advertise it on my t-shirt, so I choose not to...

[@landsgevaer]

@@greaper123 I empathize. Hoping the cost will diminish!👍

[@greaper123]

@@landsgevaer Appreciate you, Sir! I will do my part, but it'll take time. Take care!

[@wizardsuth]

Plenty of Americans are strongly in favour of freedom of religion and expression, provided you accept their religion and express their ideas.

[@gloriaf6971]

Good argument for wearing that shirt, Matt! 👍🏾

[@garyking9484]

I just simply tell people I’m too old for imaginary friends and gods.

[@dericanslum1696]

..."no thanks...I'm not superstitious"...the looks/responses are priceless...

[@lightbeing8174]

Gary King yet the american exorcist priest are grown men.

[@Exiledschizo]

Why do you not believe in god?

[@garyking9484]

@@Exiledschizo , because I’ve actually read and understand the Bible and Quran. I know the history of the three major religions and cultures. I’ve concluded because of the overwhelming amount of evidence that gods didn’t create men, men created gods!

[@Exiledschizo]

@@garyking9484 well, how did the universe come to be? And how did you reach that conclusion?

[@PHDinADHD]

I like this arc. The eyepatch really makes this the Dark Matt incarnation.

[@MichaelLudden]

"there is not enough evidence for me to believe Jesus existed."

[@zedmeinhardt3404]

I don't believe he existed, now people are claiming that he got excited.

[@MichaelLudden]

@@zedmeinhardt3404 fixed! Lol 😆

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

"It was just my imagination Running away with me..."-The Temptations

[@bellezavudd]

The song about The history of theistic narratives. 👍

[@contempris2383]

I would like to think Mythicists aren't saying "Clark Kent never existed." They are saying "Superman never existed."

[@2ahdcat]

Hey Matt... I'm more curious about Your glass slippers. lol. 😉

[@ginagasior9414]

Matt are You in Love.. ???? Retiring, more laid back...You seem HAPPY, HAPPY...NOT JUST happy.....Just an observation so I thought I'd ask....I LOVE listening to Your logic....You make Me feel much more confident and much less questioning/doubtful of Myself.. I thank You from the bottom of My heart for that.....💕💕💕🎃🎃✌️✌️

[@cliftonmanley3882]

To quote Queensryche from Empire, the song "Dirty 'Lil Secret" "Study Your Religion! At least Your interpretation..."

[@jrskp3677]

Hey Matt, nice shirt. (I've never paid attention to your attire before) and the eye patch adds toughness [not in stats but, appearance] .

[@PeterGregoryKelly]

Richard Carrier would be an excellent guest to interview.

[@joycesky5041]

Love you Matt…hope your eye heals quickly. Not going to pray for you to get healed because I’d be praying to the wall. I think you looked prettier with the pink eye patch.🤣🤣🤣🤣🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@mr.d.8121]

When asked if I'm religious / believe in a god character I respond by saying that I have other hobbies.

[@animefurry3508]

I would be really curious what Matt thinks about the work of Slavoji Zizek, I really like his work!

[@grantcavazos]

Honey wake up! Matt posted a new video!

[@TwoGunToast]

Speaking of shirts, a shirt that says "I Remain Unconvinced" would be pretty cool.

[@lightbeing8174]

What about the exorcist shirt.

[@MichaelMeridius]

I would claim that god(s) are man made until proven otherwise, as the initial burden is on those who claim they do. Some would claim I've shifted my burden but I don't think I have. If anyone disagrees please explain why, as I'm willing to be convinced based on reasoned arguments and verifiable evidence.

[@Avatinfernus]

But Matt, what about Metaphysical substrates? :D :D :D

[@TheZinmo]

I wonder if I should have a shirt made that says: "Just one god more". For me it means one god more that I don't believe in, but it could mean so many different things, and may lead to interesting conversations. But then it may offend some people who want to be offended.

[@Dr_Wrong]

5,000,000 v 5,000,001

[@psaunders2112]

“Even the greatest apologist out there are failing” best line ever……..

[@colejames423]

Interesting chat. Does anybody wear shirts or “atheist” apparel out in public? I’ve got a hat but I’m still hesitant to wear it in public in my neck of the woods. No doubt would get some sideways glances but seems it’d be fun too

[@mickywinters8451]

I have a black tank top in white lettering I wear everywhere 2x a week that says “Science doesn’t give a shit what you believe”. I get a lotta thumbs up :D

[@ericmicke4130]

this reminded me of Ricky Gervais' line to (I think) Stephen Colbert when he said "I just believe in one less God than you do".

[@iwannagotothemooon8666]

The Matt transformation is complete, it's villan season

[@iwannagotothemooon8666]

Oh and get well soon man

[@skepticusmaximus184]

I absolutely LOVE that t-shirt, but while wearing that eye patch, I think you should start every sentence with a hearty *'Arrrrr'.*

[@mrd3016]

That is hysterical.

[@skepticusmaximus184]

@@mrd3016 Thanks. And a parrot on one shoulder wouldn't hurt either. Amirite?

[@sj205]

Please make a video on 'infinite regress' pleaseeee. After a recent debate of yours, you had said that you'll be making a video on infinite regress because that phrase came up so many times in the debate, so I'm hoping you're gonna make/put that out soon! Thanks ya

[@markgordon5266]

@Jacob B I think the problem involves the category error of conflating infinity with eternity.

[@markgordon5266]

@Ignostic Naturalist My problem is that every time I try to contemplate the infinite, I manage to leave something out.

[@markgordon5266]

@Ignostic Naturalist Would take an eternity, no doubt. ;-)

[@TheLyricalCleric]

The real question should be, “why are all the other gods only myths, but yours supposedly isn’t?”

[@robynfindley7623]

He always has good way of saying things and the first time I saw atheist experience i was hooked i have two atheists shirts and only worn one in public and I actually worn it to work i was surprised my manager didn't say anything

[@NickvonZ]

AWESOME!! 😺👍

[@kazmark_gl8652]

NGL I have no idea why we've had "punished" Matt for a while but it's pretty metal.

[@bodan1196]

"Belief is the result of becoming convinced." I think that I disagree. While you can choose to believe, you can not choose to be convinced. Belief _can_ be a choice, while conviction can not. A vital difference in meaning, that I think must be considered.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

My challenge to theists is always: dont try to prove god exists, instead, prove your god isnt man-made.

[@ThePayanazo]

I wonder what custom will Matt use for this Halloween xD

[@robertcooley5919]

Matt can you please do something about red pen logic?!

[@SansDeity]

No idea what you're talking about

[@johndent4399]

When I was a young, young child, as a joke I would sing the hymn "All things bright and beautiful" as "All things bad and horrible, the lord God made them all". And then I realised, that if God existed, he did make everything horrible. That is the Epicure paradox. Obviously, I was a natural atheist!!

[@_Omega_Weapon]

Where can I buy that shirt?😄

[@mrd3016]

Heywood sells them.

[@dawndead9591]

That was surprisingly mellow. Proof of burden is my default.

[@hapaboy8967]

I'm atheist now but I still have guilt that what if I'm wrong and I burn forever. Fear put in from church.

[@aprilbringsthewind9902]

Forgive me but I haven’t been keeping up with your videos as of late and wanted to ask about the eye patch? If you don’t mind talking about it.

[@Andrea.1tree]

He has a medical condition, and it causes blurry vision in that eye. It’s hopefully healing well.

[@rimbusjift7575]

Nah... bar fight.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Well… NOW I’m evaluating your wardrobe. Matt. Fashion Icon. Influencer. 💃

[@eudaimonia.filosofia]

isn't the null hipothesis that jesus in a myth jsut like Hercules?

[@poughkeepsieblue]

So where do i get one?

[@mikeekim242]

Claims of gods existed thousands of years before we were born, you would think they've had enough time to show objective evidence for their claim. Why do we need to produce evidence for no god when nobody has ever produced evidence for god?

[@nativeatheist6422]

Where did you get that shirt Matt? I'd wear it.

[@northshoregirl8173]

When I was a believer, I thought that there was only 1 god and that different religions had different names/qualities for that god.

[@johnsperry9494]

I want a t-shirt that says "Happy Jesus Zombie Day," to wear on Easter.

[@jeremybr2020]

One way that I address theists that I find very effective is to present them with a scenario. The scenario is for them to imagine that they were raised into adulthood on a remote island totally separated from society. Those who raised them taught them nothing of religion or some supreme creator of the universe. Now they have been introduced into regular society. They are confronted by religious claims for the first time. Obviously it's something that they can see is very important to many people. Extremely important. Claims of living for ever after death, but only if they believe a particular religion. And they see the penalties of not believing in these particular religious beliefs, resulting in some sort of eternal torture and torment. So it's something they feel compelled to address. But there are so many different claims. How would they go about determining which, if any, of these beliefs are actually real? This forces them to do your work for you. Now it will be obvious if they happen to be Christian, they will begin to show their biases. But these can be easily pointed out to them. They can talk about Christianity has the Holy Bible. You can point out that most religions have some sort of religious texts that are claimed to be inspired if not directly written by their deity. They can talk about supposed witnesses to miracles. You counter that virtually all religions have claims of miracles. One having no more evidence than the other of their legitimacy. They can point out that Christianity has more believers than the rest, with over 2 billion followers. You point out that this claim really isn't as strong as they believe, because there are over 7 billion people on the planet. So there are 5 billion people who don't believe in Christianity. They can claim that one just needs to have faith in whichever one they choose, that its the correct one. You tell them that gets them nowhere. If one can have faith in anything, then what is it's value? It just becomes easier to point out their biases. Now if by some chance you get a more honest theist who tries to avoid those biases, then your work becomes even easier as they see the problems with religious claims becoming very evident real fast. . Try this tactic sometime, and you will see what I mean.

[@janraborn4530]

You can still buy this shirt at "Cafe Press,"

[@Shadowcraft-Ai]

This was useful. Thank you.

[@0nlyThis]

Like the Socrates of Plato’s Dialogues, the Jesus of the gospels is a literary figure, his words are not his own but the author’s - spoken in the vernacular of his literary creator’s intended audience.

[@wizardsuth]

We don't really know whether Socrates was real or fictional, but it doesn't really matter at this point. It's the ideas that matter.

[@0nlyThis]

@@wizardsuth Precisely. Unlike the gospel narrators, Plato saw no reason to endow his Socrates figure with divine attributes to lend authority to the words he had him speak. His ideas spoke for themselves.

[@jonathanwilcock71]

Firstly I hope you are well Matt, you’ve been through a lot of health shit recently and I hope you make a quick recovery (genuinely). Anyway, I always get the impression that Matt is looking in a mirror and arguing against his young self. There are many ‘sandwich board’ nuts out there, claiming things they don’t know to be true. T-shirts are the next best thing. He knows the strong arguments for God and first causes, Kalam argument, moral arguments, historical support etc. Matt was a pastor and is well schooled in biblical verse etc. He has of course thrown all this away because he admits to rethinking his position on existentialism. I’m wondering why he keeps presenting the arguments from a ‘why this God and not that god’ perspective? He is appealing to atheists that don’t investigate the idea of God and the plausibility of say ‘Yahweh’. Keep up the good fight Matt, it will be a self professing prophecy for many thousands of people... namely nothingness, meaningless, hopelessness evidence for material ideology, that is based on the implausible probability of chance. Put that on a T-shirt and let’s have a conversation based on that. Good luck

[@Nesendrea]

Another reason you may be failing to have good conversations with theists on your call-in shows is your tendency to shout over and hang up on them rather than allowing them to speak.

[@neilforbes416]

14:00 The point is, you as an atheist, *DO NOT HAVE TO PROVE* there is no god. The burden rests on the Christians to prove there is a god, and this is something they will *NEVER BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE!*

[@dalerohling5989]

I asked MadebyJimBob if it’s possible that Christianity has nothing to do with God and he impulsively responded with “impossible”. I then asked him to support his “ impossible” claim with logic/reason/evidence and he responds with ad hominem, nothing else. He knows he messed up because he was so certain about his presuppositions he had no choice. Still doesn’t btw.

[@jret65541]

The reflection looks like an eye

[@thesuitablecommand]

Arrr ahoy! I've been out of the loop - did Matt get eye surgery?

[@davids11131113]

Ok why does Matt have an eye patch now what happened?