Atheist Experience 23.26 with Matt Dillahunty & Don Baker

18:20 John: San Antonio, TX: Much Truth in Bible Despite Errors, Experiencing God
27:20 Abel: FL: Can We Get Useful Guidance from the Bible?
37:20 David: GA: Slavery in the Bible (again…)
44:15 Brian: Las Vegas, NV: Minds, Souls, Pumps with Purpose, Black Swan Fallacy
55:55 Frank: Dallas, TX: Critical Thinking and Its Importance
1:08:05 Melanie: Ottowa, Canada: Getting Along with Religious Friends and Family
1:18:45 Hugh: New Zealand: Loving Reality Without Religion
1:29:15 Adrian: TX: DNA, Moon, and Jupiter Prove Creator
1:37:45 Michelle: Ontario, Canada: First Nation Spirituality, Hiawatha, Atheism is Racist
1:46:55 Abe: NJ: Could Certain Parts of the Koran Be Written Without a God?
The Atheist Experience episode 23.26 for June 23, 2019, with Matt Dillahunty and Don Baker. Lamely Rationalizing Evil. Don talks about how the religious rationalize the evil of their religions.
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WHAT IS THE ATHEIST EXPERIENCE?
The Atheist Experience is a weekly call-in television show in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience. The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.
The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.
We define atheism as the lack of belief in gods. This definition also encompasses what most people call agnosticism.
VISIT THE ACA'S OFFICIAL WEB SITES
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NOTES
TheAtheistExperience is the official channel of The Atheist Experience. "The Atheist Experience" is a trademark of the ACA.
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[@MadNotAngry]

Matt is such a hypocrite - says he's against slavery, yet he _owns_ so many Christian callers.

[@Aerillia]

Excellent. Just excellent!

[@hopsta5628]

Bahahahaha, that's hilarious, you cracked me up, cheers.

[@jessiesheldon-huffey1824]

Its pretty easy to "own" anyone, when you control the forum. I invite anyone to debate the foolishness of an atheist worldview with me via comments. Although I dont have 100% confidence that my comments might be edited....

[@roberthill1166]

Jessie Sheldon You’re already losing; atheism is not a “worldview”.

[@sandrafrederick4923]

And he can beat them as much as he wants. He also wins if anyone's irrational faith dies within a couple of days.

[@melancholyalexx7790]

41:18 Caller: You got a King James Bible? Matt: Yeah, I got every kind of Bible. There's an internet. I'm done 😂 So classy!

[@joseph_b319]

Melancholy Alexx i can get a buybull in Klingon. Lol

[@melancholyalexx7790]

@@joseph_b319 oh goodness yes! 🤗

[@hawt_fiya]

Of all the slavery apologists I was actually looking forward to seeing that guy in particular get torn to shreds. Also the “well I think it’s racist” followed by Matt’s “well fuck you” **click** was probably the classiest fuck you I’ve ever heard lol.

[@jimw.4812]

I'm gonna miss all of the hosts who are moving on, bur especially Tracie Harris. Thanks Tracie, very calm and insightful analyses for a long time. Good luck to you.

[@j.oaklley8965]

Lies.

[@brethager3265]

@@j.oaklley8965 we didn't bring your Bible up. So leave it out of the comments. Your book of lies has its due on each show.

[@Smith1980]

@@j.oaklley8965is such a imbasult. He trolls atheist pages claiming he knows what " lies " are. And when asked how does he know his god thing'i is real. Or that heaven really exists or that his Jesus character is true. He has nothing to point to, nothing of substance to indicate, obviously he has no idea what truth is. This fool couldn't correctly identify a lie if it poked him in the eyeball

[@neosapien247]

@@j.oaklley8965 This moron's on every thread writing the same thing.

[@laurieharper1526]

@@j.oaklley8965 I take it "Lies" is your new favourite word, Annie. You seem to be posting it under every comment. Time for your medication.

[@FUMINOID]

Wonderful. a Native American god is just as bogus as a Middle Eastern god. It's about time some one said that. Thank you Matt!

[@andyrihn1]

Demanding special consideration for your preferred woo over and above all others for ethnic/cultural reasons is a supremacist mindset and therefore extremely racist, by definition

[@brifox]

@Nate Breidenbaugh A combination of that and the bigotry of low expectations.

[@Vincent-fo7xp]

At least some tribes refer to God as the "great mystery."

[@adozera8714]

Thank you Tracie and Jen. You have made a difference in many people's perceptions.

[@davidebarbaro6218]

I will miss you, beast-mode Tracie, more than all. Thanks for everything you have done to all who leave, and for everything you’re doing to all who stay. Best fortune in all things

[@j.oaklley8965]

Liers.

[@ladybucket9798]

@@j.oaklley8965 geez, you cant even spell liars correctly and you post it under every comment. how utterly embarrassing.

[@fretnutt72]

@@j.oaklley8965 Cite the lies please

[@AC-gb7do]

J. Oaklley Hey, your bridge called, it misses you.

[@j.oaklley8965]

Get Jesus save yourself from hell!!!!!

[@I_Rayne_I]

Awww. Tracie leaving hurts. 💔 I wish her the best!

[@ssabykoops]

ill miss her too she is fantastic and her arguing skills are top notch, although the term "bodily autonomy" was coming up a lot in her last few shows.

[@pumpuppthevolume]

WHAT :0

[@j.oaklley8965]

Lies get Jesus not evolution.

[@davidsommen1324]

​@@j.oaklley8965 lies will get you to jesus, I'm with you on that.

[@zaodedong9935]

@@j.oaklley8965 I am the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Thou shalt have no other monsters before Me. (Afterwards is OK; just use protection.) The only Monster who deserves capitalization is Me! Other monsters are false monsters, undeserving of capitalization. -Suggestions 1:1

[@Richard-jm3um]

Thanks for all Tracie! We all will miss U!!

[@Yeiyn343]

I can't believe Tracie, Jenn, Phil, and Russel (and a few others) are all leaving. Wow, we just saw them like a week ago. Thank you all for many years on this awesome show that made me question my religious beliefs. No more "Matt & Tracie???" :-/

[@Krikenemp18]

"How can you know God in your heart if it was made for pumping?" Brutal. Absolutely destroyed.

[@melancholyalexx7790]

Fucking Don is awesome 😂

[@jirenthegray2904]

@@melancholyalexx7790 Don's laugh to top it off brings me so much joy! 🤣

[@stylis666]

@WTF Again? And soul means nothing. There are no two people who agree on the definition of what a soul is and does.

[@TheD4VR0S]

@DrJames Powers Attetion christians the good Dr claims jesus was in genesis NOR did jesus do anything you claimed your reading a book of fairy tales

[@melancholyalexx7790]

I love how these Christians VOLUNTARILY come to an ATHEIST video, KNOWING we are athiest, and still try to preach their nonsense, expecting us to be converted or afraid of the consequences of not listening to their lectures. How funny! 😂

[@KT37915A]

I am gonna miss Tracie's smile and her laugh. When she talked to people who called in she always was candid and she always smiled and had a good sense of humor. I wish her the best.

[@toshir0m1]

let's add intellectual honesty. I never saw anyone that honest. Which causes her amazing wits to be actually useful.

[@skepticalpickle5258]

Tracie and Jen were my favorites. I'm really going to miss them.

[@zaodedong9935]

(Profile pic) What form of beast are you?

[@j.oaklley8965]

Shut Matt and all his demons down. Go BIBLE and Jesus!!!!

[@ghost-dc4ll]

@@j.oaklley8965 lol have you commented on comment

[@j.oaklley8965]

Jesus or hell. We have souls.

[@zaodedong9935]

@@j.oaklley8965 I am the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Thou shalt have no other monsters before Me. (Afterwards is OK; just use protection.) The only Monster who deserves capitalization is Me! Other monsters are false monsters, undeserving of capitalization. -Suggestions 1:1

[@DexterDexter123]

It would have been nice to have had a final ‘farewell’ show with those guys. This feels weird.

[@doubledoubleyou2838]

Watch Godless Bitches GB 05.11 with Clare Wuellner, Jen Peeples, Tracie Harris, Serafina Smith, & Mandisa Thomas Also GB 05.12.

[@unit0033]

people move on like Jeff and others, the show goes on...

[@DexterDexter123]

unit 003 yep.

[@timmd8766]

Yeah, the ACA kinda betrayed them in favor of a transphobe.

[@DexterDexter123]

Tim MD I don’t think he’s a transphobe. Btw. But having people work for years on something who many people love and them just silently leaving is just weird and smacks of them being pushed. The daft thing is they would have pushed up the viewing figures if they told everyone it was their last day ah well.

[@jinxy72able]

I can't believe Tracie and Jen are gone. Matt, Tracie, and Jen to me are my atheist experience. Tracie leaving is devastating, she is one of the most important people on the show. I can't can't believe there will be no more Matt and Tracie shows.

[@Reecemacka]

Bring back Jeff d. My favorite host after Matt of course...

[@mariae321]

i know, miss jeff and matt together.

[@d-hunter9801]

Man I so fucking agree with this. Matt and Jeff were the best combination in this show.

[@ASTROPLANET13]

Zues and Hades lol

[@BlahBlooBlee4205]

I especially love it when people bring up hell with Jeff. He buries them into the ground everytime.

[@pollypockets508]

He does non prophets

[@jacobparry177]

"I miss Jen and Tracey so much" J & T: "We're still alive..." "I can still hear their voices sometimes..." J & T: "Stop telling people we're dead!"

[@charliespurr7325]

Lol

[@SapienSafari]

No more Tracie?! Nooooooooooooo!

[@RafaelGarcia-jb3me]

She sucked

[@gabrieldossantos3468]

@@RafaelGarcia-jb3me the sky daddy loves you

[@gerardgauthier4876]

My favorite Christian contradiction. God has a plan and God gave us free will.

[@nathanmckenzie904]

I know right!

[@AC-gb7do]

“When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit! I've often thought people treat God rather rudely, don't you? Asking trillions and trillions of prayers every day. Asking and pleading and begging for favors. Do this, gimme that, I need a new car, I want a better job. And most of this praying takes place on Sunday His day off. It's not nice. And it's no way to treat a friend. But people do pray, and they pray for a lot of different things, you know, your sister needs an operation on her crotch, your brother was arrested for defecating in a mall. But most of all, you'd really like to fuck that hot little redhead down at the convenience store. You know, the one with the eyepatch and the clubfoot? Can you pray for that? I think you'd have to. And I say, fine. Pray for anything you want. Pray for anything, but what about the Divine Plan? Remember that? The Divine Plan. Long time ago, God made a Divine Plan. Gave it a lot of thought, decided it was a good plan, put it into practice. And for billions and billions of years, the Divine Plan has been doing just fine. Now, you come along, and pray for something. Well suppose the thing you want isn't in God's Divine Plan? What do you want Him to do? Change His plan? Just for you? Doesn't it seem a little arrogant? It's a Divine Plan. What's the use of being God if every run-down shmuck with a two-dollar prayerbook can come along and fuck up Your Plan? And here's something else, another problem you might have: Suppose your prayers aren't answered. What do you say? "Well, it's God's will." "Thy Will Be Done." Fine, but if it's God's will, and He's going to do what He wants to anyway, why the fuck bother praying in the first place? Seems like a big waste of time to me! Couldn't you just skip the praying part and go right to His Will? It's all very confusing.” - George Carlin

[@mattjindrak]

Ummmm you don't understand at alllllllll. I don't either but I'll pretend I dooooo

[@porkrinds3]

A god presents itself in order to give a command. Numbers 15:32-36 32 Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died. A god has clearly interacted with humans in this passage, yet no god does it now for 2,000 years. How does a god know a language? Can any god be demonstrated to actually be real in order to confirm that gods know our language? Why did a god supposedly choose a certain race as its supposed "Chosen" race without letting the entire world know of it? Why did a god only reveal itself in the Middle East and not around the world? Gods are not real since theists have not proven gods are real with actual existing gods - this is fact.

[@AkoSiFrance]

I will surely miss Tracie Harris.

[@silenceisnowlochin8468]

You guys changed my life now I feel normal being me thank you ACA for every second u guys take to do what you do ..love and respect always..

[@JohnStoneDavis]

All the best to the folks leaving the show, enjoyed you all immensely. Have to say the Canadian woman who called our Matt as racist because she couldn’t deal with logic was rather ignorant

[@aegisgfx]

yup we have a ton of dubfuk christains here in canada too

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

It was at least something different from the usual religious bullshit.

[@Anna92781]

Don’s laugh is wonderful It’s seriously the best sound ever. It makes me feel happy af lol

[@RadsnRems]

Anna Sorensen I agree!

[@okieyoshimd9817]

It makes me smile too. I enjoy his personality as well, he's like the lighthearted uncle that cracks jokes but they are extremely witty and relevant.

[@vicariouschism86]

He's a beautiful person.

[@crystalheart9]

I enjoy his laugh and good humor as well.

[@robertsumners931]

@Anna Sorensen I agree, i love laughing, it's the best pick me up ever.!!!

[@harrypothead42024]

Matt and Don is my favorite pairing of hosts. I will miss Traci Jen Jon and Phill. I Hope to see or hear from them all again.

[@kobe51]

Matt and Don are my favorite pair too!

[@molsondutch93]

@@kobe51 me too!

[@SOak145]

Saaaaaaame. 👏

[@ExistanceJustified]

I am going to miss Tracie so much. She is my favorite host along with matt. I have also had a harmless lil crush on her for years now :P. Her personality and intellect are beyond words.

[@cameronward9443]

I'm pretty sure that you could make an argument that a Volcano is a pump. Old faithful is a pump. Deep sea vents are pumps. There are a lot of ecological things that rely on deep sea vents, volcanos and gysers. Should we say that they were all designed for this purpose?

[@bayushiyoda1865]

On the pump question, there are blow holes where waves crash into rock structures along the coast that can send a jet of water up into the air due to compression of trapped air. No design required!

[@MehYam2112]

Tornadoes and water spouts, hot/cold fronts, volcanoes - pumps are easy to find.

[@roberthill1166]

Bayushi Yoda But that idiot would just say the blowholes were designed.

[@okieyoshimd9817]

@@roberthill1166 maybe because he, himself, is a blow hole which explains why he thinks he understands it better than logic can describe.

[@mr.d.8121]

Michelle, your story of a person being alone and then emerging to tell a story is the foundation of Mormonism, Christianity, and on and on. As for 'western European ' thinking Japan is one of the most secular countries.

[@spanish_realms]

The accusation made by the woman from Canada that because he questioned the authenticity of a Native American legend (about a mysterious peacemaker figure residing deep in a wood bringing warring tribes together) was a racist was one of the lowest, cheapest, downright disgusting blows I've heard on this show. Matt was rightly applying the same criteria as he does (and everybody else should) to all claims of supernatural intervention: "Where's your evidence?" How do you know there was a "peacemaker" and how do you know he had a positive influence on anything? Legend are legends. Sometimes they contain a grain of truth, but sometimes they're just bullshit, legend of King Arthur, for instance, the sword in the stone and Holy Grail. The scenario presented by the woman lies in the same category unless it can be factually established. To suggest that there is something special about aspects of Native American culture that justifies the abandonment of reason (on the basis that reason is a racially biased, Western European, construct not qualified to critically examine ancient "truths") is the sort of tactic used by religious apologists everywhere.

[@spanish_realms]

Correction: …....bringing warring tribes together) Matt was a racist......

[@cambriaofthevastoceans6721]

@@spanish_realms How was it racist for him to apply the same standards to their legends, as he applies to legends from his own background, and any other legends?

[@YY4Me133]

@@cambriaofthevastoceans6721 Unless I'm mistaken, Purple Leviathan was correcting grammar, not calling Matt a racist.

[@spanish_realms]

As pointed out by YY4Me133, I wasn't calling Matt a racist, I was correcting a sentence by inserting the word "Matt". Just to make it clear, my point is better expressed as follows: "The accusation made by the woman from Canada that because Matt questioned the authenticity of a Native American legend (about a mysterious peacemaker figure residing deep in a wood bringing warring tribes together) he was a racist was one of the lowest, cheapest, downright disgusting blows I've heard on this show." @@cambriaofthevastoceans6721

[@DCBatmanKnight]

Religion mixed with the right-wing is dumb, religion mixed with the left-wing is beyond absurdity

[@brockalbert5111]

The Trans issue really splintered the ACA & AXP. Sad.

[@floraposteschild4184]

Not the issue, but in the petulant way it was handled. I've almost given up on adults handling differences like adults.

[@DavidWMiller]

It's a positive in my book. The very fact that it was an issue suggests flaws in the aims and focus of the organization. There's certainly some overlap between an organization advocating for secular humanism and lgbt+ rights, but they don't need to be one and the same, and for people who want to focus on the "atheism" aspect, maybe they don't want safe space politics to be a regular concern.

[@stylis666]

Brock Albert And you know that how exactly? Or did you just want to throw out a meme as if it's an established fact and hope that no one notices you have a hard time with grammar and typing full sentences like a grown up?

[@stylis666]

@abc def Maybe you're right. That still leaves us with how you're going to show that. Is the timing and a bunch or pretend mind reading really all you have? Because that seems a little flimsy and a lot dishonest. In short, maybe you're right, then you're still dishonest and speculating.

[@uncle-epicurus]

Always loved you & your intelligence on the show, Tracie! Gonna miss you, as well as Phil, Jen & John! Thank you for devoting all of that time to helping all of us around the world! You all have shown the world that atheists are regular, GOOD people! That's the most important part of it all IMO, also to show people that they're probably way more moral than what they worship!

[@BassDroppah]

In summary: - Provide evidence. - Well, da book says stories. - Like Peter Pan? - Yeah. But God wrote it.

[@beckydee715]

Matt, you & the show helped me to become an atheist & get off of the fence. I had not believed in the Abrahamic god in decades but still wanted to believe in something. Now I feel great being an atheist & a humanist. TY.

[@rivermaddison3924]

genuinely upset that tracie has left. does anyone know if she is on fb or twitter etc?

[@jinjdivine4998]

I'm SO SAD about NO MORE TRACEY........ why sky daddy why??????

[@Pyamamannetje]

@@j.oaklley8965 what did they lie about?

[@j.oaklley8965]

Jesus or hell, we have souls.

[@dansoby]

@@j.oaklley8965 prove we have souls

[@fretnutt72]

@@j.oaklley8965 Cite these "lierz" please. Use spell check in the future, chief

[@jinjdivine4998]

@@j.oaklley8965 atheist don't believe in a soul. But you've proved that you don't have a soul or a life

[@zaodedong9935]

Matt and Jen were awesome hosting together.

[@vsolcar3696]

Damn Tracie left? Why!!

[@Yeiyn343]

I know right??? She was just there like last week, and I didn't know Russel left too. Jenn too!!! Dang! :-(

[@joshkirby2372]

@@jaimefernandez2624 Oh shit, Russel left?

[@colaboytje]

They don't need to tell us why. But, it wouldn't surprise me if they left in the aftermath of the RR disaster. We know some people did not agree with the new ACA statement on RR.

[@Blerrycat]

@@colaboytje The issue about trans in sports?

[@colaboytje]

@@Blerrycat Well, that was the context. It's what happened during and after the backlash. I'll miss Tracie.

[@erl7466]

one of the best shows, best tubes, and best collection of reasonable debaters i’ve ever seen. i love the show; every time one of the old guard leaves it’s jarring, but new thins are good too. can’t thank all of you enough for such amazing information, reason and logic training, and entertainment as well. much love and in the control room too!

[@Mariomario-gt4oy]

Sad to see Tracie and the rest moving on. They were such needed individuals to the show. Much respect to them. Also Matt really needs to quit just hanging up on people he doesn't agree with. I get it he said shit about slavery before but not everyone is there to hear it. He's also made every argument against God's existence yet he allow those people to speak

[@rageofheaven]

He only really does it when people become belligerent.

[@Mariomario-gt4oy]

@@rageofheaven yeah but he did it so many times this show I feel it turns people away who are curious at what he would say.

[@rageofheaven]

@@Mariomario-gt4oy You clearly have not experienced Jeff Dee and the eyebrows of fury.

[@laceystinson]

Pumps are generally experienced as involving liquids, but dry material can also be pumped. Examples of naturally occurring pumps: Ocean currents; waves passing through holes in rocks; any rhythmic pressure sieving liquid through pores; plate tectonics with subduction followed by volcanism. Pumps are everywhere. A pump is little more than a cyclic transfer of kinetic energy.

[@MLdoktor]

Very sad to hear them leave and I wish then all the best but some new blood is probably healthy.. but even Tracie leaving is hard :(

[@kbbeats3099]

Tracie????? No!! 😭

[@grandixximo]

Thank you for all these years Tracy, Phil Jen and John

[@MrBOASTMAN32]

I will miss them all. Phil has grown so much since his first episode and quickly became a staple of the show. With that said......Can we bring back Jeff D?

[@chucheeness7817]

I've only seen a few back episodes of Jeff D a while back, never caught him live/recent but I still miss him. I actually like him most as a host.

[@DanielIXVIMCMLXXXI]

They should just call it the Matt Dillahunty show now.

[@johnlopperman2161]

Dan He believes it IS.

[@ecostarr]

Here's the problem with David in GA's claim: He's trying to claim KJV doesn't actually use the word slave to talk about slavery. He's right that it doesn't use the word slave, but it does use the words bondmen and bondmaids. In Leviticus 25: 44-46 it says the following: "Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour." Bondmen and bondmaid are defined as male and female slaves or as people bound in service to another person without wages. Leviticus even describes them as "your possession." So, he's just lying. He's basically trying to weasel out of the whole owning people as property as a linguistic mistake. It's so intellectually dishonest.

[@Jordanmode]

Tracie is absolutely my favorite host. I miss her already.

[@IanJAGreen]

Still missing Russell. I wish he would have gotten a send off too.

[@TheMonty2252]

He had his moments. I felt a lot of the time he dragged discussions away from the callers topic. He also seemed to struggle at being succinct.

[@Tommyr]

@@arthousefilms His sister was also good on the show way back when.

[@markdoldon8852]

I always thought Russell one of the most awkward long term host. Loved his sister, though. She was a natural.

[@rickdees251]

Thank you all Tracie, Phil, Jen and John. MY heart is breaking. I treasured most the relatively few shows with Jen and tracy were together. They were distinctly different than one with another male host. Psychologically the calls were handled quite differently with those two in house. So so sad for me . I wish you all the very best and thank you for the shows you all had done.

[@r.scottmacleod4564]

We're focusing on removing harm...plain and simple. We have no issue with the good stuff, ALL the BAD stuff needs to go! Especially endless unsupported claims. I can't begin to list the things that I've learned from Tracie, Jenn, Phil and John and I sincerely hope you can try to provide us updates on how they are doing? I'm grateful for the opportunity to have been exposed to their thoughts.

[@okieyoshimd9817]

I think the caller claiming racism was a very calculated troll attempt. I think they handled it well enough. Very energetic show today, always fun to listen in. Thanks for the time and commitment to everyone making this possible. I appreciate it.

[@garystevens5015]

Whilst the departing hosts will be missed (Tracie in particular), it doesn't really matter because the show is always vastly superior for having Matt Dillahunty on it - and now he'll be on it more. Matt and Tracie were my favourite combination though.

[@tonyluo4010]

Thank you all for your fine work

[@majorkade]

Tracie was very lovely, too. Wish her the best.

[@monofrida1]

could geysers or volcanoes be considered pumps (that haven't come from a mind)?

[@jgestiot]

What are the odds of several well-established hosts and co-hosts deciding to leave the show at the same time? There has to be plenty of politics behind this.

[@psilynt1]

Transgender politics at that. ACA hosted a KZbinr RationalityRules. After the show, they denounced him because he had previously made a video about transgender folks in sports. He wasn't given a chance to clarify his position nor did they correct any of his mistakes. Just a blanket statement and apology to those who were offended that they had him on the show. He later made a more informed video and ACA gave him an apology. This upset some people in the ACA and they quit. If you ask me, it's for the best. There's some overlap between atheism and LGBTQ rights, but they were a bit too entwined in the organization if this caused a major rift.

[@jgestiot]

​@@psilynt1 I made the very same point in the comment section of one of the Atheist Experience videos. It troubled me how in the last few years, the whole ACA has shifted towards LGBTQ rights, including being disproportionally staffed by gay and lesbians for the top positions, including President and Vice President and a number of leading host/co-hosts of the show who never missed a chance to affirm their gayness. I believe they lost their way when just about every episode became about gay, lesbian, transgender rights and minority rights in particular. If you look at the guests line-up on Talk Heathen and The Atheist Experience over the last couple of years, it tells the story loud and clear.

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

@@jgestiot I’ve watched a lot of episodes of the show from the last few years. I don’t see what you mean. I think you seem to be paying way too much attention to that. I don’t agree with you at all. Though I guess I could be wrong.

[@jgestiot]

@@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr Perhaps you have just been watching the show and not been paying attention to what is happening behind the scenes.

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

@@jgestiot Ok. Perhaps. You specifically said every episode became about LGBTQ+ rights and the hosts bringing up how gay they are, etc. (Not in those exact words, but basically.) That’s what I’m disagreeing with. That’s not behind the scenes. That’s on the show. If that’s the case, I must have missed all those episodes. I haven’t seen that happen at all.

[@jameswest8280]

I love that Matt boasts about being calmer, then proceeds to fly apart like a 50 cent watch.

[@a1612]

I did a project with the Wisconsin counsel of the blind, an art project, where blind people could distinguish the difference between colors by warmth as in red warm blue cool and they were able to produce landscapes or sea scrapes with accurate horizons and presentations of fields of color. Actually quite striking, there was a difference in blind from birth or sighted and lost sight, but still remarkable

[@anonymouswhiterabbit]

“I’m not convinced that a god exists......”. “THAT’S RACIST!!!” Lmao omg

[@jaymorgan8013]

But the great peacemaker!

[@Infidel_hero]

I feel like a lost soul knowing Tracie, Phil, Jen & John have moved on from the show. Thanks for the memories!

[@geraldodonnell2595]

IMO, In book stores, bibles should be with all the other religious books, in the Fiction area.

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

Are they not in the religion area?

[@thevoxofreason8468]

At 4:16: Matt, you'll leave the show when you find Jesus. (Easy now! That was a joke.) Good show. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@j.oaklley8965]

Yyou go to hel without Jesus this is not a joke. Evolution is a joke and so is Matt and his gang of thugs!!!

[@MacLaw3084]

J. Oaklley lol must be comedy hour now. wish i had a joke to tell too

[@j.oaklley8965]

You wwill. Answer to Good. Your soul will go to hell orf heaven. Your soul can't. be explained away by evolution you Jesus haters ALWAYS forget that!!!!

[@AC-gb7do]

J. Oaklley Gloobal and Doctor Powers troll better than you.

[@thomaswigfield7623]

A C I think that they are all the same person using different names.

[@tomasxfranco]

Abe saying "like" every other word was a bit painful.

[@zaodedong9935]

I'm going to miss those hosts, especially Jen, she is an awesome lady, and I love her sarcasm, Tracy was always a shining light, such an amazing personality, and beautiful smile most of the time. May His Noodily Appendage keep them safe, and keep the cheese flowing for them, and provide many meatballs in their lives.

[@zaodedong9935]

@@bboyHogan *R'amen

[@zaodedong9935]

@@bboyHogan He shall cover thee with his spaghetti, and under his marinara shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy parmesian and meatballs. -ProvHerbs 3:17

[@zaodedong9935]

@@bboyHogan R'amen brother.

[@zaodedong9935]

@@bboyHogan I used to believe in Talos, now I only serve His Noodily Appendage. Watch the skies,Traveller.

[@gulgul877]

That's a prayer I can get behind

[@rodzalez8466]

Sucks... if Matt leaves I’ll probably stop watching... that’s everyone almost

[@mbusodlomo6410]

Are we going to be informed about why they chose to leave and why all at the same time??

[@nelsonvecchione2621]

Matt said he was sad to see SOME go. mmmmmm

[@RadsnRems]

It’s possible that they did not like how the trans issue was handled along with the new management etc.. Sucks to see them go

[@markdoldon8852]

Informed? You make it sound like the ACA owes us a report. They dont, it's up to the various players to reveal what they choose to reveal. Historically it's been an internal matter, as it should be. Those who.left all have Facebook and/or other social media if you want to ask them.

[@mbusodlomo6410]

abc def wow!😪

[@Pioootr]

Thank you Mat and other hosts for being there ❤️

[@dishonorably_mentioned]

I wonder what really happened. Does anyone have insight on the "true" reason FOUR hosts quit all at once?

[@stylis666]

Nope. As long as there's no official statement, or a statement of any of the people who left, we can only speculate.

[@dishonorably_mentioned]

@abc def thank you.

[@stylis666]

@abc def _Otherwise, why would 4 prominent hosts who have been on the show for years just suddenly leave at the same time with no replacements?_ And an argument from ignorance is always perfect proof for an event. _SJW types like Tracie and the rest refused to accept anything but 100% bending the knee, so when Matt wouldn't roll over, they ran away._ Citation needed. Or do you just assume that everyone takes your word for it because you claimed that everyone who doesn't accept this as 100% accurate fact is delusional? You would make a great christian apologist. And what makes you think that Tracie is such an SJW type? I honestly wouldn't know because I just don't listen to her that much because she just isn't that smart and insightful, but I always got the impression that she knows that and acknowledges it, so it would seem out of character to me if she suddenly outright condemns a video she knows hardly anything about on a topic she hardly knows anything about. But I suppose that if I don't know something and I don't assume that coinciding events are automatically causally linked in all cases and I don't have an alternative answer then that makes me delusional.

[@stylis666]

@abc def _...you arrogantly project your own certainty into the situation... If you don't even know anything about this situation, then shut your fuckin mouth, sit down, and do some research._ I'm not the one claiming anything nor am I claiming certainty. Apparently you do, so why don't you tell me where to get the information you have, since I am now asking for the second time?

[@stylis666]

@abc def _"coinciding events are automatically causally linked in all cases" This is an asinine straw man that in no way corresponds to my speculative explanation._ Really? You said: _'Anyone who thinks this isn't the reason is delusional... Otherwise, why would 4 prominent hosts who have been on the show for years just suddenly leave at the same time with no replacements?'_ Implying that coinciding events are proof of causation and when anyone is not jumping to the same conclusion with no additional information they're delusional. You even said in another comment I am ignorant of the situation, so you admit that there is a possibility that there are people on this planet who don't know the full context, so how is anyone who doesn't have enough information to get to any conclusion at all going to be delusional when they DON'T jump to your asserted conclusion? How is the decision to not conclude anything when there isn't enough information delusional and how is it wrong for me to ask you what you base your conclusions on? You arrogantly assert that everyone must know that what you think is true must be true with only the explanation being an implication that it coincidental and then the idiotic claim that if you don't accept the assertion based on that implication alone you are delusional. That's implying that coincidence always proves causation.

[@SapienSafari]

If Matt leaves I’m not watching anymore.

[@KT37915A]

I don't think that is gonna happen any time soon. Saying that though, I thought that Jeff Dee was my favorite host ever and he is no longer there, and then Tracie came along and so many others that were just as good in their own way.

[@MacLaw3084]

Nichole same here

[@mobiyus3282]

Well well well. Looks like you aint warchin no more XD

[@Robert-cr4fq]

This aged bad lol

[@tophatxcc]

@SecondaryHomunculusHe has his own show on The Line now

[@jhill4874]

Also, if I were a god with a message I wouldn't have it written in a language that would go extinct.

[@wardkerr2456]

I am not digging for dirt, but I do want to know the reason for the large exodus.

[@wardkerr2456]

@abc def A look at the last two episodes of Godless Bitches was informative. I hope they feel safe in their new space.

[@martinm6368]

God designed giant Magma pumps because he really likes to spread fire and brimstone.

[@colleyhillary5032]

Yes...magma flowing, just like that!

[@FearGFX]

The "demonstrating colors to a blind person" exploration made me think of me explaining to a deaf guy that we can hear his farts, because he didn't know that XD

[@ParkerFriedChicken]

It was Jen's words regarding how the natural world is all she has to evaluate that really got the ball rolling for me in determining whether or not I had a good reason to think there is a god.

[@lambofwrath95]

The look of disappointment on Matt’s face when don made the joke about your heart only pumping, and what I think I saw was him trying to hide a smile was priceless The “Jesus fucking Christ, Don! Classic but bad timing” lol

[@SarahMichel86]

Such a shame that Tracie has left, she is my favourite host :/

[@einsame_Maria]

Tracie was the reason I found The Atheist Experience in the first place And this show has set me free of so much religious bullshit, I could never thank you all enough

[@kobe51]

Martin, Jeff, Don and Matt = The fab four of the Atheist Experience🙂

[@GeneralZod99]

Meh, I would instantly trade out Martin and put Tracie in.....now that is a proper Four Horsemen.

[@iamlegend41288]

Don's laugh is greatest 😂

[@jackmyers2359]

It's irritating af imo. I don't watch too many of the AE shows when he's on the set, he laughs at every fuckin' thing.

[@ryanspangler4569]

His laugh is awesome!

[@geraldodonnell2595]

ADRIAN, " ...Intelligent design ..."? People have an appendix, tonsils and men have nipples. Doesn't seem like intelligent design to me.

[@youtubeisawebsite7484]

Also the whole structure of the laryngeal nerve. Completely bizarre if someone believes an omnipotent, omniscient creator designed that.

[@zaodedong9935]

I think Adrian iss Brett Keane

[@AC-gb7do]

Also, we need glasses? How’s that an intelligent design?

[@inertiaforce7846]

Tooth decay, bad breath, gum disease, inability to drink salt water. Brilliant design.

[@butkusfan23]

inertiaforce the sun we rely on gives us cancer.

[@dogless10]

Oh man, Phil was only on the show a short time! I will miss his enthusiasm and perspective. Best wishes with whatever you’re doing, Phil.

[@johnareias6550]

This talk show is amazing! As long Matt is here , if he leaves the show will die ! No one can disputes like Matt, NO ONE!!

[@Screencappedhats]

Maybe if Matt leaves all the other hosts that he's alienated will come back. I'd much rather see Martin, Russell and Jeff than Matt these days. He's become way too aware of himself so to speak and he's become a total egomaniacal bully.

[@sofabuddha]

Jeff Dee.

[@GeneralZod99]

@@Screencappedhats While I wouldn't go so far as to say that Matt has alienated all the other hosts and that is why they have left, I do share in your assessment of Matt being "too aware" of himself. Don't get me wrong, I love Matt's "in your face" style. It can be very entertaining, but I agree that he has seemed to have really kicked it up a notch. He also enjoys reminding people that he has shared stages with/debated "well known intellectuals". One of the things that makes me chuckle and roll my eyes is when he brings up the book that he is _still_ working on. Matt has lots of different priorities in his life and I am not judging him for not having finished the book yet, but he is fond of doing self-promotion. :) Finally, I have noticed that when Matt appears on Talk Heathen opposite Eric or Jamie, I am beginning to see visible frustration on their part when Matt cuts them or the caller off.

[@factsarestubbornthings6725]

screencapped who are those people? Are they on TAE or other shows?

[@larryfulkerson4505]

whatever happened to david silverman, the past president of the American Atheists?

[@sparticuzj19]

I will miss Phil, the worlds greatest volunteer.😢

[@billmorash3322]

Why did Tracie leave?

[@asdfffs]

Fuuuck I'm gonna miss everybody but especially Tracie, she and Matt have always been my favourites to listen to

[@michaelromero9300]

Capillary action is an example of a pump that is not the result of a biological entity.

[@Cakerzhubby]

YES YES YES!!! That's why in Astronomy, there's a difference between Apparent Brightness and Intrinsic Brightness.

[@casualjules1]

Matt doesn't like it when people interrupt him, but he does it to people just as much.

[@TerribilisScriptor]

he has mentioned tho that he interrupts people for the sake of brevity because of limited time. e.g. if your first few words are garbage he will cut you off to correct you. this has been his stance on interrupting for ages

[@casparuskruger4807]

Oh my oh my. Is the mentioning of the vacating AE members the only thing worthy of comment about this episode for practically every post I've read here? How about a mention of at least how Matt and Don did a great job here showing how a straight-thinking honest mind operates with several callers whose minds are clearly not thinking that way?

[@adozera8714]

Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation Khalil Gibran

[@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr]

I was thinking the same. I’ll miss them too, but I’m disappointed there’s no discussion of the episode. I was hoping to hear thoughts on that Canadian caller.

[@laurieharper1526]

Stick with it, Melanie. It takes courage to stand up to your family and you are obviously courageous. Good luck.

[@DRayL_]

"He tries to fix it...and it goes bad. Then he tries to fix that,...and it goes bad....etc." So, IF there is a god, why should we ever think that "the Heaven" will be any different than all the other "god plans" that failed? O_o

[@brucebaker810]

We get there and it's all shoddy. East Berlin lowest bid contractor level. Interesting sitcom or britcom scenario. We follow a guy who "wants to see the manager". Bureaucracy.

[@a1612]

a geyser is a pump a volcano is a pump change in pressure creates the action of pumping so is physics god yes!!!!

[@brucebaker810]

aha! David was holding Matt to the "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" standard. I wonder if he knows that chunk was added in the 3rd century or later. Note that such a bar would allow criticism or punishment (ie talk or action) only by perfect people. Meaning no one? Meaning no action or even talk of action toward "better"? cf Yahweh's Big Snit about Babel Tower.

[@zaodedong9935]

We will all miss Tracie "Are you a poe?" Harris.❤💕💛

[@barkYdarkATFB]

I’m finding more and more violent Christianity, especially when it comes to gender issues, gays, creation. Lately I get “yelled at” for eugenics, specifically killing black babies... I’m not sure where it’s coming from, I’m guessing it’s a political thing. But, did Matt say “pumpkin loving churches”? What is that? Is that a political thing too?

[@andyrihn1]

The eugenics thing is probably because Margaret Sanger, the woman that started Planned Parenthood, was a eugenicist and racist. As if that has anything to do with the actual debate over whether women have a right to bodily autonomy that includes terminating a pregnancy With regards to the pumpkin thing look into Mr Atheist’s recent videos. They’re basically a cult that advocates killing all homosexuals (and everyone they perceive as homosexual). When Mr Atheist (who is pansexual) called them out and reported them to their various social media platforms for violating terms of service (hate speech) they called him “Mr Pumpkin” because “pumpkins are the biggest fruits around”. He and a big chunk of the atheist community liked that, took ownership of the insult, and have been trolling the cult with various pumpkin related imagery

[@barkYdarkATFB]

@andyrihn1 thanks for catching me up. I’m into nerdy science channels and lately even the discussions of general relativity have degraded into scenes from “the exorcist” It’s hilarious and a little scary.

[@AC-gb7do]

Anthony Davis I’ve been wondering what all the pumpkin stuff I’ve seen was about, appreciate that info!

[@todbeard8118]

The atheist from New Zealand was probably tired of the same stuff from Christians but changing minds is very important, as Matt and Don pointed out and this is also entertainment for some atheists like myself. I look forward to the smackdowns Matt and the other hosts deal out on a weekly basis.

[@huepix]

Not sure what I was wrong about. Pretty hard to expand on my perspective in a few minutes.

[@todbeard8118]

@@huepix Guess I shouldn't have said totally wrong. To me it is entertaining to watch the hosts hammer Christians with contradictions, slavery and atrocities in scripture. Half the time Christians aren't even aware what's in their own bibles.

[@huepix]

@@todbeard8118 happy to discuss what i got wrong but matt kinda sidetracked the conversation and i had a massive anxiety when i went on air. We were talking at cross purposes there and its difficult to stay on track with someone who has been doing it for years when I'm totally unprepared. Matt kinda misrepresented my point and I'm the sort of person who likes to think before I speak, but at every pause he jmped in and said things i agree with as if i didn't. I realise they're limited for time but it was pretty frustrating

[@todbeard8118]

@@huepix I wouldn't be concerned. I changed my comment a bit.

[@jessiesheldon-huffey1824]

Why would you look forward to smackdowns? I think it is ridiculous that this show is labled as a debate when obviously only one viewpoint is being pushed. Also, in one sentence we have Matt talking about how he takes the moral highground, and then he spews out obscenities in the next sentence.

[@TheJonnyzeus]

I didn’t know there were to be some departures. Thanks to you all for your magnificent efforts in shining light into the darkness. You will be missed, and I hope that you make “guest” appearances in the future.

[@lloydhealy]

41:21 matt hangs up the phone on a caller. Question: I love matt, LOVE MATT, but its hard to see him loose his temper more and more easily over the years with stupid callers and hang up on them. Does anyone else think he needs to take a break from this show and get a fresh start in a year+? Love to see if it bothers anyone else. Thanks!

[@Kas-S]

I find it maddening for him to take such an aggressive stance with everyone. No one gets to talk but him. He just can't help himself. And yes, it does make the program hard to watch. He does it on TAE, he does it on Talk Heathen. He truly can not help himself. It was nice to have a wide spectrum of hosts, so we all got a break from Matt. Maybe he does need to step away for awhile.

[@clmBerserker]

The call your pointing too is a caller who wants matt to read him the whole slavery section so he can try to construct a way to worm himself out from that shit. That could take a good 10 - 15 min you think he deserved the time to do that? As for me, if i can predict how the converstaion will go and what the outcome will be, it looses all entertainment value and it makes me glad he hang up.

[@derwolf9670]

I understand Matt. I just watch the show and go into rage mode

[@inertiaforce7846]

Matt isn't perfect and I don't agree with him sometimes when he hangs up on callers but I've noticed other times he's very patient with callers more so than I would have been so instead of criticizing the guy understand that if you're in his shoes you'll probably do a worse job which means Matt should not take a break let him hang up on whoever the hell he wants.

[@inertiaforce7846]

@@David-cn6nq as Matt pointed out and as I feel it necessary to repeat here, that's like saying if I own a gun I support school shootings.

[@jhonesgonzalez7341]

Does San Antonio have an atheist organization? If not, may I suggest San Antonio Texan Atheist Network? 😆