Have Faith In God Or Else!

/ sciencereason ...Have Faith In God Or Else! (The Atheist Experience #570 with Matt Dillahunty and Don Baker).
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[@jimhart1621]

As an admitted alcoholic, I drank myself close to death, and saw my wife, kids, even my dog fading away from me, did I pray for help?: No, I gave myself a choice: Lose it all, or stop drinking. I then started with a brutally honest assessment of my need to medicate, dealt with it, and I am now 6 years sober, and I did it all by my own volition and will; and I/we have have never been happier😄

[@ronaldlindeman6136]

+Jim Hart congratulations.

[@GisherJohn24]

+Jim Hart alcoholism and any addiction is satanic in nature. It's a controlling aspect that satan uses to put you into the darkness.

[@theatheistguard8690]

+Jesus Saves Prove it or quit trolling. Or both. Prove it AND quit trolling. Or just the latter. Quit trolling. Either way, *do something useful* with your time. Here is a good question: If satan even exists, *why* does a god let satan put people in darkness? How fair is it that mere humans have to contend with an evil supernatural being? Please prove satan exists, and then address the immorality of a god that lets an evil super-being mess with mortals.

[@GisherJohn24]

Gregory Dearth Hypothetical, what if God is true and you still want evidence that can see it with your own eyes? What could God show you to prove his existence? Like Jesus did when he was in the flesh and Thomas needed to touch his wounds? I think even if he did that, you would still doubt, then you'd be asking for more proof like miracles and stuff. The miracles of God are right in front your eyes. YOur life is an incredible miracle. Your eye sight how it has you reading this is a miracle. In the end, it's impossible to give you evidence that a debunker/skeptic needs to see the living God. He lives around 24/7. But for me, the creation is more than logical. I have no doubt.

[@theatheistguard8690]

Thanks for accusing me of being dishonest instead of providing evidence. I would expect that if a god existed that god would know precisely what would convince me. Being it the case that I haven't been convinced, even though it is in your god's abilities to do so, then one of two things are possible. 1. Your god intentionally is hiding. 2. Your god does not exist. My existence is not a miracle. It is the inevitable outcome of intercourse. My eye is also not a miracle. They are flawed organs, precisely the result expected from random mutations accumulating due to natural selection. If a god designed the human eye he is a moron. So presenting such things that have a natural explanation (and mundane ones at that) as evidence of a god is just vapid. Presenting things that LACK an explanation also isn't good as then you are just engaging in the logical fallacy of an "argument from ignorance." But I find it odd that YOU have to do this at all... It is almost as if your god can't prove himself to me... Like you have to fight his battles for him... Almost as if he doesn't really exist!

[@weskal5490]

I know a woman who many years ago lost a newborn baby son to SIDS when she was a young mother. She was a practicing christian in some sort of Christian Revivalist church at the time. This church apparently was / is very much into the power of faith and prayer. So the day this terrible tragedy happened this distraught, hysterical young lady understandably contacted the "elders" of her church and begged that they come to the house and pray to god to bring her little baby boy back to life. Sure enough about a dozen church members turned up that day. With her clutching her dead baby boy wrapped in his little blanket, they commenced their prayer ritual that went right throughout the night and into the dawning hours of the next day; all the while she was hoping and praying with every passing moment that god would bring her baby back to life; after all she was taught to whole heartedly believe in the power of prayer and the power of faith and that if you ask you shall receive. But as the dawn of the new day crept into the room the next morning no miracle came, and ultimately the church members decided to call it quits. She of course pleaded for them to stay and continue but they said they could not, that they had done all they could do. But before they left this sobbing young woman with her still holding her dead baby at the door they did offer one possibility why god didn't answer their prayers; that was "somebody in this room did not have enough faith". Of course some christians will argue that she was in the wrong christian denomination and that god still answers prayers, but the question that needs to be asked anyway is, what sort of god watches tragedies like this happen, then expects to be begged for help but then ultimately chooses to do nothing. To me the answer seems quite simple - perhaps a god that doesn't exist in the first place.

[@bewmdogg]

Basic common sense and logic rules out the existence of god. Sadly most people lack these attributes :(

[@harrygearhart4520]

weskal, Yeah buddy it is called reality. Reality is when after three minutes of no oxygen, (unless your in cold water) the brain dies and your dead. I am appalled at how stupid people can get themselves. The snake handlers that pray to god to protect them, ha. ha. ha. then get bit and die. Yeah people just keep it up, it is natures way of removing defective genes from the gene pool.

[@Arkloyd]

You'd figure after an experience like that, the woman would have realized that she worships a fictional character that doesn't answer prayer because it doesn't exist. But I'm not willing to place bets against the experience strengthening her faith somehow.

[@Fullyautomagic]

What if all those people like the same sports team, pray for their team to win and then the team wins? They must all have faith.

[@kenshiloh]

How do you explain those who lose kids, then cling to God all the more? Why is there pain and suffering in the first place? If you are an atheist, I do not know how you even get up in the morning, as the entire universe has turned against you. First, even if you are rich and can buy a yacht, you sail around a world full of starving, hurting people. Have fun while the others rot! Moreover, everything you love will be torn from your clutching fingers at death. As my old buddies used to say, "Life is a bitch and then you die." As an atheist, you came from nothing, are going to nothing, and are, in fact, nothing. Have a nice day! However, there is death and suffering in the world because we have all broken God's law. He is good; we are not. Just know that all liars will have their place in the lake of fire. I do not know what that is, but I am eternally grateful I will never find out. Christ died on a Cross so that we may know the goodness of God. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

[@sub1469]

Praying before tests was my first step towards atheism.

[@moemunny4903]

When I put my fallen out tooth under my pillow and PURPOSEFULLY didn't tell my parents first, and got nothing for it, well that was the end of tooth fairyism for me!

[@bewmdogg]

being 8 years old and seeing how it is all an obvious load of shit was my first step

[@KnakuanaRka]

Two hands working does more than a million praying. Or however the phrase goes.

[@Heygoodlooking-lk9kg]

You failed those tests huh?

[@laydieelle7069]

+John Swanson Hallelujah.

[@randysnewbiebluesrockguita7782]

I love it when two opposing teams pray to the same god to win.

[@imagemfinal]

hahahahahahahahaha how i never though about that? :)

[@MrDigztheswagking]

right its insane

[@robertnett9793]

Imagine: back in the days opposing armies prayed to good and blessed their cannons before going to kill each other...

[@flyingdog1498]

Even better when 2 opposing armies pray to god to help them kill each other.

[@flyingdog1498]

You mean like the Armies in todays Syria does? Or American christians pray to god to kill undocumented works, example, Mike Pence.

[@HalfCrazy520]

I have a friend who is deeply religious. I asked him what gives him such strong faith/where his faith came from. He told me of how he was a raging alcoholic and his life was in the toilet... then he found Jesus and started going to church and his life turned around. Now he is a successful IT guy and makes 6 figures. Yeah... you quit drinking and self destructing and your life got better. Well, no shit, Ironhorse! Jesus didn't turn your life around, YOU DID. Take credit for your accomplishments.

[@charcharmunr]

I still maintain that Christianity destroys peoples' self-worth.

[@pdoylemi]

Funny how you NEVER hear this conversion story: "I was totally healthy, had a great wife and children, a fabulous career, and was very happy, but someone came along with good evidence and convinced me that Christianity must be true." People who are happy and fulfilled don't need this crap.

[@HalfCrazy520]

Pat Doyle Eggzachary!

[@davids11131113]

Or you never hear this story- 'I was a staunch and faithful christian with a good job, wife, and family, but then my daughter got into drugs and my wife became an alcoholic and sleeping around with other guys then I got laid off my job and lost my house'.....although that story happens all the time. It's not like christians lead these wonderful lives all the time, their shit falls apart and they have the same life pitfalls as everyone else.

[@ikatgoat8578]

Pat Doyle Im not happy or fulfilled and i don't need that crap !

[@robhunter6939]

I have evidence of God. He miraculously seals the caps lock on the keyboards of all theists, by virtue of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

[@barnabyaprobert5159]

+Rob Hunter I FEEL THE POWER WITHIN ME! TAKE THAT SERPENTS!

[@FiendMatadorSlayerOfNoobs]

I FEEL THE WARP OVERTAKING ME! IT IS A GOOD PAIN! *Sorry, that was too perfect.

[@cheekymonkey3929]

Me too. He came to my house and here I AM

[@TheTruthKiwi]

Haha so true Rob!

[@Somerandomnobodyonyoutube]

HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH A THING! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PRAY TO JEBUS SO HE CAN BANISH THE DEMON FROM MY KEYBOARD!!!!

[@nastynorm13]

I'm a free thinking moral person.I don't need some "God'.

[@pollypockets508]

Not even da penguin God?

[@kenshiloh]

How can you be a moral person without God? For example, as a Christian, I can point to the Bible and say whether something is good or bad. Yet, how can you do that as an atheist? What 'moral law' can you point to? Atheists have to jump through all kinds of hoops, like "Do not cause unnecessary pain to others." That is not a moral law, but a personal rule! Why is anyone compelled to follow your moral law? You cannot say that I did not warn you! There is an afterlife. If you have lied and stolen, then you are a lying thief, unfit for heaven, and destined to spend eternity with other lying thieves. Hell is torment and it lasts forever. Yet, Christ died on a Cross so that we may know Him. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

[@shaqyardie8105]

@@kenshiloh 'There is an afterlife' - Provide evidence for this please? The problem is that you haven't proven that a god exists outside of a book. You have to prove that a god exists then prove that this god created morals. Morals were created by a society for a society from empathy.

[@kenshiloh]

@@shaqyardie8105 If society creates morals, then do you have a problem with East and West coast gang morality? They have their moral codes, you have yours. Who says your society is better than another's? You cannot say that I did not warn you. To say that society creates morality is to be amoral. If you die in your amorality, then you will spend eternity without morals. You say that morality is based 'empathy'? What about the Roman blood sport, crowds cheering over people being ripped apart by lions. Hell is the lack of empathy. You want proof? First, Christ is a valid option for truth. Secondly, trusting your own intellect is foolish, as you have been wrong many times before. Third, Jesus said, "Whoever asks, receives." If you ask to know Christ with an honest heart, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, born again. Any reasonable person would consider Christ as an option for ultimate truth, as even our time, 2024, is based on Him. Jesus died on a Cross. If you really are honest about wanting truth, then say to God, "Jesus, if you are real, I accept your gift of eternal life." Are you will to do that? So far, none of the 'honest' atheists have agreed to do so. I hope they don't all wind up suffering in hell forever. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

[@rogersowerbutts2261]

Thank God I am an atheist.

[@shawnsimmons1308]

"For every player who credits God for the win, a player from the opposing team can logically blame God for the loss." - Neil deGrasse Tyson

[@cameronvadnais4388]

Yeah, I never understood that line of logic either. Even when I was a believer.

[@Frankya92]

Cameron Vadnais same

[@Hopesedge]

Even if God did exist, praying wouldn't do anything, his "divine plan" kinda predicts everything that's gonna happen, you honestly think praying will make him rewrite the entire plan? There are so many contradictions in theists beliefs that often times I'm at a loss for words.

[@bewmdogg]

dude, religious people aren't interested in things that make sense.

[@anthonylong9067]

bewmdogg they also say “everything happens for a reason” Ok. So it’s god’s plan for a 6 year old child to suffer from leukemia? Children should be playing in sandboxes. Not strapped to a bed with an IV in their arm. I also find it shocking that christians have the audacity to say “oh god healed the child that suffered from leukemia”. So let me get this straight. Part of god’s plan was to have this child nearly lose his/her life to this disease only to have that child survive to receive praise from the family of that child? Egotistical asshole. And if that child didnt survive, they say “everything happens for a reason.” And “god needed another angel” or some shit. That means god’s plan was to completely ruin a family’s lives.

[@sheezamann2724]

@@anthonylong9067 we could say the same thing about all the people that have starved to death...WHY would a loving god...do that to someone?

[@anthonylong9067]

Sheeza Mann clearly they didnt pray hard enough (Sarcasm)

[@kenshiloh]

In all love and respect, you are so wrong about prayer. First, know that most professing 'Christians' do not know God. Yet, those who do, are being transformed into the image of Christ. You are either growing more wicked by the day or more righteous. God is perfect in morality and only those who are born again may know God. Christ died on a Cross so that, just by asking, we may know Him. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

[@captainobvious2435]

I wouldn't be too surprised if that stuff about Mother Theresa were true. I had a step dad somewhat like that; he called himself a good christian but loved for others to suffer. When people in church or at work were doing well in life and felt good about themselves, he would say they were dark, evil, wicked, selfish, and prideful. He would then grab his bible and look up verses to use against them. However, if they were later suffering, he would put a caring, sympathetic tone in his voice while listening to them. He was once listening to someone who use to do well then had a hard time. As he was listening to all these sad things, my step dad was saying "Good, yes, yes, yes, good, good, yes." He then walked away without any comforting words saying "Good, good, good..." He actually enjoyed the suffering. He called himself a christian but he hated seeing anyone else but himself do well and loved watching others suffer. Watching others suffer ,christian or atheist, made him feel really, really good. It was really, really sick.

[@Pumpherstonsmith]

It`s called Schadenfreude

[@happyguy650]

Boston Legal?

[@happyguy650]

Principally they are wicked human beings although thay may not realise it but they are.

[@trishayamada807]

Captain Obvious well it’s like when they tell you they will see you burn in hell. They are kind, loving people, who can’t wait to see people be tortured for eternity. Incredible. Christianity is a religion of peace and love as long as you do as you are told.

[@anthonylong9067]

Glen M because nothing says “im a loving christian” more than threatening someone with eternal torture of they dont believe in the same shit as you

[@jennadon8224]

I love the atheist experience. Thank you to all the hosts past, present & future!

[@lex3729]

Faith is like "Dumbo's" feather, he actually had the ability to fly, all on his own, and didn't need it.

[@kevrocks01]

That has to be one of the most frustrating and dishonest things about religion. Your never allowed to take credit for the things you do, only god gets the credit, and people can't even comprehend how they got through their problems without god. I have had some bad trials and tribulations in the last 7 years, (it's in this time I became an Atheist), and I have been able to overcome many of my problems, and I was the one who changed, with no intervention form an invisible friend. And I'm not waiting for god to solve the rest of my problems, (and as near as I can tell from christians, god will just get to it whenever he feels like it), I'm asking myself what I need to do to resolve these issues. And I liked the part of this video about sincerity. I was talking to a christian about my former church life and told her that church never did anything for me. She told me that I wasn't trying hard enough and that if I did, god would reveal himself to me. That's one of the things I hate most about religious people, is that if a person is an Atheist, it's just because they aren't trying hard enough. I was trying to be nice to my friend and didn't bring up Matthew 6:7: "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Doesn't sound like jesus likes the whole try harder thing, does he?

[@pdoylemi]

Yeah. Even though I am a huge MSU fan, when the Spartans made it to the Final Four their star guard (a nice kid, I'm sure) immediately said, "God is good... god has been so good to us..." I guess that god didn't like the Louisville team, and never mind the hundreds and hundreds of hours of work and preparation that you and everyone else in the program committed to getting there. It all god - shit.

[@kevrocks01]

eddiewinehosen I totally agree. In the United States you can't get through one game without someone pointing to the sky, and the cameras make a special effort to show this, or any form of team prayer, or people in the stands praying. You nailed it, when they score, do well, etc, it's praise god, but when they drop a pass, miss a shot, etc, it's all on them. I like your use of the word illogical, it totally fits. If their was a god, I'm sure he would have more to do than help an athlete score. I once heard someone say they wanted an athlete to give god the finger when they screwed up, lol.

[@kevrocks01]

NoneOfYour Beeswax Very well put!! Nothing more irritating than an athlete pointing to the sky. I just wish one of them would flip god off when they make a mistake.

[@PhillyEaglesFanatic]

this may or may not encourage you, but I have a somewhat similar story to your story. I think our "will power" is simply due to genetic variation, and maybe some new genetic mutations thrown in. its like how there are probably some lions in a population of lions that are more aggresive than other lions. is it because the more aggressive lions have stronger wills? no. to quote pearl jam, it's evolution baby.

[@Yamamas]

once I gave a christian a ride home from work. on the way he told me god gave him the ride.

[@bewmdogg]

lol I went to a Salvation Army joint to fix their computers and the guy there said something like "god sent you here". In my head I was "No my fucking boss sent me here you fucking idiot" He meant well but jeez clearly indoctrinated.

[@JohnMorris-ge6hq]

Did you toss his Christian ass out of your car?

[@kirikakirikakirika]

The only thing I am is a stranger to you. If you can't handle the truth don't come here. You click a video concerning "The Atheist Experience" and tell people they really think god is real, and expect no response? Unless I believe in your god you'll always consider me "rude, obnoxious, and hateful" when really I'm quite the opposite to all of those. Rude and obnoxious is telling people what they believe in and how they should act. As for hate, well, Christians hold the title for that.

[@KirkSH52]

Matt is right! I am in college and now thanks to Matt's advice I am going to be successful! I'm going to study!!

[@Polar702bear]

KirkSH52 It's been 3 years, how did you do?

[@aggie7756]

KirkSH52: yeah, how did go with your college endeavors?

[@humbertojimmy]

One think that has always crossed my mind whenever i was told the story of David and Goliath was that David did not deserve his victory. Think about it! A fair fight is supposed to be between 2 men with no outside help. If you pray for God's help prior to the fight, isn't that cheating? And not just a minor cheat. You're asking for the help of the MIGHTIEST guy around, so what chance does your oponent stand???

[@Amigo21189]

+Jimmy David And that's ignoring the fact that gigantism is a sickness known to make its sufferers large but feeble, fragile, and often blind, while David was a healthy young man wielding the bronze-age equivalent of a .357 Magnum. David and Goliath isn't the story of an underdog winning against terrifying odds, it's the story of a bully murdering a cripple.

[@humbertojimmy]

***** Haha, i had never thought of it that way, but yeah, i guess we could also see it like that. Furthermore, weapons that can hurt at a distance have always been a tremendous advantage in the History of wars. A sling versus sword fight can actually be of great advantage to the first.

[@brucebaker810]

+Jimmy David Plus...Projectile weapon! 1. Clever? Sure. Fair? No way. 2. What? No one else had a sling...a bow...some spears?? Typical mythic archetype.

[@trent0heart]

+Jimmy David Hell, when you think about it, debating a Christian is supposed to be a fight not unlike David and Goliath; These people are supposedly always backed up by a supernatural, all-powerful god.... And yet they're continually trounced. Time and time again, as far as this analogy is concerned (and ignoring the whole gigantism sickness thing) Goliath treads on David and grind him into the dirt.

[@alphabeta591]

RICO!

[@steadyjumper3547]

My parents once told me to pray before tests, when i thought that i shouldn't because that was cheating. Ya i was atheist when i was 8.

[@AnonymousKid119]

Lol

[@13unner]

If you thought praying would have an effect, you weren't an atheist ^^

[@steadyjumper3547]

ha, when i finally did, i got a F

[@hitchslap8802]

Imagine how well prayer works during the Superbowl or The World Series. Some of the people are praying for Team A, and some are praying for Team B. One group of people will praise Jesus, and the other group will see his middle finger go up.

[@steadyjumper3547]

Nice point

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

Oh mother Teresa the ghoul of Calcutta

[@paulmayta6792]

If I missed something Im sorry.

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

Paul Mayta read up about her and you will understand.

[@paulmayta6792]

Im sorry for my late response. First things first there would be very few that have not heard the Gospel. Since missinarys have strsgically mapped out the Globe and have gone to utter most parts of earth with the Gospel. But if some remote tribe has never heard the Gospel. The God of all the earth will do what's right. Romans one says that the invisible things from the creation of the earth even reveal His eternal God head so they are without excuse. You should read the chapter. If the tribal person saw the creation the 86 00000 million miles away but provided perfect Heat and light, the stars more then the grains of sand. The changes in seasons. The mircle of water think of its uses. And sincerely gave thought. God would give them sufficent light to bring them into a relationship with Himself. I was hardest partying whoremongering blaspheming goddless man u could imagine. But when a missinary came to my door. I listened when God spoke threw Him. I acknowledged it was God. Three weeks later I was saved. acts 14, says God hath not left Himself without a witnesses, but hath done Good sending us rain and four fruitful seasons filling us with food and gladness. I hope this Helps. I will do the best I can.

[@paulmayta6792]

If I am please show me WHAT Im missing.

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

Paul Mayta I have, several times in fact.

[@leegleissner9771]

I hate to say it but I like some of the Atheists better than some of the faithful. They are often more kind and better behaved. People should stop putting them down. If people have a right to evangelize people have every right to express they do not believe in this crap anymore.

[@FutureComputing]

I used to pray and go to church. Praying made me feel better, for sure, but one night i decided to talk to myself instead. Worked the same.

[@pthompson108]

If the founders of Norte Americano were atheists, then it may have been possible to have settled and enjoyed a peaceful coexistence with the 1st nation tribes instead of the genocide that took place. The same thing happened here in Australia. A systematic wholesale slaughter, which was largely fueled by a puffed up xenophobic, and religious belief that they were "civilized" .

[@massiveannie2358]

pthompson108 and the north american slaughter was feeble compared to the spanish atrocities in south america. ps: the stolen gen and early slaughter over here, while technically on a smaller scale, is an atrocity when you consider it on per capita

[@stabarnak9841]

Do they really think an omnipotent being that created the universe gives a damn about something as trivial as who wins a sport's match? Do they even realize how brief a 2 hour game is to an eternal lifeform - not to mention the brevity of a human life. Any super-deity wouldn't even know you exist coz you're born and long gone in 1 quadrillionth (to the quadrillionth power) of a blink of its eye!!

[@PaganMinn]

my mother told me i should beleive just to be safe. my thoughts are if you have to beleive somthing simply because youre afraid of not beleiving it is a horrible reason. im agnostic i dont believe in any religion on this earth but i believe somthing after death. what it is no one knows but i know it doesnt come from a book written by old men thousands of years ago.

[@kobron1559]

Tell her to search up Pascal's wager. I also hope something happens after death but there's just no way to know now based on our knowledge of "life" and "death"

[@thejackanapes5866]

+Dalton Dohanich A case can be made that might be possible for some kind of continued awareness after death. Consciousness is demonstrably a result of physiology, which, fundamentally is energy in a specific pattern. If a specific configuration of energy can produce an awareness, perhaps that awareness can continue in another form. (First law of thermodynamics; energy neither created nor destroyed). I don't see how it could be "eternal" (2nd law of thermodynamics). ORCH-OR Theory (it's not a theory, really) of consciousness is a potential interesting take on this. I don't personally believe this is necessarily the case, I have no way of knowing.

[@BruceWayneofCamelot]

Pascal's wager. Repeatedly been proven to be a horrible reason to believe something. Tonight, a jihadist is going to saw your head off with a dull knife unless you believe Mohammad flew to heaven on a flying horse.

[@sheezamann2724]

pagan mn----STRAIGHT MEN

[@trimblejimi69]

God saved me from believing in God.

[@keeleeng]

Love the intro song.. good choice

[@nctunes]

Very good, praying in school is cheating on a test. lol

[@Neanderthalcouzin]

The closing statements they make at the end completely made my day, I love the way they said it in this recap style tone.

[@itgscv]

What proof, I would love to see that. There has been a lot of research done and there is no consensus that jesus was a person at all

[@kosys5338]

My brother was a christian alcoholic, who wasn't able to get himself sober until he let go of his religious BS and his invisible friend that he called god. He has been clean and sober for 20 years now and he's never looked back or missed religion. He is now a successful business owner. You really learn who your friends are when your down and out, fortunately he found my advice better than the advice he was getting from his invisible friend (god).

[@sarcipious3]

I SAY TO ALL FAITHFULL. I AM GOD ! ACCEPT SARCIPIOUS AS YOUR SAVIOR OR BURN IN HELL ! WHAT PROF DO YOU HAVE I AM NOT GOD ? NONE ! SO BELIEVE OR BURN !

[@Drakonis.Imperial]

Oooooh, I would, but I already gave my faith to Sarcipious B......you see....He offered cookies.

[@privatecaboose250]

Oh Almighty God, can you give me $50 Billion ?

[@na7vy990]

Sheppard "No, but I can give you cancer!"

[@chaimavet9893]

Oh my! Ive finally found you! People always ask if Ive found you and I say to them "I didnt know he was lost" But now I can truly say ive found god! HI GOD :)

[@ItMeT0ken]

Ok, god. Give me $300 million dollars.

[@tedgrant2]

I'm not afraid of hell because I've been told that God loves me dearly.

[@sheezamann2724]

SOMEONE lied to you

[@tedgrant2]

@@sheezamann2724 It's better than the truth.

[@sheezamann2724]

@@tedgrant2 so....god is all knowing, all loving and all powerful...am i correct?---if so, then HE Knows all those people were going to starve to death.....a bit ..SADISTIC isn't it?

[@tedgrant2]

@@sheezamann2724 God is what ever we want her to be. Software is designed, although it doesn't exist. Likewise, God is designed. My God has nice legs, a pretty face and she loves me dearly.

[@ross-carlson]

I once saw a speaker who was a recovering alcoholic who owned a successful restaurant. He kept saying "I didn't do this, God did" about his success and recovery. I finally raised my hand and asked "how did god do this, it seems you did all this?" but he couldn't see that - he couldn't take any credit or pride in what he'd done. It was all from and for god. Absolutely absurd.

[@starfishsystems]

Bonus points for opening the show with a Mark Knopfler tune.

[@karlrschneider]

Money for nothing is precisely what church offerings are.

[@SeRoAnthem]

Don's little "learn the crap" after the study but is fucking hilarious for some reason

[@Carelock]

For me personally, Don Baker’s laugh is warmer and friendlier than any religious experience...I want to call him Uncle Don...

[@anthonylong9067]

If god didnt give free will, then I wouldn't have become an atheist.

[@pdoylemi]

I wanted to be a lawyer, but was too lazy. I decided, instead of going to school and asking Jesus for help with my tests, I'd just pray for the knowledge directly and then go take the Bar exam and save Jesus the trouble of intervening in all the many, many tests in law school. One quick intervention, and I'm covered. Haven't passed the bar lately...

[@kirikakirikakirika]

I know all that, but many scholars and historians do agree that Jesus was an actual man over 2000 years ago. Whether he had super powers or not is another thing.

[@merrywhiterose]

My dad was considered to be a "good Christian". He beat his wife & kids regularly & never even apologized afterwards. So, now all the kids are grown & have hardly anything to do with my parents. My mom chose to stay with him, despite family members taking her in, when the beatings were at their worst. So we feel that both of them deserve the loneliness they now have.

[@dejesusluisx]

@truesouljs I have also a friend that was a street living heroin addict. He decided to go to the church and was cleaned the same night he accepted the Lord as his savior. No sickness. Now he belongs to a music ministry and gives testimony of his ordeal.

[@CynicalSkeptic1]

"Pascal's last words were, "May God never abandon me." Yes, and Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli hasn't abandoned him to this day. He even forgave Blaise for believing in the wrong god.

[@compwiz101]

*Jesus, palming food dye into the water* "And now, it's wine!"

[@MrFungus420]

That has nothing to do with what I said. "Good" is not something that exists in and of itself. It is a description. To say that "good" exists is like saying that "tall" exists.

[@MrWINNSLAW]

"More and more people are waking up! The days of religion are numbered!"

[@patientestant]

Reversing my bad self judgement depressing feelings by telling myself, "I am not a victim." Really helps me sometimes, not all the time. Third wave psychology helps too. First wave is Freud, thoughts are the key to our suffering. That leads to obsession over negative thoughts. Second wave is thoughts don't really matter, just don't think about the negative thoughts. This doesn't help, because it is like saying don't think about a purple elephant and you can't control your thoughts. Third wave is that your negative thoughts don't really matter, you naturally focus on the most negative parts of your life, so think about the negative thoughts and make them seem ridiculous or take them to a ridiculous extreme. For example, loneliness. "I am so lonely. No one wants to be my friend. I am terrible at conversation. I am worthless." Well it is perfectly natural to have those thoughts. Think, "well I may be bad at socializing, but I am definitely not as bad as Jessie. I probably won't be single forever. This is just a phase. Even if I am alone forever, life isn't so bad."

[@XGralgrathor]

« I demonstrate it by breathing » Breathing does not require gods.

[@XGralgrathor]

« The fact that you are alive at all » Is proof only of the fact that I was born and did not die since.

[@PreacherGreg1]

Neither one would affect us if there had never been sin, but because of sin, these can be lethal to us.

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 ""i know it hasnt tried to communicate with me...."" believe me, he has tried and he keeps trying, right now is trying through me. God communicates with us in many ways. I have received visions, flashes, dreams, biblical passages that answer a specific concern, question or problem I might have. The problem is the communication is very subtle and personal, you might dismiss it easily. If you are open you'll start to see. Pray, meditate, it took me a few years but it was worth it.

[@achritushunter6950]

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 1 corithians 4:6

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 ""my body is mostly matter"" your body is both matter and energy, furthermore, the matter your body is made of was itself made out of energy. The space between quantum particles is filled with energy, so in theory, if you count that energy as part of your body, it means that the amount of matter in your body is negligible compared with the amount of energy. ""it behaves a a particle....not a wave"". At a quantum level all particles behave as waves. That is the key to the secret ...

[@zenun7]

@TheHomelessCripple That is a awesome point i never thought of.

[@Neku628]

We may not be created equal, but we are all entitled to the same protection under the Constitution.

[@XGralgrathor]

« He didn't create an imperfect universe! » Virtually all of it is lethal to us. Certainly, if there existed a god who intended to create humans and created the universe as a habitat for humans, it would have made the place a little cozier.

[@stop.juststop]

As someone who jas a hard time forgiving himself for making mistakes, especially repeatedly, I can say I see the benefit of believing in a god who forgives you no matter what your sin. In essence, you are forgiving yourself, but that doesn't matter. It helps people to move on. Unfortunately, I can't believe without sufficient evidence so I'm stuck working through issues and slowly bettering myself while still making new mistakes.

[@glynismclehan4844]

y tho? tell me why?

[@PreacherGreg1]

I can assure you that I am not on here just to cause problems. I truly believe what I say and I enjoy debating with people. To me, what doesn't make sense is to believe that this life is all that there is.

[@BastEternal]

@GrandeRio01 You don't CHOOSE what to believe. There's a reason WHY you believe, and it had nothing to do with choice. I don't CHOOSE to believe that gravity is pulling me down towards the earth. I don't CHOOSE to believe that the sky is blue or that rain falls from rain clouds. WHY do you believe in a deity?

[@XGralgrathor]

« where did the seed come from? » From earlier plants, from earlier seeds, from ... ... ... earlier algae, from yet earlier algae, from earlier single-celled organisms, and so on, right back to the origin of life.

[@achritushunter6950]

to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. isaiah 42:7

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 ""what exactly has god shown you?"" just too many things to mention in this limited space. ""in what words?"" neither words not images, it was understanding, clarity. One moment and I knew the answer of a particular question, or I posed a question and received a biblical passage that had the answer. There's no voice, only flashes of knowledge. ""perhaps i'll have to wait more"" not good enough, you need to take as step that assure you're sincerely open minded and want to know the truth

[@laydieelle7069]

The mother of a friend of mine told me she believes in god. She looked me in the eye, an intense look on her face - for a second I thought she would pop with all the concentration she was putting into it. Turns out, THAT was her sales pitch. "I believe Jesus will return one day. That's what I believe". Hard stare. Didn't bother her when I said she's literally waiting for billions of people to be massacred. Her: "whoever is left standing, that's when we'll find out who's right". Me: "so this is a 'who's right' game for you" Her: "no." Me: "so who is going to die when Jesus comes?" Her: "the enemy" [she knows I'm an atheist] Me: "I'm not the enemy" Her: "no." [she alluded to the enemy being something like "evil" or whatever. Implication of a non-being] Me: "then why is it billions of PEOPLE who are going to die?" No answer.

[@SlashThred]

Nahnah, you don't get it. Like if everything were connected by bits of string, and when you push two objects together, it pulls all of the strings around them together. Gravity is an observable effect rather than a cause.

[@dejesusluisx]

@hanspeterpitsch ""we should be sure"" if you decide to give it a chance, I'm sure you'll get to that conclusion. ""his properties and plans"" His properties are energy and consciousness, and His plan is for mankind to form one body as he has formed one body with the universe. He wants mankind to be like Him to be with Him. God doesn't reject the sinner, rejects the sin but if you don't reject the sin you would just destroy yourself. Everyone needs God to have peace, truly love and be 100% human

[@YY4Me133]

No, you don't get it. Take all the foods you do like, and eat only them. You won't enjoy them all equally, thus you can compare what you kind of like, what you like, what you really like, and what you really, really like.

[@XGralgrathor]

« He also created photosynthesis » Photosynthesis is a chemical effect naturally occurring where certain chemicals are present in proper ratios. Again, no gods required.

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 "it depicts YHWH as a monster" indeed to us in this time, but the book wasn't written neither for us nor for this time. Most of the old testament depicts God as a harsh, ruthless, commanding God worthy of fear. That depiction of God was needed for a society of ignorant goat herders that needed to get the courage to face a hostile world that was out to annihilate them. Their social consciousness was equivalent to a 2yr old, and if you are a father you know you can't reason w/ a 2yr old.

[@saphrix4587]

“God” gets all the credit but none of the blame.

[@dejesusluisx]

@LondonIrishRover ""But that is no justification for anyone else to believe it,"" Of course not, I'm glad you pointed that out because that's exactly what I've been trying to tell you. No one can convince you, you have to convince yourself. That is why the evidence for God will always, forever, and unequivocally, be personal. My only purpose is for you to keep looking, not to close your mind. There is a voice inside of you telling you I could be right, listen to it, that's the Holy Spirit.

[@stuboy261]

At least you learned as you went on, gotta be happy for that. and after being taken in by something like that you do learn good habits like how to question all the right things in the right way and at the right time.

[@LJY08]

I honestly believe that the reason a lot of people 'find god' when attempting to overcome addiction or escape an unsavoury life is because it allows them to evade the responsibility of their own choices and to evade making any choices in the future. By saying I had the devil inside me and now I have Jesus is basically saying that the devil made me do it so how could I have been responsible for my own actions? It's just another form of mental immaturity.

[@kirikakirikakirika]

Oh, yeah, right. I don't know why I bothered asking for an explanation. I'm just so used to having rational conversations...

[@dejesusluisx]

@Buddhabright ""I wouldn't admit to being given a papal *anything*."" A papal seal is the same as a royal seal, this was a wax button stamped with a seal closing the envelope, to assure the person to be given the message that it was authentic. In my case, the "papal seal" (or "royal seal" it really doesn't matter how you call it, but I was give that name) was another message which answers the most fundamental questions physicists have today. I'm afraid your bias don't let you see or understand.

[@Alphacat1100]

Missing the point about phrasing- “...all men are created equal...”

[@sabin97]

@dejesusluisx "believe me, he has tried and he keeps trying, right now is trying through me. " nah, a being who is powerful enough to violate the privacy of my most intimate thoughts is powerful enough to communicate with me directly....and if violating the privacy of my most intimate thoughts is not a breach of free-will neither is communicating with me directly

[@dejesusluisx]

@Gnomefro "How do you know this?" This was a revelation, I visited the place, the reference of fire comes from the anxiety, it feels like it burn you inside. Is a horrible sensation, because you don't have a body, and no movement, so there's nothing you can do about it, the feeling of impotence and regret is overwhelming. Due to translations and errors, the Bible can only give you a general inspiration about a subject, anyone can get lost in the details, don't read it literally.

[@achritushunter6950]

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”romans 1:17

[@truesouljs]

What these guys say is true...I quit Heroin after an 8 year addiction. When my father found out he said "Great, our prayers have been answered!" I just thought "My dad has such little belief in me that he thinks his "god" got me off drugs. I felt like yelling at him: "It's nothing to do with god!..it was just me! I went through 2 weeks of horrible sickness getting that crap out of my body! NOT GOD!" Religious people get me so angry. They believe nonsense with NO PROOF!

[@twiggy885]

Hitchen's Razor: "What can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence."

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 ""how exactly does this divine consciousness feel?"" If I knew that, I would be in another dimension. ""but sadly the times i've done that it has been all me...no other consciousness helping"" how do you know you weren't helped? How do you know God isn't talking to you right now and telling you: "he might be right, listen to him". You wont know until you open yourself to the possibility. You got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

[@Elanchana]

I just love the way Matt says "you're CHEATING!" Can I get a button I can press that says that please? XD

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 ""the correct way to interpret the curse"" several, first Jesus wanted to show his disciples not only his power over nature but that they had this power too, as to give them confidence to what they will have to endure after. Second, that set the stage and a mindset for the teachings that happened in Jerusalem after. Third, is another symbolism for the disciples that demonstrate that God's expectation is that they produce fruits (Mat 7:15). He wanted this image to be remembered always.

[@mkrulic517439]

"...so that his children could stop killing each other." but if everything was rosy then we would hate everything rosy. for there to be good there has to be bad. you cannot have one polar extreme in complete absence of its polar opposite.

[@Anglomachian]

Good and evil are labels attributed to actions, what people get wrong is when they assume it to be a force that infests people

[@tv0039]

yes having faith in ones self comes first, but then you will need to apply it to your life without fear or bondage to another,and to be able to use your inner personal intestinal fortitude,will to do so,and gained knowledge you will indubitably become stronger, smarter, faster,and ultimately more divine if one so wishes on their path to death in understand their own personal experience in life within the reality in witch they have been subject to exist in of either there own will or an others

[@dejesusluisx]

@nikmindage ""would have been able to forgive his children"" God can't forgive someone who doesn't want forgiveness. ""allow his closest son to be brutaly tortured and die"" that is how much God loves mankind. The Bible isn't a book is a collection of books written by men over many centuries. Some books and passages require interpretations and others doesn't. That is why you need spiritual guidance when reading the Bible.

[@JoeBudd-D]

yea but u know how in life some things just are the way they are? Sometimes things are not fair. But that doesn't mean you have to complain. You have the same opportunity to get saved as everyone else does.

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 ""if i claim they do i better be ready to prove they do"" the only was only meant as a conjunction between your statement and mine, not as a qualifier for my statement. Besides, you can say flying dogs exists, no one will care, so either way, you aren't disproving my statement. ""believed the earth was flat, they were dead wrong"" great point, and more in my favor. Galileo didn't said: the earth is round prove I'm wrong, he gathered the evidence and presented it. Thanks for the example

[@pdoylemi]

I can accept that. In fact, You have caused me to rethink. After Hitler believed he was doing good. His delusions caused him to be a horrible person, so the same can be said of her. I still don't think that disqualifies her for sainthood, but that is only because the standards for it don't truly require one to be that good because the standard is so subjective. If obedience to god's word is a primary driver, she could qualify as long as they invent some miracles to attribute to her.

[@dejesusluisx]

@LondonIrishRover ""Why would I not be willing to see the evidence?"" because asking for it isn't the same as looking for it, asking is an exercise in laziness. No one will convince you of anything, you have to convince yourself of the truth, and the only way to find the truth is looking for it. ""Get this right."" I got it, is a rejection, a claim, but, without evidence, therefore faith. So, atheism is religion, got it.

[@XSDarkMoonZX]

@SkepticsUniverse2: Sorta...unless they cry and demonstrate immense sadness when somebody dies. If these religious people REALLY thought that their loved ones were going to go to heaven, why would they cry out of sadness? They're not crying out of happiness or optimism because they get mad if you ask them why they're crying.

[@Tooopper]

You said that for there to be good, there has to be bad. I said that I agree. One side will give rise to another. It won't disappear, but it can be moderated. Unless I've misread it, then I apologize.

[@PreacherGreg1]

You said that sin only requires payment because I had been told so, but our law, which is based on Biblical law, requires payment when a law is broken. Sin is the breaking of God's law...and must be paid for. There is no contradiction in what I said. God requires payment for our sins, and He provided that payment. It is completely free to you, therefore, He forgives you freely. What is more irrational than the idea that everything around us just happened by pure chance?

[@GODSGRL27]

I'm not insulting anyone. I think you will be surprised to hear that there are people in Haiti who believe in God & believe He has not forsaken them.

[@tv0039]

this is exactly right, I have died 3 times in my life and had a very unique experience, witch was a major reason for 360 degree change in my personality, my thoughts & understanding to life and existence, because of this direct physical experience I have a higher IQ, and the ability to better teach my self and learn any thing I have under taken in the past 7 years it has been astonishing to me and my family I am the one in my family to finish collage with 3 degrees 4 certifications and more

[@SlashThred]

@benmendez You'd be surprised to know, there actually is no gravity. Big objects pull little objects towards them in exactly the same way that a tennis ball will roll towards a bowling ball on a trampoline. Space bends around it.

[@dejesusluisx]

@sabin97 ""if violating the privacy of my most intimate thoughts is not a breach of free-will neither is communicating with me directly"" violating the privacy of your thoughts is at worst an invasion of privacy, not a breach of free will. Now the thing is that your thoughts are waves of energy emanating from you consciousness, so they are indeed very public to God. They are private in our dimension but in God's dimension they are posted on a billboard.

[@xtina2189]

I remember hearing bullshit like, "if your prayer doesn't come true, you still have sin somewhere in your life", "not enough faith" & various other ways to explain away why god doesn't show in any way that registers in one of our 5 senses.

[@Ramshobraja]

Very important video! People need to be self reliant.

[@dejesusluisx]

@LondonIrishRover "Any claim proposed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence"" of course is your free will. The question is if the claim makes it worth to look for the evidence or not. If an anonymous caller send you a text message saying: your house is on fire, I'm pretty sure you'll find out the evidence to verify that claim. Rejecting your selfish animal instincts will give you happiness, peace, love beyond your any expectation, with the benefit of eternity, this is worth looking