"If God Isn't Real, Then Why Is Religion Even A Thing?" | The Atheist Experience: Throwback

[@4dojo]

If Star Wars isn’t real then why is there a whole franchise around it?

[@Niez886]

It is but it was a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away. 😆

[@Theosis-81]

Star Wars and any fiction is known about. We know who and where the characters came from. Myths are different in the sense we don't know exactly what happened without personal experiences or some archeology to confirm some of the claimed events.

[@EllasPOSEiDON]

​@@Theosis-81No. We know that myths are myths, non factual things.

[@4dojo]

@Theosis-81 Yes. I get that myths are harder to falsify. I’m just pointing out that saying “Why is a religion a thing if there is no god” doesn’t make sense, because lots of stories exist that are not real. God myths are harder to falsify, but the fact that they exist doesn’t mean that they must be true any more than Star Wars must be real.

[@Theosis-81]

​@@4dojoWe can apply real life experiences to god and religion. For example we search for evidence that the universe may be more idealistic (caused by mind) or materialistic (caused by material). A lot of you aren't even aware of things like the second quantum revolution or non-local realism. A lot of you are unaware of what's big in physics today or what they're looking for to prove theories about computer programs or higher dimensions in the cosmos.

[@fubartotale3389]

If Santa Claus isn't real, then why are there presents under the tree?

[@krishnav5122]

Most importantly why are children so excited.

[@TanceRemafi]

Not why, but how? 😂

[@stevewantsabannana]

The prophet Jackson wrote a song about how he bear witness to Saint Nicholas having relations with his mother

[@petyrkowalski9887]

And he ate my mince pies

[@SaintSlartibartfast]

It's obviously the xmas pixies that put them there, stop asking silly questions. 🤪

[@stephenolan5539]

If God is real then why is there more than one religion.

[@kevinholling9645]

Because man is smarter and more intelligent than God.

[@gknight4719]

If there is a god, just maybe its a psychopathic joker!

[@robertvirnig42]

I think the same thing when people say god wrote morality onto our hearts (however they word it). Everyone has a different take on morality irrespective of whether they agree or disagree on religious matters. So if he's written some moral principles into us he's done a hell of a bad job.

[@matthewharrison7127]

​​@@robertvirnig42 They'll sometimes say our hearts are corrupted. If that's true, then no one knows what God's morals are, so they have no moral foundation. Their God is utterly incompetent and useless as a moral arbiter.

[@user-yt9ro7md2h]

Until they can answer that,I don’t wanna hear shxt. No all loving,all powerful god would go to different parts of the world and tell one race one version of your origin story and what you expect of them and then go to another part of the world and tell them something completely different knowing all the wars it’ll cause and how much it’ll set back the progress of mankind. The god they describe could easily appear in every living beings mind from the moment we’re born and tell them all the same thing so we’re all on the same page.

[@ilovethe80sNW]

I really enjoyed this call. The caller seemed honest and genuine in his questions and his comments.

[@josephbelisle5792]

I agree. He did seem honest. Lost, but honest.

[@gainer83]

this idiot caller called b4 under a different name and got embarrassed.

[@jasonharris8486]

He had an enquiring mind, he didn't have a black and white view of things. He had a genuine question that would naturally arise in a thoughtful person surrounded by religion.

[@adrianonhilton]

Gods were created when primitive people had to try to answer the questions outside of their understanding. Religion was created when the dishonest worked out if they convince others that god speaks through them, that they could get away without having to work.

[@Theosis-81]

BS. We know there were people of all sorts of thoughts and ideas. We have records of atheists all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome, possibly even before that.

[@adrianonhilton]

@@Theosis-81 Yes. And ?

[@EllasPOSEiDON]

​@@Theosis-81You right. There were always people who didn't buy nonsensical con man bs "answers". But it has nothing to do with the first comment.

[@Seticzech]

@@adrianonhilton @Theosis-81 has a "little" trouble with understanding the meaning of the words. 😀

[@Seticzech]

@@Theosis-81 "BS." How to constantly prove yourself as ldiot. 😀You're not just making fallacies like strawman this time, you're one big fallacy yourself. God made a really big booboo this time. 😂You're true god's image.

[@davidbelway6076]

If god was real we wouldn't need religion. Duh!!!

[@nak1067]

👍👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@alanjohston8497]

This is one of the best discussions I have heard watching this show

[@quotedotes]

Seconded

[@IamValak-j9e]

if christianity was true don't you think all christians would all worship exactly the same and there would not be 1000's of different cults ?

[@jonclark8252]

Over 44,000 in the US alone

[@Arkloyd]

Their evil man-child of a god proclaims itself jealous so you know it must hate all of the "wrong" sects, and you know it's evil because it does nothing to rectify the issue. It would rather "torment" all of the wrong people in its "torment" porn pit.

[@wwlib5390]

what would 'exactly the same way' look like in your opinion?

[@Arkloyd]

@@wwlib5390 I, for one, am not sure since the bible contradicts itself so much it is hard to nail down the "right way" when the "right way" is described in different ways depending on which parts of which books you read. deuteronomy says that yahweh punishes innocent people for the "sins" of their fathers up to the fourth generation… and it *_ALSO_* says that only the guilty will be punished. Depending on which chapter you read. *deuteronomy 5;9* *9* _Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,_ *deuteronomy 24;16* *16* _The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin._ So I'll ask any "true believer" out there: Which one is true because they both can not be true. The boy-struggle-snuggling clergy (Cath-o-lick) has a biblical basis for their beliefs as do the girl-struggle-snuggling clergy (Prot-ess-tent), which is why hey get nowhere in debates with each-other.

[@Arkloyd]

@@wwlib5390 Since the bible contradicts itself everywhere: I do not know. I don't think a "right way" can be found using the bible… No right way but plenty of wrong ways.

[@BobPulgino]

If god is real, why are there 4,200+ religions?

[@javk8673]

Cuz yall made it up, next question

[@taylorlibby7642]

"If God did not exist it, would be necessary to invent him." - Voltaire

[@1Joe1Z4M]

"I respect the truth over a comfortable lie".

[@shrews12001]

This guy just asked why does imagination exist.

[@STOP-n-READ]

Now. Now, Now, God commands you to repent of your sins and turn to Him.

[@shrews12001]

@STOP-n-READ Your God commands nothing of me

[@QuestionThingsUseLogic]

​@@STOP-n-READl command you to research the history of your fallacious bible!

[@HenryHeine-h7l]

@@STOP-n-READ BS. BS. BS. look for professional help.

[@starfishsystems]

​@@STOP-n-READ That's certainly a CLAIM. But it seems to be based on a delusion on your part. I'll pass, thanks just the same.

[@Sóumit-q6z]

I've noticed one thing...70% of religious people are latent atheists or agnostics...but they simply don't confess it owing to the fear of being ostracized 🥺

[@joelonsdale]

Or being overheard by god who'll be VERY angry...

[@darqblue42]

one of the hallmarks of cults (some religions): members are intimidated into semi-unwillingly staying. 😕

[@solly119119]

Yeah, I'm with you. I don't know how many "true believers" (at least among more advanced nations) there really are. The thoroughly indoctrinated sure, but that's not most theists.

[@IamValak-j9e]

if they actually read their book honestly they would be atheist

[@StargazerFromBC]

100% of people are born atheist

[@FlyingSpaghettiJesus]

Because Deceiver$$ need Believer$$

[@feedingravens]

Greed needs feed from the pockets of others?

[@MrCanis4]

I like tis one. ❤

[@MarijnvdSterre]

If there is only one God, why are there multiple religions?

[@Atreyu-81]

What a stupid question

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

The AXP is pestered by the Bukkake Boys Apot and DK making some stupid noise Turns out they are one and the same and their name calling is totally lame They're just a pair of dildo cowboys!

[@Sal-h2l]

Because there isn't any god so groups of people make up their own.

[@louseveryann2181]

​@@Atreyu-81 You got better stupid questions?

[@CarlHobson-zm2gk]

If you were genuine, I would answer you--but you've been on here 15 years, you want to be ignorant, be ignorant---that was apostle Paul's answer to people just like you. At op.

[@kostoglotov2000]

Niels Bohr had a lucky horse shoe above his door, when asked does he believe that it brings good luck, Bohr said "no, but it works anyway."

[@HoneyTone-TheSearchContinues]

In a different thread someone asked: How did the first believers get started when there weren’t other believers around to support them? My answer is: First believers relied on their own superstition and their own pareidolia. People don’t need anyone else to believe there’s a monster under the bed or that a special blanket keeps it away. Sorry. Just frustrated that my response kept getting removed without a hint as to why.

[@dhwyll]

The censoring algorithm of KZbin has become disastrous. I cannot figure out how to work with it.

[@STOP-n-READ]

In a different thread someone asked: How did the first atheists get started when they observed the overwhelming complexities of creation daily! My answer is: First nonbelievers relied on their own dark understanding and their own paranoia. People don’t need anyone more evidence to believe, there’s an Intelligent Designer over all creation, which creation proves the Creator! Sorry, Just frustrated that people keep ignoring the obvious Truth.

[@dhwyll]

@@STOP-n-READ No Just...no

[@tiborpurzsas2136]

Stop and read! It's not at all obvious! God created an endless universe, and put us on one planet among an endless number of planets! Why didn't god seed every planet he created with humans? What was the point in creating barren planets by the trillions? He could have just made planet earth, the sun and the moon. That would have been enough for a few billion humans. His creation makes no sense at all

[@HoneyTone-TheSearchContinues]

@@STOP-n-READ Thank you for demonstrating my point exactly.

[@LockeDemosthenes2]

If the Easter Bunny isn't real, then why is there Easter?

[@Sal-h2l]

At least we know rabbits are real unlike the things in the bible.

[@fubartotale3389]

It's called wishful thinking.

[@Ghalaghor_McAllistor]

If Enki, Horus, Vishnu, Odin, Zeus, Pangu, Kamuy, Quetzalcoatl and co aren't real...why is religion a thing? Their "holy" texts say that they all exist so it must be true according to christians! Look at the trees, therefore Enki and co! /s

[@Theosis-81]

Most theology and spiritual philosophy looks at reality beyond the trees. We try to go up and see the forest, which is the subatomic structure, metaphorically speaking. You people are the ones that try to trap us on the surface with materialism. "Look at the trees and snowflakes, obviously shit just floats together on its own".

[@novabrilliant4510]

This is my first time watching your videos and they are fascinating. Thanks.

[@amtlpaul]

How can it possibly be that people believe things that aren't true?

[@Theosis-81]

They're called Pauliars.

[@amtlpaul]

​@Theosis-81 the failed insult comic tries again

[@damonkenny7818]

I hope you’re not trying to imply something is false because it has not yet been proven true to you. Pauliar.

[@amtlpaul]

​@@damonkenny7818Correct, I didn't.

[@damonkenny7818]

@@amtlpaul Good, because the claim that something is untrue, requires proof: disproof. Which you haven’t provided any of.

[@wearywanderer7018]

Fear and desire Fear of hell Desire for heaven Also indoctrination Also a desire to matter A desire to see loved ones again after death The desire to be a good person A desire to be forgiven for bad actions. Lots of reasons

[@dalecs47]

Religion is all about money and power. It is not about what anyone says that God says. When a person says to you “Worship my god, do what my god says, ”They are really saying to you “Do what I say, worship me.” "Give me power over your life and give me your money."

[@CarlHobson-zm2gk]

Since your smart enough to see through them, are you smart enough to see the genuine ones? You blame God for warning you there will be ones like this?

[@dalecs47]

@@CarlHobson-zm2gk A story from the Vietnam war: A soldier in the jungle asked his Sargent about a snake that he found and is it poisonous? The reply was this: Since 46 of the 48 snakes indigenous to Vietnam are poisonous, the safest thing is to make a "Sweeping"generalization and believe that any snake you see is in dead one of the poisonous ones. This is how I feel about religious people. I have NEVER in my life met a religious person who would not hesitate to look me right in the eye and lie to me!

[@nealjroberts4050]

Yeah religion is about systemising belief with organised Religions controlling it

[@CarlHobson-zm2gk]

​@nealjroberts4050 nah,thats out of Karl Marx, a system of belief, where you kill everybody then follow an idiot leader until someone kills him. Your superiority is really on shaky ground, governor.

[@CarlHobson-zm2gk]

​@@dalecs47all Christians are liars? Everyone that looks you in the eye? Like I said, your kind even blames God for warning you about them, maybe he should have said it in Vietnamese?

[@SandraLeeTrahan]

"Cause people almost always (staying positive here) fuck it up when they organize, and the fight for control starts. Apparently religious people aren't immune and in the same boat as the rest of us.

[@StephenHowton]

Ricky Gervaise wrote, "I'm not saying faith doesn't exist. I know faith exists. I see it all the time. But believing in something doesn't make it true. Hoping that something is true doesn't make it true." Religion is the power of the Church over people. Often-times those people are poorly educated and can be easily convinced by mythology. I do not believe there is a "God"; there is no "Devil", and there never were any gods or any devils, other than in the fertile imaginations of humans. Nor is there a heaven or a hell. I am entitled to hold that understanding. In my submission, humans invent stories about heaven, hell, reincarnation, and the afterlife because it is not possible to form a mental image of ourselves simply not existing. Some need the comfort of at least an imaginary future rather than admit the actual fact of death. So, it is a placebo. That comfort so often fails to manifest. Having worked in the funeral industry, I have often-times witnessed family members being told, "It is God's plan" after the untimely death of a loved one. It doesn't seem to make it easier. As a Grandfather, listening to those platitudes at the funeral of a granddaughter who had passed at five weeks old, as I watched the pain in her parents' eyes, was simply insulting. Bibles were written, translated, retranslated, selectively edited, and interpolated by too many men and groups of men (and ONLY men). For example, the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Trent, to name but two editing sessions. I respect every person's right to live according to their religious beliefs. This does not imply a right to coerce others to live by those beliefs, even their children. Religion forced upon offspring is, in my view, a form of child abuse. If people wish to spend time on their knees while engaging in undignified begging to some invisible deity, a deity who, it is said, already has a plan, go for it. I shall not tell you that you are wrong. But do not presume that I must do the same. Nor must you expect such behaviour to be imposed on others through legislation in modern Western societies, whether you promote Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. If I wish to read about mythical characters or events, I can read the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien; most notably his tale of The Hobbit and, of course, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. His writings are so very much more believable than a book based on ancient superstitions that has been translated, interpolated, and edited many times. Mr Tolkien's books don't pretend to be anything other than fantasy.

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

Carla was here the other day whining about Joe pardoning Hunter. I told Carla that Joe had the full support of Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, and Michael Flynn. Carla went on to whine even harder that it wasn't the same as using the presidential powers to pardon family and relatives. I then mentioned Jared Kushner's father and Carla promptly deleted his thread.

[@nealjroberts4050]

Apparently some people on their knees aren't happy unless you are too 🤷

[@StephenHowton]

@@holgerlubotzki3469-This is fascinating, but it doesn't address my comment in any way, shape, or form. Indeed, it appears to be USA politics and not related to religion.

[@SpectreGunship]

Ricky Gervaise has a very well considered view on this topic. I commiserate with you on your granddaughter. My experience of the usefulness of religion was similar when my wife passed after 18 months of cancer. It bought many of her family comfort but held no meaning at all for me. I also agree with you entirely regarding passing on religion to children being a form of abuse. I had to attend church as a young child, and at age 7, I had questions no adult could provide rational answers for. I have never believed beyond that point, but it's a truth that even those years of experience shaped me in a way I might not particularly like. Tax free status, influence in political direction, I also believe, are harmful to the integrity of an independent person's value in society. Religion is a yoke that has kept humanity from higher ascendency whilst here, alive and now.

[@dancedecker]

Well said.​@@SpectreGunship

[@colinriches1519]

Why is there still religion? For exactly the same reasons we still have to deal with scams.

[@everythingbutthegym6130]

Thank you for these. I appreciate this discussion.

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

As someone who's been hypnotized, it's not so much that we allow someone to control us or "play along". It's more about them finding triggers and manipulations to lower our inhibitions and basically lower our defenses. I didn't believe I could be hypnotized, and after the act the hypnotist explained that the best subjects are those who WANT and those who DON'T WANT to be hypnotized, because your mind latches on to what they're doing which makes it easier to control you. People who simply don't care or are passive about it are the hardest to hypnotize. It's like that who "don't think about orange elephants" thing, which when you tell someone that, they start thinking about them because they're trying not to. It's mental manipulation and psychology.

[@Krikenemp18]

I'm interested in trying it. I don't believe it's real and feel like I would actively try to resist it, so it would be curious to see if the manipulation can overcome those forces.

[@AdamBladeTaylor]

@@Krikenemp18 That was me. It's not that I don't think hypnotism is real. It is. It's just not magical woowoo nonsense. It's all about suggestion and priming and such. And as I was told, wanting to "be on guard" against it can make you more susceptible, because you're focusing on it directly, and that gets used against you. I went in expecting to resist it. But ended up under the effect. You can't be made to do something that isn't acceptable to you. They can't make you take a swing at someone for example (unless you really hated that person and already wanted to hit them). It's more about making you more open to accepting things you already accept, if that makes sense. When I was under, they had me basically doing a pole dance. Normally, I wouldn't do such a thing. Not because I couldn't see myself doing it, but because I'd be too embarrassed to. But under hypnosis, I felt more comfortable doing the thing. So I just did it (as my ex at the time showed me after recording it with her phone). It's something to do with lowering left brain activity (logic and reason) while increasing right brain activity (creativity and imagination). I've heard many people explain it as being drunk. Just lowered inhibitions.

[@kissit012]

So it is exactly about allowing someone to control you. No different than voodoo. If you dont believe, it doesnt work. Which means it doesnt actually work. Its just you looking for a scapegoat for your triggers, behavior, and beliefs

[@lorenjyoung9343]

Religion will exist as long as there is money to be collected. GOD NEEDS MONEY! I grew up in the MORMONEY CHURCH . Now approaching One TRILLION in total assets.

[@dennish.7708]

Tax-free!

[@danielkeizer4174]

Like George Carlin said. He loves you and he needs money. He's all powerful and all-knowing. Just can't handle money.😂

[@Tuna_Man2323]

As a former member and involuntary donor (although I did make use of the Bishop's poorhouse, so I like to think it a wash) this really irks me. It is so much a new religion that all the evidence that it is false still exists. The BOM is so obviously an amateurish forgery, with parts lifted word for word from the buybull and Smith's mothers books and what not. Tons of books. Endless expose and endless misery. They should not exist, and yet there they are. Making more money and putting the Catholics to shame. Literally getting away with murder and worse. Totally left to their own devices. They may as well include among their assets the states all around them as well as their home state, as their influence and power over them is deeply concerning.

[@richardp7116]

Check out census results of different countries those who identify as theists is dropping drastically while agnosticism and atheism is rising

[@nealjroberts4050]

I've noticed the Christian preachers are still too scared to answer my simple questions. And others try to deflect from them. Are you brave or honest enough to answer them: 1) Does 2 Timothy 4 allow you to be dishonest when preaching? 2) Should you know and understand those whom you're trying to preach to in order they understand your message? 3) Is simply quoting Bible verses enough even if it pushes people away from Christianity? So far I'm thinking there are no preachers honest enough to answer.

[@damonkenny3444]

Gather round people. It’s time for NealJ Bible interpretations.

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

Donkey claims it's not the christian bible That makes is g0d delusion falsifiable What he believes is anybody's guess His cranium contents are a total mess Coz his brain cells are totally friable.

[@damonkenny3444]

@@holgerlubotzki3469 HEY Neal J, DaMonkey said a few years back he was a Gnostic. Believe me he was on another account of course.

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

DonKey thinks he knows a few facts but his brain cells all fell through the cracks of his fractured Goethe reality Something something Schroedinger's duality Leaving nothing but ad hominem attacks!

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

DaMonKey was a fan of Roy Estrada DK said "Roy? He didn't do nada!" But he met Roy in jail Doing the shower block wail With Donkey using his "hole" enchilada!

[@SomeKindOfSpy]

It was already put in his head that religion was associated with "good".

[@chainclaw07]

Maybe because parents to a baby under 3 years old would be godlike. They have command over the worls in an indeacribable way (for a baby) and they are your authority and keep you safe... maybe as a teenager when thinking about the world you use that template but apply it to a figure with ultimate authority and power... its just an extension, an exaggeration

[@freddan6fly]

Reduce 3 => 2 or 1 1/2.. I got kids. At 3 they know they are an entity of their own. Otherwise you are correct.

[@keithulhu]

Bob Price, in the Lovecraft documentary Fear of the Unknown, said, "Religion begins as the delusion of one or two people, and when enough people sign on it becomes a worldview."

[@nagranoth_]

"If god isn't real, then why is religion even a thing?" People often say there are no stupid questions, but come on...

[@coodudeman]

The real answer to the question of why so many people believe in religion if there is no god, is the fact that our brains are evolved to find patterns. Even when we see patterns, sometimes we have trouble not seeing patterns bc of this.

[@MisterG2323]

These convos are always better when they're conducted without combativeness.

[@tallenpelegrin7026]

Well, obvious answer... Because many people think that some kind of a God is real. Regardless of the reality that Religion's Gods aren't real, if people believe that the God they think is real then that's the reason for their religion.

[@FrikInCasualMode]

If anime isn't real, why cosplaying is a thing? Because humans like playing make-believe.

[@marcusreading3783]

I am honestly much more likely to believe that the Soul Society is real than anything suggested by Christianity. Although, if Christianity is true, that means that theres a non-zero chance that DxD is real and I would be absolutely down for that.

[@dankkrops]

Don't have time to watch but this one is easy. The powerful needed to make something up to put fear in the weak to get them to fall in line.

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

If God is real and made everything in existence then he, she or it made sin. That being the case why did he, she or it come back in human form to correct the mistake which everything he,she or it made is good? They can't say it's because of freewill either. That would mean god has limits. Also why did this manufacturing process take 6 days?

[@wwlib5390]

@richardcolemanjr3749 You CAN say freewill - because free will is what gives us the capability to choose to follow God or reject Him - to draw on His wisdom and guidance alone or to 'eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil' and do things our own way. It causes each man to make a choice - for or against God - thereby solidifying the final responsibility for becoming a child of God - or not - to the desire and determination, faith and adherence to Christ of the individual. IOW, inability to be part of His everlasting Kingdom, forgiven, saved and redeemed (John 3 16), sadly, is a choice some people make for themselves, not because God wills it or is unloving and cruel, but because God didn't create robots. And to say God has 'limits' is incorrect. He is all powerful, omniscient and omni-present. That is NOT the same as saying God can't or doesn't limit Himself - as He did when He 'emptied Himself' of those 3 characteristics and became human flesh modeling for us God's love and mercy while serving the Father, only doing and saying what the Father told Him to do and speak.

[@asyetundetermined]

⁠@@wwlib5390theist avoids writing a nonsense wall of text reply challenge - impossible

[@Seticzech]

@@wwlib5390 " because free will is what gives us the capability to choose to follow God or reject Him" Complete BS. There is no such thing as free will and nobody can choose what they want to believe. You're constantly lying and saying stupld things. All the time.

[@tonyclements1147]

@@wwlib5390 Less preachy bullshite, more evidence.

[@nealjroberts4050]

​@@tonyclements1147 If she had evidence she wouldn't need the BS instead. I was much amused by her explaining away the problems with the omnis (free will for omniscience, the Problem of Suffering for omnibenevolence and omnipotence, etc) by claiming their god (or 3 gods 😉) deliberately unmakes and remakes themselves omni 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@walternullifidian]

"A loving and forging God Seems more than just a little odd, When I think of all the punishments he'll mete, And threaten even worse, replete With hell on Earth before we die, And eternity to fry and cry." Unbeliever

[@terminusest5902]

Religion is an evolutionary behaviour from ancient tribal hominids that lacked science and modern philosophy, Religion helped ancient tribes with organisation, law, leadership, culture, education and other more personal needs. Spirituality helped people to deal with ancient life was much more dangerous and deaths were frequent. And hominids with curious and intelligent minds sought answers to many different questions that were difficult to answer without science. Religion is an instinctive behaviour related to genetics and brain structure that promoted spiritual behaviours. Tribes with effective religions had greater chances of success. Humans have instinctive behaviours that may be followed or resisted. Religious instinct is not a sole determinate of religious behaviour. Humans, unlike many other animals, are born very young so we depend more on learned behaviour than basic instincts. Many animals need to mature extremely quickly and are more dependent on instinctive behaviour. This is bit of a long answer, but also books could be written on the subject of instinctive religious behaviour.

[@highwaydaytime7669]

You've got to give it time. Humanity is still very new so we're going to need to wait longer for religion to be phased out.

[@atheistcat2296]

Trusting our parents definitely isn't always a good thing.

[@Dr_Crankenstein00]

True. My aunt and uncle are hardcore liberal atheists. They brainwash their adoptive children.

[@IamValak-j9e]

adults lie to children, fact

[@Krikenemp18]

Anthony: "I wouldn't say most." Anthony: gives a single counter anecdote about one person lol

[@chongeiktong3426]

Is god really real? Is the real god really god?

[@clemstevenson]

It’s easy to see that ‘better’ is an entirely relative observation. What standard is being used? I could claim that the car I’m driving is ‘better’, because it’s non-polluting electric vehicle. But it’s also worse, because the energy storage is significantly lower. It’s better, because I can charge it at domestic electricity prices, but it’s worse because I can’t gas it up quickly.

[@Sal-h2l]

What a fallacy. Both of your cars are actually real an observation easily proven. Gods are not.

[@clemstevenson]

@@CarlHobson-zm2gk This is just a KZbin comments section, and I'm not here to make world changing assertions.

[@clemstevenson]

@@CarlHobson-zm2gk I said that I could 'claim', rather than 'demand'. Claims are not demands.

[@amtlpaul]

Hilariously, all the responses to the below commrnent are completely irrelevant to it! 😅😅

[@Theosis-81]

What irrelevant Pauliar? You never actually said what was untrue.

[@amtlpaul]

Another irrelevant response from ​@@Theosis-81

[@damonkenny7818]

@@amtlpaul Theosis stumped you good there. What were you claiming to be untrue?

[@amtlpaul]

@@damonkenny7818 has nothing to contribute

[@damonkenny7818]

@@amtlpaul I contributed a valid question though.

[@keithulhu]

"Every religion begins as the delusion of one or two people, and when enough people sign on it becomes a worldview." --Robert M. Price

[@JacarandaMusic]

interesting re hypnosis. Certainly, when I was ‘hypnotised’ by a stage hypnotist I was conscious of playing along.

[@smochygrice465]

God created religions, so people have a variety to pick from, or none at all (atheism) Thank God for atheism 🙏 And a good Monday morning AXP fans and theists ❤❤❤ Peace Love Empathy From Australia 🤠

[@ps123fan]

Thank God for atheism 😂 technically he meade atheists possible yeah, but then you have cristians who say atheists know god exists

[@seanmcghee2373]

Religion persists because people want to continue having influence over people and religion is a fabulous way to do that.

[@coodudeman]

As to church’s attendance, as our knowledge of science has increased, there are less and less areas that magic is our best answer. So, since people aren’t needing to find an answer, they need pastors to justify less of reality.

[@NorthernLab5]

The patronising comments here in response to a genuine question, from someone who wasn't rude or ignorant or arragant, is the reason we still have religion

[@iam604]

That’s not the reason and you know it. But you are free to believe it all you want.

[@gospelchannel1489]

It boils down to one thing simple vs advanced . Advanced says there exists the capability to do extraordinary.. one word help. Otherwise too bad you are left to yourself and people how depressing.

[@krishnav5122]

This guy should go to comic con and see how many people are having fun/

[@jeoffwalden4492]

If God was real. We would all know. Not just the indrocationed.

[@lancehill9971]

Ground news can help him with alerting to the source of the information that he looks up on the internet!

[@MarkJones-n]

A reassuring lie or an inconvenient truth is what I’m hearing..

[@PhoenixHinds]

I came here to check out this video because the title was so wonderfully facetious.

[@MrCanis4]

“If Santa Isn't Real, Then Why Is Christmas Even A Thing” 😂😂😂

[@walternullifidian]

Why is nihilism a bad thing? I don't believe there's any ultimate "meaning" in the universe, no "purpose" that is imposed on me from outside of myself. So all of my "meaning" and "purpose" is generated by me from within myself. That is all that nihilism means.

[@richardm654]

As soon as you said caller is from Floriduh... enough said.

[@DCstar]

Ahh from Florida, that explains it.

[@davidknapp5224]

I swear I've been micro dosed at a church dinner, lamb+1 serving of mint jelly per person.🤨

[@jebaker2]

There’s nothing religion hates more than you asking why. 😂

[@CuddlyCosima]

Religious privilege... I have not heard these words combined but damg - it rings true! Posed as religious freedom. But not persecuting someone for their beliefs is different than using one religious ideation to form laws for all people in the U.S.A. for example.

[@jameswright...]

If you use laws and rules from religion to form a country and it's law's that is as far from separation of church and state as possible. America was not founded in biblical laws, far from it! Especially the 10 commandments from moses because he never existed.

[@grahamash62]

The brainwave patterns of the hypnotic and meditative states are scientifically measurable.

[@nicciswainhi]

If Spider-Man isnt real why has he been fighting crime for years in a real city New York and has multiple books written and films, TV shows made about him.

[@picoides1]

Just because there is no school for magic people called Hogwarts in Scotland, it doesn't mean Scotland doesn't exist.

[@montymonty224]

His “friend “ was intentionally trying to get attention. Anyone can throw themselves on the floor and act like a fool.

[@starfishsystems]

If slavery isn't ethical, why is there still slavery?

[@josephbelisle5792]

He is on his way to deconstruction. NoW, if he can keep asking good questions and not fall for the BS. We can only hope for him.

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

Carla was here the other day whining about Joe pardoning Hunter. I told Carla that Joe had the full support of Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, and Michael Flynn. Carla went on to whine even harder that it wasn't the same as using the presidential powers to pardon family and relatives. I then mentioned Jared Kushner's father and Carla promptly deleted his thread.

[@QuestionThingsUseLogic]

​@@holgerlubotzki3469he's a typical dishonest theist.

[@gospelchannel1489]

You are looking on wrong parts of KZbin.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

If Harry Potter isn't real why are there books and movies about him and followers of him all over the world?

[@KitPhuket-ix1en]

Is Zeus isn't real then why are there lightning?

[@dallassmith7468]

I guess he has never heard of ‘mass hysteria’?

[@Atreyu-81]

Typically, mass hysteria causes people to freak out over things like COVID shots and masks. We see it in history when the crowds cheer for the death of innocent people. You're living in a sheltered, spoiled reality. You have no idea what mass hysteria looks like.

[@dobrien51]

Did Anthony actually have a point he was trying to make?

[@20yrsfarming]

If god existed we wouldn’t need religion.

[@marcovargas4483]

I've always been disappointed that the Atheist Experience hosts perpetuate the delusion that Islam has a different god than Judaism/Christianity. I've been watching for about 15 years.

[@jameswright...]

Do they? Because I've noticed the opposite, it's Christians who refuse to admit Allah is the god of Abraham.

[@bertluiten5785]

If there is a god why was there such a thing as covid and it was effecting religious people as well

[@brenthenderson3983]

If milk isn't real, why is there cereal?.

[@Ben-no4lz]

Another caller who can’t grasp that Theism & Religion aren’t the same thing. Buddhism is a Religion, yet they follow the teachings of a Man & don’t believe in the existence of a Supernatural “god”……making Buddhism an Atheistic Religion.

[@straunwagner6322]

If Bigfoot isn’t real, then why are Bigfoot conventions even a thing?

[@RichardMitchell-nk9ec]

Star wars is totally real man we have light sabers

[@jacobfierro2535]

I think they mean..where did the idea come from as in an archetype. Most ideas stem from something from who knows when. What sparked the idea of a god or a higher being? The human race is ancient and some studies are beginning to show that we are older than previously thought. Who knows what sparked the idea of god. We can’t really debate truth or fact about things so ancient that we’ll never have any proof about it…for all we know something so divine or spectacular did happen that sparked worship in divine beings. Unfortunately..we’ll never know. I don’t believe in religion..I think they are a foolish thing to put faith into..that being said…yes I do believe something happened ages ago that sparked worship..but there’s no way of knowing what that may have been..there is only a reliance in probability and what we do know about our ancient past coupled with things about the universe and existence and HOW MUCH WE DO NOT KNOW that leads me to postulate that there is a good chance that something in our long lost ancient past occurred that impacted humans so much that they started to believe in god or gods..a thousand years is a long time and we have surfacing evidence that we existed as civilized societies before Sumerians. Upwards of 10,000 years..that’s a long time. We cannot possibly know what happened and we’d be foolish to rule out things just because of our own skepticism. We have only existed as we currently do. For only a few hundred years…compared to many thousands of long last history. It is a HUGE LEAP to just assume that humans pulled the idea of god(as ancient as it is)out of their collective behinds for &hits and giggles. There is simply far too much we do not know in our very very short amount of existence..not just compared to our ancient past put just compared to existence.

[@illyboulder]

We live thanks to the big bang. But can we find meaning in that?

[@danielkeizer4174]

If you can find meaning in a story book about an imaginary sky daddy. Then you can make up something here too....

[@drsatan9617]

Do we need to?

[@landsgevaer]

The universe doesn't give you meaning. Meaning is overrated.

[@EllasPOSEiDON]

What "meaning" you even mean?

[@peterriverajr6899]

No but that doesn't mean anything. Human life has whatever meaning you give it. And whatever meaning you give it is valid

[@gainer83]

if spongebob arent real why are movies about him and kids watching?

[@ZangariRC]

In our evolutionary brilliance the gods were inevitable however evolution proves them all false inevitably.

[@Atreyu-81]

That doesn't make any sense. The ability to question about gods and deep philosophical truths comes with greater cognitive function and awareness. What mechanism in nature caused our ape ancestors to develop the ability to harness fire? Why wouldn't that same mechanism take place in any of the other millions of animal species?

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

Apot says that he's sure he knows How the sound of "bukkake" goes He said "it doesn't sound like that I know it sounds more like 'splat' I can hear it when DaMonKey blows!"

[@Tuna_Man2323]

@@Atreyu-81 There Once was a Troll named DK Who had a Sex show Yesterday The Show was a Flop From His little panties Drop That Left his small Wood on Display

[@Tuna_Man2323]

There once was a troll named Apot Who lusted for his friend DK a lot One day he white knighted When he thought DK was slighted And his oblate sphincter peanut got hot

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

Apot thought he was heaven sent But his dick was way short and quite bent Putting it in DK was a load of trouble And it was a lot easier to put it in double But instead of coming, he went!

[@mmoreno7137]

Did this dude try to use a person who went to church every week as an example of a totally non-religious person? WOW. BTW he is right Zeus is really God and I have to go now to move my unicorn before a dragon eats it.

[@johnblackwell8090]

If a dog is real why is there still flow?

[@jlsc4125]

Next question, this one is too stupid to answer.

[@amtlpaul]

Don't respond to the more defamatory posts- just report them.

[@Atreyu-81]

But your people are the ones making a lot of defamatory posts

[@amtlpaul]

@Atreyu-81 "I know you are but what am i?"- your deflection is pitiful, fascist

[@Atreyu-81]

@amtlpaul Well see? If you know you are too then you shouldn't complain about what am I. You goofy doofus.

[@amtlpaul]

​@@Atreyu-81continues to whine when he's not hissing and spitting fascistic invective. What a fine example of manhood this Is!

[@Atreyu-81]

​@@amtlpaulHow come you don't talk that shit to your fellow atheists when they're hurling childish insults? And you have no idea what fascism is in your sheltered, spoiled reality.

[@steelcowboy2751]

Religion exists for a number of reasons, some are the humans are simply made up of wolves and sheep: sheep desire to be led and what better of an environment to be led than by a supernatural “father”. Religion was created because people had such a miserable day to day life that they needed to believe that the afterworld existed to give them hope. It exists because most people want to be a part of what they perceive everyone else does: like family, community, etc. religion also exists as a way to explain the unexplained. Also, humans desire structure, again sheep. IMO, many Christians truly don’t care if a god actually exists, they just need to follow. You can see currently that as fundamental religion declines, humans seek for something to replace it: today’s progressive far left and gender ideology is religion like and is replacing typical religion for them. Bottom line, humans fundamentally want to be tribal and most want to be led buy someone or something. It’s human nature. As life gets easier for people, the need to believe in the savior god wanes but the need to believe in some ideological framework remains

[@CarlHobson-zm2gk]

72 genders, men in women's bathrooms, transgenders reading gay literature to grade schoolers while gyrating in a jock-strap and wearing lip-stick? Oh yeah, wolves are liars, sheep are innocent, but ubu, fool.

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

A fake christian troll named Carla revealed herself to be a total snarler and he had a store of nifty toys that he used to lure little boys In to his personal pizza parlor!

[@eccod]

The first people to believe in a god didn’t have “lots of people believe it” to fall back on as evidence. What convinced them?

[@dennish.7708]

Well, if some theists are to believed, then the first people to believe in a god, were in fact created by a god, who used some mud to create a man, and one of the man’s ribs to create a woman, and he spoke directly to them. That’s what convinced them (if you are convinced by the story).

[@HoneyTone-TheSearchContinues]

Their own superstition, and their own pareidolia. You don’t need other people to believe there’s a boogie man in your closet or that your special binky will keep him away.

[@danielkeizer4174]

It started with the caveman who saw lightning and said "big man in sky angry you don't give me half of our spoils" to every single thing having it's own deity. Meaning some did get gifts and others didn't. You weren't going to give praise a offerings to the god of war i peacetime per example. And then some genius thought if I make a single god...I get everything. 😂

[@HoneyTone-TheSearchContinues]

Their own superstition, and their own pareidolia. You don’t need other people to believe there’s an invisible monster in your closet or that your special binky will keep it away.

[@SceptiGus]

​@@danielkeizer4174Religion was born when the first charlatan met the first fool.

[@leoromo7845]

If god is real he is the biggest PoS in the entire universe 😂😂😂😂

[@nak1067]

If they are not gods ? Why religions exist?

[@holgerlubotzki3469]

If there are not wizards and orcs, why does The Lord of the Rings exist?