Living happier without God

To watch the full video, please visit - • Why Doesn't Bart Belie...
In this short from Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman, we delve deep into the topic of the afterlife, and how the concept affects our present life. Bart believes that this life is the only opportunity to live fully and rejects the idea of suffering now for a reward in the afterlife. He argues that helping others should not rely on the belief in an afterlife and that we should make the most of this life by focusing on the present. Tune in to hear more about Bart's fascinating perspective and how he's experienced more happiness by disregarding the concept of the afterlife.

[@theoldar]

The purpose of life is to be happy. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others happy. - Robert G. Ingersoll

[@cochetah4339]

Can't make others happy until God prepares the heart to receive joy and the happiness is external temporary...most do not choose to have the internal joy as that takes the work to try to hit the target God has set...without Instruction, Torah, there is no guidance as we have evil inclination that needs to be reined. That takes work and repentance and change which so many hate.

[@grizmileham7029]

Truth.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

That quote is irrational and wrong

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@grizmileham7029No its fairy tale lies, like religion

[@cochetah4339]

@@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1 and that's exactly why Bart is not afraid to find truth...being in cultural indoctrination is why cglhurches allow queer pedos to welcome people at church...they cannot see and feed the system...reason why Jan and masks worked so well..we want to believe in a quick fix...I am like Bart, episcopal boarding school no less and for 30 yrs looking for Jesus Yeshua but all over the country in all denominations but satanic church...is that Jesus? And once in PA, God too ke there to say stop the nonsense...Have worked tons on repentance and obedience as discerning evil inclination from good....but learning from Torah and we must take responsibility and it is no cakewalk fairy tale! He gave us all we need to do what is right Micah 6:8 but we don't want to as love is selfish and we think Jesus is here for us to be saved..mememe.....there is no savior ...maybe a good Jewish kid for 30yrs...but I think there is a God where we have mutual respect but there is reward and punishment. I am still learning at 67...still here for that reason...to offset the entropy

[@MsFitz134]

The more I study the Bible the more I've let go of the modern notion that eternal life is either playing harps on clouds in a party with Jesus or burning in a pit being constantly reminded of my guilt and shame. I now view eternal life as the ripple effect of my actions into the future, and how my memory lives on in the lives of those I left behind. I want to die knowing that I made a positive impact on the world and that because of me humanity's future will be a little better. Whether I cease to exist or become an angel or sleep in a void doesn't impact my life choices, just those final moments of consciousness when I can look back and feel satisfied that I did the best I could with the one life I was given. If there is a loving God, I think that will meet the qualifications for a decent experience in the world beyond. And if there isn't a God, I didn't waste my life trying to meet someone else's expectations.

[@NewmanStrongtower]

There is no entry into the Kingdom of God without going through Christ Jesus. You can do nice things until you're blue in the face, but you will not enter in by your own merits. It's only through the Son of God that any man will enter into the kingdom of God according to the Holy Bible. But you seem to have mentioned letting go of what you called a modern notion. Eternal life has nothing to do with playing harps on clouds. It has everything to do with the existence and magnificent glory of the mighty God of love and peace who Is the author of life. That must be respected. We honor presidents and dignitaries on earth for goodness sakes, why wouldn't we give honor to the author of life? We will. Either as our King, or as our Judge. Either way we will come to a moment of realization of a might and power that exceeds the limits of this worldly life. With that kind of power, there are laws. The same way we don't just walk into the White House on our merits of being a good citizen in America, we will not just walk into the gates of the Kingdom of God almighty by some weak merit that is based on earthly goodness. That won't cut it. It doesn't go by our works and goodness. It goes by the righteousness of Christ. It goes by trusting in the one who God sent to this world to pay our way into the presence of the Father. Without the blood of Christ paying the way for our entry, our merits will fall short. We can get a lot of things wrong in life and if we are correct on Christ Jesus we will enter into the Kingdom of God, but if we get Jesus Christ wrong and we attempt to enter in by any other way, no matter how "good" we think we have been, we fall terribly short of the glory of God. It's not something easy to comprehend because we are limited beings with terrible flaws and we're perishing, but God set HIS plan into motion to save us. God will NEVER go by our plan. He is God and no matter how wise we think we are in trying to enter into eternal life through some back door or tunnel of our own making, it will fail. And the barrier we refuse to accept is always the same. When we refuse to accept the righteousness of the Son of God sent to redeem us and make a way in, we reject Him because of our own desire to sin usually. Our own desire to be the god of our lives. Sad but true. According to scripture. People place more value on toilet paper than they do the pages of scripture. So, there is a lack of discernment in the world. Besides, when God speaks, it's spiritual, not fleshly. It's heavenly, not worldly. But we as sinners desire to walk in darkness rather than light, so we refuse the plan of God for our lives and end up in destruction just beyond that hole in the ground. We must get it right with Jesus.

[@danishaferreira7796]

@@NewmanStrongtower AMEN 🙏🙌✨✨🩵

[@NewmanStrongtower]

@ You must have entered through the narrow gate that leads to life. See you one fine day to chat about that time when...

[@xaayer]

Same here. My wife still believes and she is always remarking how I'm so calm and relaxed all the time and why I'm always so happy. I don't have the heart to come right out and explain it this eloquently but hopefully one day.

[@xaayer]

@fanabudrogh9241 lmao alright. Cope harder.

[@xaayer]

@fanabudrogh9241 I don't drink nor do I do drugs. Please stop pretending to know me. I understand it makes you feel better about not understanding how someone can be happy not participating in a collective ARG, but it's rather disingenuous to make all those assumptions and then insist they are accurate despite the person you are talking about explicitly telling you that you are wrong. It shuts down conversation and it shuts down your brain to other people's experiences and stories.

[@keithallerton6350]

The exact opposite happened to me. After becoming Christian I realized how important each and every bit of god's creation is and that I should be helping in any way I can!

[@cochetah4339]

It's not about you or what you do or don't do....we are in preparation and refinement of character here and now so as we choose to give to others and make right choices is the quality of life here...nothing about on the other side...we do not know what God will decide hence the Jesus is a scapegoat and Bart speaks truth about him but the churches continue the deception as 40K organized systems based in lies. He speaks on suffering...this is what brings humbleness of which narcissistic gain instant gratification hence obesity rampant is the game for many here.

[@kxbsoabworhtofidkslsheor]

Christianity isn’t the truth.

[@germanboy14]

In Pauline Christianity, you only have to have faith in Jesus. Your deeds dont matter for salvation. So an Atheist could be a better person then a Christian and wont get saved.

[@kxbsoabworhtofidkslsheor]

@@germanboy14 That’s the irony of Pauline Christianity 😂 Hitler probably went to heaven according to christian’s. I’m so happy to be muslim

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@kxbsoabworhtofidkslsheorhumanism isn't the truth either, both are fake lies from bias people

[@BedboundME]

I agree. But being bedbound with chronic illness, ME/CFS, that has no research and knowing that’s my life since age 20 onwards, believing that this is it , there’s no paradise or happy ending really really sucks.

[@grizmileham7029]

I felt that down to my toes. I'm able bodied and in my '60s. My time is coming to an end and things that I always wanted to do are moving out of reach rapidly, and I no longer have the hope of eternal life in a perfect body. That's been and will be basically your entire life and I can only peer "through a glass darkly" and imagine what that means in your life. How does one help a person in that situation. Another lesson of my deconversion was to no longer engage in performative empathy. Thoughts, prayers, good wishes...this gives people that feel powerless a false sense of helping that seems to substitute for actually doing anything constructive. Went through a lot of that nonsense when one of my kids died 15 years ago. More research and advancements in ME/CFS treatment is what you need, and hopefully that will happen soon enough to improve your life. Hey everyone that sees this: Standford University has an ME/CFS Initiative to spur more research on this topic. Go donate in honor of BedboundME.

[@chrislysiak9561]

Bart is certainly expressing nothing but his emotions "du jour", as he's not suffering at the moment. Bible teaches that those that are in Christ, even if suffer, Christ suffers with them, and knowledge of being in the Kingdom of God puts suffering in a place of a temporary incovenience. In Bart's worldview, suffering is nothing but an agonizing pain without solution. Really sad view IMHO.

[@chrislysiak9561]

@fanabudrogh9241 Thank you for your kind words. We need more brothers and sisters like you, as the Kingdom of God is not about a proper doctrine but about love!

[@nothingnothing7958]

When I was a atheist I was suicidal, I hated my family but after I became a Christian a whole new world opened. I found the God who loves me and I found purpose. I will never go back to being a atheist.

[@ryanrevland4333]

That's fine. There are people who need to be told what to think and how to behave. They need to be loved by a man in the sky to make sense of the world.

[@nothingnothing7958]

@@ryanrevland4333 that's funny coming from you, atheists told you what to think.

[@ryanrevland4333]

@@nothingnothing7958 we are all born atheists, and then our parents and communities tell us what to think. If you were born in Pakistan, you'd be a Muslim. India you'd be Hindu. You're only a Christian because you were born in a community of Christians.

[@Lancefh_ENV]

​@@nothingnothing7958 I was depressed and borderline suicidal as a Christian, crushed under the burdens of a faith not designed to help me, but designed to keep me loyal to some vengeful angry celestial dictator. I was angry and bitter at everyone in my life. But then I let it all go. Now I'm happy, relaxed. It's not all sunshine and rainbows sure, but it's at least manageable where before I would have had thought it too much to bear. If we both had the same result, but from the exact opposite actions, one leaving a faith the other finding it, is it the faith itself or just the side effect of changing one's mind and perspective?

[@nothingnothing7958]

@@Lancefh_ENV so let me get this straight, you were a lukewarm Christian who couldn't handle being loyal to your creator who sacrificed himself to pay for your sins? Well at least you stopped lying to yourself and God. I hope you can find God because atheism is a blatant lie.

[@jorgealvarado7946]

Opposite happens to me. If all there is to life is this, then nothing really matters.

[@joewalsh4713]

Ah, self-centered. Try realizing that there is more to life than just you. This life is all that we know we get, and that is why it is precious, not because we'll have some shitty eternity which will render this limited time we have completely and utterly meaningless.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@joewalsh4713ur reply doesn't make any rational sense

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@joewalsh4713you atheists value self centeredness by claiming a rare existence justifies hedonism, yet when someone laments objective meaninglessnes, you scold due to self centeredness???? You lack valid logical coherency.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

@@ikeraggi1730 Life is intrinsically about struggling to maintain homeostasis, only to reproduce and forget it all. And the process includes injustice, pain and unnecessary suffering. The fact a lot of atheist validate that process proves their sociopathy.

[@_S0me__0ne]

Former Christian here. Technically, you're right. However, even though nothing technically matters, life will continue regardless of us. I can dwell on that point negatively, or I can make of life what I want. There is no cosmic or supernatural purpose to life, no destined purpose, but we can make our own purpose. I believe most agnostics and atheists then have two responses to the logical nihilism. First, do what you can to make the world a better place for those around you now and for after you're gone. Second, enjoy yourself. Have fun. Does it matter eternally or cosmically? Will you remember anything after you die? No. So what. Live in the now. Give yourself meaning. Find meaning in others. Find that which pleases you. Far better to live a life of happiness because you choose to see good things than to live a miserable life because you choose to focus on bad things. We're all going to die, regardless of whether there's a cosmic being that remains unseen and unknowable or if there's nothing and we just utterly cease to be ourselves. Make the best of it. Stop and smell the roses.

[@arnulfo267]

I do believe in an afterlife. Just not the Christian idea of the afterlife. But I do think conciousness survives death in some way.

[@chrislysiak9561]

Belief in an afterlife is not an original concept of the Bible. It evolved with time. Doing the will of God is what unites us with God, and this is happening right here, right now. Having faith in God's plan for our future is one thing, but we should be happy to be spending every second of our lives in God's presence, regardless if there is anything after we die. Bart has a twisted idea that Christianity is all about afterlife, while the New Testatament teaches that it all starts right here, right now, and afterlife is just a result of our choice made today.

[@user-gk9lg5sp4y]

Could not agree more Dr. Ehrman!

[@janie5364]

We should help people especially because there is an afterlife.

[@michaelturnipseed2661]

Yes and his lack of belief in God and what comes after this thing called life is heartbreaking.

[@FigureSk8ngViking]

then prove it lol

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

@@FigureSk8ngViking I'm not agreeing with him, but bart's proposition is irrational too. If there's no afterlife, that doesn't place more value on life. Rarity doesn't make intrinsic value, objective properties do.

[@christinabutterfield1801]

The only reason you think those in after life is because someone or some book told you.

[@GoToLiturgy]

I call all my brothers and sisters in Christ to try and plant seeds in this man so that the Holy Spirit can find him!

[@josephfogle5073]

He is an apostate liberal theologian who teaches error there is a point that after a certain amount of admonition he is to be rejected.

[@quetzelmichaels1637]

If an atheist is suffering in this life, for no discernable reason, what do you tell them? One reason I believe in the Bible. This verse: "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." (Joh 2:3-4 NABO) The churches just read it as a miracle story of turning water into wine. The wine press I have trodden alone, and of my people there was no one with me. I trod them in my anger, and trampled them down in my wrath; (Isa 63:3 NABO) Is God unjust, humanly speaking, to inflict his wrath? Of course not! For how else is God to judge the world? ...And why not say-- as we are accused and as some claim we say-- that we should do evil that good may come of it? (Rom 3:5-8 NABO)

[@NewmanStrongtower]

God doesn't believe in atheists.

[@davidm5707]

Even people who believe in an afterlife should live like this. And they do; nobody seeks out suffering so they can get paid back in heaven. "Believe in God, but act towards your fellow as if you don't; act like there's no one to help them but you."

[@ohdehhan]

Except Mother Teresa.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

If there's no objective value, that excuses anybody for doing anything. A good needs to be objective for it to be valid, atheists need to learn that philosophical fact.

[@maurice637]

No Christian’s live for the afterlife. Their convinced everything in this life is terrible and sinful so they can’t wait to leave. When a Christian says that to me, I ask them “what are you waiting for? Don’t mope around here, go ahead and join your god”

[@EinarGrondal]

I feel much the same. I have become an "indifferent agnostic." I don't know if there is a God or an afterlife, I suspect not. I feel more free and happy w/o religion. The mental/emotional guilt trip Christianity imposes on people is nonsense, and it's mean. 🎉

[@CristianoRonaldo-li9gu]

Very truee

[@grizmileham7029]

Personally, I think that people that are drawn to Christianity are maybe people who have not acquired any sort of moral compass from the basic life lessons from growing up and they need some sort of imposed consequences, real or imagined, to keep them honest. I never needed that. It's self evident to me why it's in my best interests to help people, even if only to honor the contribution of those who helped me when I needed it.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

Morality is subjective, you only act how u do because of your biological feelings, which are bias delusions. Scientific fact is that ur no better than a criminal. Follow logic and reason.

[@takecoverordie5755]

Thanks Bart!

[@chrislysiak9561]

May I ask what are you thanking Bart for? His argument is neither true, nor coherent.

[@jeanine219]

@@chrislysiak9561 Oh no. Your ignorant irrational statements keep coming.

[@Dawahdude0]

Quran6:29. And they say, “There is nothing but our life in this world, and we will not be resurrected.” 30. If only you could see, when they are stationed before their Lord. He will say, “Is this not real?” They will say, “Yes indeed, by our Lord.” He will say, “Then taste the torment for having disbelieved.” 31. Losers are those who deny the encounter with God. Then, when the Hour comes upon them suddenly, they will say, “Alas for us, how we have neglected it.” And they will carry their burdens on their backs-evil is what they carry. 32. The life of this world is nothing but game and distraction, but the Home of the Hereafter is better for those who are righteous. Do you not understand?

[@Theo_Skeptomai]

The Qur'an is a book of utter nonsense.

[@deewesthill1213]

Islam was founded by a cruel, lecherous robber and warlord, who despite his horrific crimes is nonetheless called a "perfect role model" for all of humanity.... 🙄

[@chrislysiak9561]

Dr. Ehrman. Could you please explain to me what is the difference in the concept of helping others, or being happy by believers in non-believers? You just created a false dichotomy that's entirely false. As a matter of fact in it is the teachings of Jesus and The Apostles to teach others, as this is how what love is. Also, a believer being united with God is always happy. In this light, I have no idea what are you saying by being "happier more"? It makes absolutely no sense to me.

[@joewalsh4713]

Could you please edit that so it's coherent?

[@chrislysiak9561]

@@joewalsh4713 Can you explain what's incoherent in my clear as the sky argument? Ehrman makes false dichotomy between believers and non-believers as if non-believers were happier in this life, and more prone to helping others. This is an utter nonsense argument. Is it clearer now?

[@germanboy14]

Jesus teached to keep the commandments for eternal life. You made Jesus a hippie and follow Paul in believing that you need only to have faith in Jesus for salvation. You made the religion of Jesus a religion about Jesus. Peter even wanted Gentiles to keep the law in Galatians 2 12 to 14

[@ketesafewyalefemedia2378]

Yes, I agree with you, this individual is anti-life, he is an angel of death. He takes millions to death.

[@joewalsh4713]

@@chrislysiak9561 literally nothing you said in your original comment is coherent. There are words. They are strung together in such a way as to convey absolutely no meaning to a reader who was not occupying your mind at the time you wrote it.

[@jeffersonneto1378]

But the question is: why help people and do good to others if there's no reward or punishment?!, screw everyone, it doesn't matter...

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@ikeraggi1730Thats true but science shows its possible to get away with a lot of harm and human law enforcement being unaware. And that's just in modern day, plenty of unjustified harm happened throughout the past.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@ikeraggi1730 Objective secular reality validates sociopaths and normal people who do harmful things to others. Nature creates their desires, maintains them, and allows them to act to get their fill out of life.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

Suffering is objectively bad, due to sufferings intrinsic qualities.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

@@ikeraggi1730 Please provide some sort of A to B to C logic on why you think my points are attempting to argue for an afterlife. Did I happen to hint that as my premise or conclusion?

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

@@ikeraggi1730 Then why u say u don't see how injustice on earth proves an afterlife?

[@A.--.]

Bart you can just say "i dont believe that" when we have evidence from God (ie the Quran) that tells us thre IS an After-Life. Dont deny yourself the Only 100% preserved message from your Creator who sent us into this Exam Room called Earth.

[@wechosenfew7622]

I agree an afterlife doesn't seem all that relevant to the purpose of our lives. Although if life has a purpose than a just reward would seem like something that could make sense. If it's all just meaningless though. When I wake up every day with the thought how can I make my little part of the world happier. Lemme tell ya. Going around my neck of the woods and telling people there is no after life would not be making anyone happier. Uh duh... Frankly I know I can't convince anyone of something that is completely subjective, that doesn't at all mean people are wrong for thinking there could be more to the purpose of our lives. I appreciate the work Bart does, people should question what they think they know and believe. However don't be surprised if people find a subjective answer to this... if we had an objective answer Bart would be out of job. An the job of a prophet as well.

[@LisaS1]

I have an older brother on Facebook. He tells me very little of what is going on in his life but he's always pushing his God belief on me. What do I do?

[@deni.s.hk1]

Afterlife = life after Ego-Death “If you die before you die, you won’t die when you die.”

[@zeldaharris6876]

Strange. I am an unhappy atheist, but I see happy people of faith everywhere who are not waiting for the "afterlife' to be happy. So I find your argument to be very week. Their faith seems to bring them happiness or at least contributes to their happiness.

[@Disciple1433]

Yup, I can attest to that lol

[@orderlywalker6963]

"this Life is unfair without an after life"

[@aaronpolichar7936]

Life is unfair either way

[@ujwalRanpalujwalRanpal]

Sir what if u see jesus not in dream .but now when u R tlaking do u believe then

[@VISION321able]

Suffering, pain, all these are natural, social, and the result of human actions (i.e., the results of misbehavior, theft) and, suffering does not come from God, but man is empowered in this world by free will, he has freedom, but he is also a biological and chemical combination.

[@ketesafewyalefemedia2378]

Many philosophers and scientists of the secular world do not know that the seed of eternal life comes from the Lord Jesus. Unfortunately, this person, knowing full well that Jesus Christ is eternal life, did joke about his eternal life and did play with his earthly time when he should have informed others that Christ has eternal life seed.

[@ketesafewyalefemedia2378]

@garyallen8824 eternal life is Jesus. Denying and not believing in eternal life will not change anything You spoke your feelings, not the truth. Infact no matter what how you deny the truth about eternal life, there is no way you can change things. Accepting the truth brings us into harmony with reality. You are an earthly person because you were born from an earthly person. You become a heavenly person when you get birth to the world of heaven. Because whether life is in heaven or on earth, it is through seed and birth. The difference is that the seed of the earth father is born from the earth for a while, and the seed from the heavan is born to live in the heavenly world. Just as the earthly man is the product of the earth, the heavenly man is the product of Christ Jesus. To say that and denied by sayjng there is no eternal life is like that I have not lived an earthly life. Earthly man has an Earthly "seed of man" and in the same way the heavenly man also has the heavenly "seed of Christ"

[@ericjohnson6665]

Whether there's an afterlife or not, should be irrelevant to helping other people or not. Jesus didn't tell his followers to wait until they die to love their neighbor as themselves. But, as atheists don't ascribe to all people being children of God, they have even less incentive than a theist supposedly does to love others because we're all in the same family. I'm glad Bart wants to live the best life here as he can, and I expect most people would agree with his motives. Having been saved from the jaws of death 20 years ago by getting a heart transplant within a week of dying, made me really appreciate every day that I'm alive! The afterlife I don't believe in is the one where anyone spends an eternity in hell. Eternal life is only for those who pursue truth, beauty and goodness now. "Hell" is a purely human construct; it has human vengeance written all over it.

[@BangNong]

Do they not contemplate within themselves?1 Allāh has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers. (Ar Rum 8)

[@tomh6598]

i believe in an after life! It makes absolutely no sense to be born and then die and that's it! I believe what Jesus said! Believe and trust in me and you have life eternal!

[@mhansiglesia9031]

God has set eternity in man's heart. Eccl. 3:11

[@Theo_Skeptomai]

This 'God' is not real. See how that works?

[@NewmanStrongtower]

@@Theo_Skeptomai God doesn't believe in atheists. He was first. First come, first served. NEXT!

[@robertjordinelli3041]

Exactly.

[@LisaS1]

People believe all that stuff since they are afraid of death and they can't accept that "death" will come (to all of us). They want to believe there is something after death. I'm like this guy, to me death is the end of our life. I do hope that reincarnation is not true. I wouldn't want to face this world again.

[@Fmj168]

If you’re right you will never know.

[@tookeetalaska1387]

What's crazy is, I actually enjoy Bart's books & ive enjoyed his debates. But here's where he's dead wrong! I would love to introduce him to Santeria that if he has loved one's who have passed away in this religion he will hear them again 🙏.

[@tedhibbard6320]

I died in accident and got a beatdown in hell.I study Jesus big time and its the way out of hell.Demons are relentless.Happy I did not run and fight all of them.They hate cowards but back off on fighters who fight them.

[@5Gazto]

brilliant

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

No it isn't. It's not bad or irrational to disregard something just because it's rare.

[@adriaanvanderwalt3006]

To those who place their trust in Jesus, this life will be the closet they come to hell. To those who deny Jesus, this life is the closest they will come to heaven.

[@patyrc76]

At least atheists are not a pain in the butt harassing others with their beliefs.

[@dominicmeehan8322]

Some people feel the need and are motivated to help others because of their belief in an afterlife just as your belief "that this is it" motivates you. Belief in God ( a higher power) makes sense of the suffering for many? HAPPY...is that very subjective? The 'hit' is what makes the addict happy! Is MEANING not a better goal?

[@NewmanStrongtower]

"Higher power" is an insult to the God of glory.

[@1luv4j]

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. Your Consciousness is energy it's simply transfers to a new existence. The tiniest Spark is the greatest of blueprints made in a singularity like fractal origami. But every life lived dies in the end you will cease to be but your essence will move forward so that life can grow. Eventually after lifetime after lifetime of reincarnation from the starter merkaba he's finally have self-awareness. I come down here one of the new laws called The Law of uniqueness every life has to be unique.

[@NewmanStrongtower]

Where in the world did you hear this strange teaching? You profess this lie as though you have absolute proof of your claims. Who wants' to be reincarnated and come back to this hell hole again? That's idiocy. There's more to all of this than some energy force. God is a person, not a force and God's plan includes a better place. And your claim makes no sense because it doesn't explain squat about creation. DNA in itself is a library and every living thing has a written code. Your belief devalues mankind. God tells us we are created in His image, not to become some sickening crap eating fly on our next go round. That's sick. If life is unique, it had to be created to be that way. Twisting the creation of the mighty God is a really evil thing to do.

[@firasitani5874]

Islam is the solution to all problems and has an answer to any question

[@justmenotyou3151]

BS. I was going to go off on islam, but i won't. Islam does not have the answer.

[@NewmanStrongtower]

It must be the solution! I mean, the way you all treat your women for instance...

[@deewesthill1213]

As a child in a fundamentalist church i already had serious confusion and doubts about religion. I developed a notion that the US government wanted everyone to be Christians or Jews because i believed the government saw religious belief as a sign of "strong moral character" that could make you a "good American citizen"! 🇺🇸😇 🙄😆 I also believed that if i were to keep going to church, regularly study the Bible or even just look through it, and imagine myself as having "true faith", one day i would find a "magical" verse that would be a "key"🔑 to open the "door" of my heart to "true faith". I'd get baptized, be allowed what i imagined was a wonderful privilege -- partaking of the "Lord's Supper" ritual, and maybe if my faith was strong enough i'd even get to see silvery-golden visions or dreams of a heaven built out of clouds, sunbeams and rainbows, plus meet some angels, fairies, and friendly ghosts! 😆 Every Sunday at church i would thumb through the Bible seeking that magical heart key verse, which i never found! Then my mother decided we should leave that church for New Thought religions. I did not truly believe in those religions either. Finally i quit expecting to get faith by attending church or reading scripture, and just did not feel that without any belief i belonged in *any* church .... Now i'm old and agnostic about supernatural beings of any sort and also about afterlife concepts, realizing there is no proof of any. While not exactly thrilled at the prospect of nonexistence, i'm not really distressed by it either, and i certainly don't want to come back to this sphere and go through another lifetime of suffering! In my opinion, many atheists are in churches trying to believe in a religion, or at least trying to look like they believe!

[@javv7288]

You would sound honest if you just say you love sin and don't want to be accountable to no one.🤷🏻‍♂️ Apparently you didn't read the Bible enough the point wasn't to get Treasures in Heaven but to develop a relationship with the savior😘. Is not the first time I see agnostic or atheist denying the Supernatural even after experience them, how else could someone who loves evil appease their consciousness😏. It doesn't matter if you want God or not, you are still going to die and face what you reject now. You can run but not hide😉

[@deewesthill1213]

@@javv7288 You are projecting your religious prejudice onto me, imagining you know my mind, presuming that you are like an omniscient God. That makes you a *blasphemer* as well as a *liar* because you *know* you are no such thing. You are also a big *hypocrite* for doing those three major sins while you imagine that i "love sin" and "don't want to be accountable". You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Go grovel to your God on your knees in fear and trembling! I don't reject anything. I'm willing to believe what is true and good. I cannot live a lie and pretend to believe what I cannot believe. 😇

[@mr.metamovies2419]

Yes.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

No

[@scrumpymanjack]

Makes you wonder how such a thoughtful, intelligent person could have been duped by religion in the first place. In other words, if religion can fool him, just imagine the power that it wields over people whose brains don't work as well. Frightening.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

Atheists just want to replace a god with your own ego, or humanism. Both are rubbish.

[@darylh649]

How do you explain that peoples consciousness can separate from the body. I’ve left My body stood right beside It. certainly wasn’t a dream. If you believe you are only the body, yes you die but our consciousness, lives on elsewhere long after the body dies.

[@Theo_Skeptomai]

Consciousness can't separate from the brain (body). Think before you type.

[@robbailey464]

If there is no personal creator God, then it doesn’t matter what you do. If there is, then maybe he has certain ideas about what you should and shouldn’t do. Jesus is God in the flesh telling us what he wants us to know.

[@faithbe3047]

I found a lot more things that made me question is the Bible even about God, not even thinking that Bible is HIS book... Before that for few years I believed every little detail that was mentioned in the Bible, and I was protecting Bible at all costs... Now, I cant explain how I feel... I spent 2 days crying when I found out that Bible was written by men with all these different contradictions because they were adjusting Bible text for their beliefs... I just cant grasp that God doesnt exist and that I will spend eternity in tomb and that I will never live again... Bible was the only thing that moved me foward in my life... Now, I am so sad and I dont know how can I live knowing that my previous years of life were dictated by book that has been written by tribes who were primitive. Not to mention that almost every book of bible was not written by their writer, as the title of that book says so... The law, Psalms, Gospels all these texts were written hundreds of years after their original occurence... plus the amount of false details is really disgusting...

[@justmenotyou3151]

Live your life with compassion, love, and happiness. That is the true message of Christianity, not the garbage we have been led to beleave. Beleave in the good. The story of the Good Samaritan, the first stone story, etc. Take the best of all writings, where ever they be written, and use those to live by.

[@DHammerr]

Watch near death experiences. Get into spirituality.

[@talibeilm21c]

The concept of afterlife is there for you to be a better person. Respected sir you are happy, good for you. But what about countless other people who can't be happy. Life is so miserable that killing yourself seems better than tolerating this misery called life. But afterlife is like that tiny shining light that keeps countless others away from giving up on themselves. This concept of judgment day and afterlife has kept humanity in my opinion alive. For numerous great conquerors in history have happened to fear a life to come so they did not become psychopathic killing machines.

[@mr.metamovies2419]

Ah, the Egyptian pharaohs would agree with you there.

[@willbass2869]

asked....and answered

[@germanboy14]

Not in Pauline Christianity. You only have to have faith in Jesus. By the way this contradicts Jesus when says to keep the commandments for eternal life

[@EARLARTWORKS]

Thank you. Someone who understands. I would have ended my life a longgg time ago. But the idea/high probability/ some sort of evidence that the might be an afterlife gives me hope

[@EARLARTWORKS]

​@@germanboy14😂I thought I was the only one that saw that. I choose to fallow the words of Jesus himself than some watered down version of what he said

[@mrolla8460]

Not fair if there is no afterlife. I m happy now, and i want to be happy eternally.

[@danielandteresabowlin3406]

I live for the next life

[@firstaidsack]

What if there is none? What if this life is your only chance at existing?

[@danielandteresabowlin3406]

@firstaidsack according to God's Word, this life is just the beginning. I'm not changing the way I live. but, using your question, I will lose nothing by continuing my life the way it is. I can ask the same question of you, what if this life is not the end? the choices are Heaven or Hell.

[@firstaidsack]

@@danielandteresabowlin3406 Well, I hope you're losing nothing by living the way you do, even if there is no afterlife. I know for a fact that I have this life, but I can't be so sure about an afterlife. And different religions say different things about it.

[@danielandteresabowlin3406]

@firstaidsack I actually enjoy my life. I also understand where you coming from. life is about choices. hope all goes well with you.

[@christinabutterfield1801]

What a waste.

[@keithhewgley7564]

Agree.

[@germanboy14]

You dont even have to be a good person according to Paul. He says you only have to have faith to be saved. This means that works dont matter to go to heaven. Jesus on the other hand explicitly says 4 times to keep the commandments for eternal life

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

You're mostly right, but no god exists anyway and the Bible is fiction. Humans need to look to objectively valid philosophy for how we ought to live. Not religion, which is false, nor nature or our feelings, which are fallacious.

[@Repent-for-jesus]

Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life, only through him will you get to the father. Jesus is coming back and the time to believe is now. God bless

[@dolliscrawford280]

I believe we are supposed to live our lives in the way you say. I do believe in heaven, hell, and reincarnation, which is God's choice. I also believe we are not supposed to have too much heaven on our minds. It is not to be our business.

[@Gavin-m6q]

What's the point of life if there nothing after

[@tabbybulla9198]

Why does there have to be something afterwards for you to appreciate life? As an atheist I've always found that statement weird from people who are believers cause it's like what if you find Out There's no God Right Now you're just gonna kill yourself ? Are you gonna commit all the crimes You want ? why can't Life just be precious by itself ? WHY does there have to be a reward for You at the End Of The Road. You living your life was the reward, death is just the end of it.

[@irfanalakbar]

If you don't believe in afterlife, so why you want to be a good person anyway? Just be a very bad person, avoid law with mony and power you have, and live your life with pleasure no matter what. Just don't be average good guy person.. it doesn't benefited you.. Life is to short to be just average good guy..

[@BortolanAlexandre]

Are all the sociopaths in here today?

[@grizmileham7029]

@@BortolanAlexandre Christianity is great cover for sociopaths, which is why they flock to defend it.

[@irfanalakbar]

@@BortolanAlexandre If they does'nt believe in afterlife, it mean that they does'nt believe in justice system, because afterlife is the justice system from God to be held, especially if in the world the justice doesn't applied. And if someone doesn't believe in justice system, why he bothering to be a good guy? Morality, or Karma doesn't important for him. Because morality or Karma is a justice system. Just be the most bastard person, anything that benefited you in this world, no matter with the consequences, no matter with other's suffering,.. enjoy your life, before it ended in the grave as a skeleton and dust. Make sense?

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@BortolanAlexandre Nature validates sociopaths, many of such people have been successful throughout history.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@BortolanAlexandreis there a coherent argument why sociopaths is bad, or do you think it's bad because it makes u uncomfortable? Use logic and reason or just sit down somewhere. Truth doest care about ur feelings.

[@janie5364]

Not believing in an afterlife doesn't change the fact that there is one.

[@SupremeSquiggly]

No one can prove there is one. There’s not even agreement amongst those who claim an afterlife..of the correct afterlife. 😂. Nor what it takes to get in. It has the same validity as the kid in school who swore he a girlfriend only she just went to a different school.

[@EARLARTWORKS]

​@@SupremeSquiggly What proof is there that it doesn't exist?

[@SupremeSquiggly]

@@EARLARTWORKS What proof is there djinn and pixies don’t exist? You need to demonstrate it does.

[@tedhibbard6320]

Helping people Almost all help less then 1 % of their time and give even less cash.

[@borntohodl2965]

I respect your thought Mr. Erhman. But i believe there is an akhirat life.

[@sanderossi8013]

You have only one life, therefore: jolo, aka get everything out of live what is in it. If you go to heaven, you also have this one life here on earth. And therefore make the best of it. If you go to hell too. The real difference is not wether you do your best to be happy. The difference is: do you live your life according to the One Who Gave You Life. btw, JOLO is the same mindset of the LGBTQ community. Hedonism et cetera. Do as you please as long as you don’t hurt anyone. Hence if you feel like a dog, identify as it, behave like it, go for it.

[@matthewburns1012]

Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life and an abdundant life

[@philpensabene2809]

Live life don't worry born to repent

[@justice4all977]

Love others as you Love yourself. Do good to your enemies. Live at Peace with all men - Jesus

[@nicoleela2617]

What if we're wrong?. That's all thank you.

[@garynicolas]

What can be done to fix issue like this instead of making a mockery?

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

What issue?

[@rameshpersaud7131]

Hold on our day is not over, let God be true and every man a liar

[@ralphhaulk2681]

James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” DUH!

[@forgivenessseeker2023]

If you believe in God You've to believe in afterlife. The righteous people and the evil people are not going to be equal. Hitler and other criminals wont face justice???? There is no justice in the world. Justice has to be fulfilled in the hearafter.

[@hamc861]

This life is meaningless without an afterlife. No justice. We were not put on earth just to have fun and then die...

[@christinabutterfield1801]

People are brought to Justice in this life. All the time what are you talking about

[@ryanrevland4333]

You have it exactly backwards. If you die having spent your life worshiping an imaginary man in the sky, then you wasted your life. It was meaningless.

[@nacholibre1962]

Guess what? Live your life like it’s all there is. The rest of us will do that and then be in the company of the Almighty.

[@christinabutterfield1801]

The only reason you think god is real is because someone told you he was without evidence.

[@beerman204]

Smart man in so many ways, but has become an atheist in a way that feels a bit creepy to me given his devotion over the years to biblical studies....

[@lunarloverfairy]

Excuse for not helping people?? Religion is what makes people help people. Green crescent and red crescent help more than any atheists ever would or do.

[@akmaldheen717]

Hey Ehrman, Let's meet in the hereafter.

[@HelloABY]

If you find out that the Bible is corrupt , that doesn’t mean that there is no God or afterlife, it is illogical thinking considering you are an educated person. Who created you? Can non-existence create life? Believing that there is afterlife should be an excuse to help people not the other way around. God didn’t create you to suffer in this life to be rewarded in the afterlife, that’s a nonsense idea, God wants you to enjoy this life AND help people. Apparently your concept of God was not correct.

[@truending]

I’m pretty sure many believers help others more than you do.

[@Optidorf]

I'm not, he has raised a lot of money for charity.

[@truending]

@@Optidorf Raising money is something. Giving money is another. Looking after someone is another level. Some charities use money for certain people’s benefits. I don’t trust many charities.

[@christinabutterfield1801]

​@@truendingOkay?

[@paulkiernan3256]

Of there us no after life and your very unhappy but find that taking advantage of others makes you feel better on this life. Who is to say that that is objectively wrong or immoral? Our nature is to be meaning makers so why would thete be no ultimate significance? If on the end nothing matters nothing matters. Mystery remains but theism is the better explanation for the data.

[@RicardoLerdo]

Where do your morals come from? If there is no spiritual law

[@DasWortwurdeFleisch]

Bart, you said God isn‘t fixing suffering so you don‘t believe he exists. Now you assumed omnscience and omnipresence. They are not divine attributes though. And omnipotency does not mean you can do magic but it means you are chief in command. These are many false premisses for such a big decision.

[@shalamigri]

People have been believing in an afterlife for 10's of 1000's of years. Christianity then came about and got people to thinking about a heaven and a hell. Believe that Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, you'll go to heaven. If you don't, you'll go to hell. I'm with Bart. This is it. I don't believe in an afterlife.

[@Skyy-avari]

Why would anyone choose to go to HELL on purpose.

[@SupremeSquiggly]

Which hell? It’s not like there’s just one claim? It’s not even like there’s agreement on what it takes to get in. 😂. I doubt you worry about the hell of the another religion so why would you think anyone would care about yours? Surely you wouldn’t hubristically and lazily assert that you have the correct one?

[@aaronpolichar7936]

Christianity is a false religion invented by Satan. You are all going to hell. Sorry. Okay, not really. But it makes just as much sense as your view.

[@FriendlyPalBud]

Great video, that said please don't use this annoying Tik Tok backing track

[@diosdadoapias]

point where the Bible is wrong about after life. you are a pastor or former pastor. so explain and point text in the Bible that there is no after life so we may learn about it.

[@natanaellizama6559]

@bartdehrman This is outright irrational. If this life is all I have, then getting the most out of it can include getting the most pleasure out of it, including condemned or "immoral"(morality would be a fallacious concept as there would not be objective values) pleasures. Additionally, if this life is all we get, then it justifies preserving this life even at the expense of others. A negation of the transcendental leaves us with the immanent and the most obvious immanent facts are our own suffering and pleasures and our own vitality. Our own vital pursuits. Morality is in itself transcendental, as it doesn't concern itself of "what is" but what "ought to be", that is, it seeks to make a bridge from the transcendental to guide the immanent, but this would be just nonsensical and we are left with the mere guide of our own immanent wills. So, if one could derive pleasure,a better life and a greater lifespan even at the cost of others, that would be the rational choice, and everything else would just be theological heritage nonsense.

[@jonathandutra4831]

Show me a part in the Bible that implies we SHOULDNT help people because we believe in an afterlife Ile wait.........

[@Theo_Skeptomai]

The bible is a mythological book of nonsense. Why would I reference it?

[@jdaze1]

Whats the point of being moral then Bart? Where does our moral compass originate? If there is no life eternal then live any way you please. No rules no regulations.

[@Eddieshred]

That's assuming leading an immoral life makes you happier, which for most people isn't the case. So I think that's saying more about yourself. Furthremore, you can't live in a society if everybody is immoral. If you want want to be treated right, you also have to treat others right. Otherwise you will reap what you sow.

[@robertajaycart3491]

But Christ offers joy even in the midst of suffering. Joy is better than happiness. If their is no after life, pure evil never receives its justice.

[@NoSpam1891]

Evil *DOES* never receive justice. You want revenge? Pull your finger out.

[@robertajaycart3491]

@NoSpam1891 If the evil is done to me, I forgive and show mercy, I pray harder and fast. I don't seek revenge, because the Scriptures say, Revenge is mine, saith the Lord but according to many of you, if their isn't any God, pure evil never receives its justice.

[@robertajaycart3491]

@NoSpam1891 If evil never receives justice, Why are people in prison, then? I am talking about those who never get caught?

[@patricksee10]

Our Bart is blind to any facts outside of the sure knowledge of his own wisdoms in all their permutations

[@patricksee10]

@garyallen8824 he is the classic apostate Protestant. He thinks he is the repository of knowledge. He lacks consistency, wisdom or understanding. He is a purveyor of false doctrine, namely the doctrine of me. Why defend such odd behaviour?

[@DHammerr]

Atheism is the biggest dream crusher and it sucks.

[@hamzaartofwar3]

If this life is all there is, then why help people at all? Just be as selfish as you could, because it's your only chance. Of course if saying "you want to help people" gives you success, then that is a smart thing to do anyway lol

[@Optidorf]

Because if you help other people, other people will help you and make your life easier. A selfish person will always be alone and unlucky.

[@hamzaartofwar3]

@@Optidorf Well that's not true, a group of immigrants went to America, massacred the native population there and then went and enslaved another group of human beings to help them build this massive land they inherited, and everything ended up very well for them. They lived happily and made a very strong and rich country. History is full of examples of individuals and groups acting very selfish and being very successful and happy

[@Optidorf]

@@hamzaartofwar3 Ah yes, I give an example out of personal environment and you drag genocide into it. Nice.

[@hamzaartofwar3]

@@Optidorf Lol, it proves my initial point though

[@Optidorf]

@@hamzaartofwar3 So if everybody commits genocide the world is a better place? I hope you're just trolling, otherwise I'm worried about you.

[@sakeendomingo907]

Bart brother. Start studying the Quran. You’ll be convinced of it and will believe in the afterlife

[@FriendwithNoName7]

He destroyed Islam

[@frednazarov4179]

Islam is only path! If there is nothing after this life nothing to lose then, do whatever immoral acts you want collect wealth, live like animal…what if you wrong and there is afterlife, and everyone would live there forever, you cannot come back and re-do task you agreed on with The Creator! I choose to believe to the One and only Creator, and follow right path!

[@Theo_Skeptomai]

Islam is a path for morons. See how that works?

[@firstaidsack]

If this is your deepest desire then you're an immoral person.

[@ZygoticGoose]

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does Yahweh ask from you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”. ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭

[@lebanesegooner]

You are wrong. Allah swt sent us Muhammad pbuh to guide us about Jesus and all the prophets prior to him whose stories got forged. This life is a short trip and you either pass this test and go to heaven or you lose the test and go to hell.

[@Theo_Skeptomai]

No. YOU'RE WRONG. This 'Allah', heaven and hell are not realities.

[@lebanesegooner]

@@Theo_Skeptomai well more than 2 billion muslim disagree with you. But its your life and your call its a short one and there is nothing here worth it. It all ends

[@joannasarcamedes8191]

I genuinly have learned much truth from this man. But about the after life, all i truely know is that when our life is done here i think our spirit, soul and character that made us uniquely individual goes on somewhere because it cant be extinguished its not physical but eternal from wherever it began to wherever it goes on to.

[@dallas7077]

How is the afterlife an excuse *not* to help people? Jesus clearly says in the second part of Matthew 25 that you are punished forever if you don't help people...

[@Tommysimonsen]

He said a lot of things people did not listen to.

[@arnulfo267]

The historical Jesus probably never said that.

[@theoldar]

@@arnulfo267 In truth we have no way of knowing what the historical Jesus said.

[@Tommysimonsen]

@@theoldar That may be true, but if you know what channel this is, you would know Bert is the guy there made all the strongest arguments against.

[@mr.metamovies2419]

That only applies if you believe in an afterlife.

[@Vibestr]

The logic doesn't make sense. If this life is all there is, then you'd not be held accountable for your actions and so you'd do whatever you feel like doing.

[@Nate.H]

Society holds him accountable if he does anything outside the bounds of the law.

[@BortolanAlexandre]

We are held accountable. That's what laws are. And we want to live in a pleasant society where people are nice to each other. Not sociopaths who need religion to behave, probably, but normal people.

[@Vibestr]

​ @Nate.H + @@BortolanAlexandre The flaw in this is that law is not a blind construct. A lot of it is influenced by religion (e.g., thou shalt not murder). The point is, you can't isolate religion and hence God from societal laws. It's like trying to change BC/AD to BCE/ACE. But another problem with this thinking is that the laws are different across societies and time so what one person is bound to, another person in a different place and time isn't bound to. On the flip side, just because something isn't illegal doesn't necessarily make it right. In addition, there are crimes that never get solved; guilty parties that walk free. So there is no justice based on this thinking. The belief in the afterlife where you know you will be held accountable for the time you cheated someone (when you thought no one was looking), you refused to help someone in need, etc promotes prosocial behaviour but also self-accountability. This isn't an argument for the Bible, but more so the idea of God and the hereafter.

[@Follow-valid-logic_Mark1]

​@@BortolanAlexandreYour held accountable only if u get caught. And just because something is illegal doesn't mean it's wrong. U lack valid justification for ur beliefs.

[@redmoondesignbeth9119]

I'm one of those people whose Minds won't stay in their Heads. I can "remember" about a dozen past lives which are influencing my NOW life. I had a life as a Roman Slave to my daughter who had me killed because I had a happiness that she could't buy. She is still this way. One physical life is not enough to hold all the information a person requires. One life is not fair to those who die young or old without purpose. We are part of a miraculous Web of realities.

[@FarSeeker8]

Angel Studios is releasing a movie on July 4th about why it is wrong to believe "the purpose life is to be happy."