The Importance of Organized Religion and Spirituality, Even for Non-Believers, with Niall Ferguson

Megyn Kelly is joined by Niall Ferguson, best-selling author and senior fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, to discuss how being raised atheist made Niall an avid churchgoer in his adult life, the value that spirituality and religion brings to one’s life, his wife’s journey growing up in the Muslim Brotherhood, and more.
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[@MegynKelly]

Subscribe to never miss an episode of The Megyn Kelly Show! bit.ly/3Aw93yw

[@cathy4246]

Praying that Mr. Ferguson and his family will grow in the faith.

[@arunjetli7909]

he never left Christianity. He is fake. He justifies the barbarism of the British in Africa and India as any Christian would

[@brettbode748]

Paradox of Faith: only those who obey can believe; only those who believe can obey.

[@gitchermotrrunnin]

Don't know where to begin. Religion may be important for him. I am astonished that he and Ayaan have chose to return to organized religion. For me I left the Catholic life early. I never understood the nonsense, like there is one God but there are 3 parts and Jesus is God but then he is the son of God. yada, yada. Then I thought well there is a higher power so I'll believe spiritual instead of religious. Same non sense. I can't be sure there is no God and I am not an evangelical atheist. Just do not throw someone like me in with the deconstructionists, race crits, gender crits anti-western westerners just because they are not religious. Maybe listen to some of Christopher Hitches videos to understand how religious dogma concocted centuries ago occupies space in your mind that could be used for better things. You CAN be moral without it. Just read the bible and tell me how moral it is.

[@elizabethdexter-wilson4239]

One is just as likely to find spirituality and ethical impulses as a non believer. One does not have to be a christian and attend church to find those impulses.

[@freedominion7369]

Yes, but I've found that no other religion has the authority and redemption of Christ

[@josephmoore5949]

Perhaps. But I would find that to be less meaningful and real. Christianity and other forms of organized religions have thousands of years of historical backing and lots of followers. My own creation of truth pales in comparison.

[@angelarios8305]

@@josephmoore5949 Christianity was forced on people by those who would control and make slaves out of the masses. Get your facts straight!

[@jdmccoy1999]

I agree, one does not need organized religion to have ethics and morals. If anything, it means being a good human comes from within and not because you get a prize when you die.

[@krisk6834]

It has become clearer to me over time that the existence of churches and religions throughout history underlies (or at least influences) the ethics and morals of most everyone, even non-adherents who nonetheless get their sense of morality from somewhere, hopefully somewhere grounded in human history. Where does widespread moral agreement about anything come from if not from the influence of historical moral arbiters? I think it’s impossible to claim that thousands of years of moral thought, arbitration and correction within the bounds of long-lasting institutions have had no effect on moral foundations, and widespread moral agreement can just arise out of nowhere. And I would argue that you can’t have widespread moral agreement without some institution of moral power forming around it to help develop it, agree upon it, regulate it and pass it on. If one didn’t exist already, you would seed it yourself with your own moral ideas, in order to preserve them for future generations and give them a foundation to build on.

[@sarahanderson4169]

As someone who grew up in a fundamentalist church and has since become agnostic, this is such a fascinating conversation. I don’t have children but I have wrestled over whether I’d want them to attend church. The way he speaks about church is refreshing and makes me consider whether I’d ever visit one again-because he speaks about it in a healthy way and he doesn’t seem to have made it his entire personality. And he acknowledges legitimate reasons why people would stop going and he’s not looking down on them for that. Yelling at atheists that they need to “get right with God” will never work lol. Christian evangelists should take notes from this guy but they never will…

[@LawnCareLady]

Are you agnostic because you saw the sinfulness of Believers all around you? Sorry for getting personal - had to ask...

[@sarahanderson4169]

@@LawnCareLady No problem, I actually appreciate being asked as most just jump to assumptions! I left for many reasons but none of them were the actions of those around me in the church. It was my apologetics class in Bible college that brought up theological questions to which I could no longer rationalize. To keep living as a Christian would have been living a lie at that point. I have built a beautiful life for myself outside Religion and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been!

[@LawnCareLady]

@@sarahanderson4169 Ah! glad to hear you are happy. So it sounds like you still believe in God; just not "religion". Am I kind of right? I'm fascinated by stories of faith....(or lack thereof) hehe

[@Ten414]

"Stupidity is the same as evil if you judge by the results."

[@Juttargoe]

Glory to the Highest 🙌🏻🙏🏻💯

[@michaeljenningsyyz]

On an unrelated matter, will we be seeing any coverage of the latest Crowder controversy? Anyone paying attention to all the facts knew he was completely full of BS over his dispute with the Daily Wire. Now it's coming out that this "champion of the people" was a horrible boss and taking advantage of his employees. This hypocrite needs to be held to account.

[@jennlands1884]

Love his comments about educating our kids about religion

[@origami83]

Especially about the dangers that it brings imo.

[@freedominion7369]

@@origami83 Such as?

[@origami83]

@@freedominion7369 The urge to hate, murder, torture, sexually abuse other people to start with. If you require examples iam happy to give them to you.

[@thatstranger6114]

​@@freedominion7369 persecution of those with differing beliefs regardless of morality or overlapping ideologies. Some people don't believe in a higher power, but they are still model citizens and decent people, but because they don't believe the way some highly religious people do they are considered lesser than even if the religious are more morally abject than those that are not.

[@thatstranger6114]

​@@freedominion7369 the entire purpose of religion is core tenets for life, lessons on how to behave as a person towards others and life in general. People forget that part and then we end up with the warped perspectives of religion we have today by both believers and non-believers. We don't need to teach children religion, we need to teach them the fundamentals and societal function of religion.

[@sflasaint811]

Dam Megyn!!! Tucker quit and Lemon is fired!!!!

[@Tom-ou2zf]

Megyn we love you ❤️

[@robb6059]

Human life is meant for self-realization.

[@carefulcarpenter]

Only 1 in 10,000 individuate. The Bible references 1 in 10,000 also. Would you like to discuss?

[@robb6059]

@@carefulcarpenter please clarify for me by 1 in 10,000 individuals?

[@carefulcarpenter]

@@robb6059 I read that this month. It seemed interesting. In my experience on messageboards and comment sections I have a difficult time having discussions about a topic that I believe is an indication of Indivivuation, or self-actualization. Our discussion would be very helpful.

[@robb6059]

@@carefulcarpenter "Generally householders think that engaging in family affairs is their prime duty and that self-realization or enlightenment in spiritual knowledge is secondary."

[@carefulcarpenter]

@@robb6059 I can understand the thinking. Women "feel" they understand about spiritual development; yet if one looks at the divorce rate(78% are instigated by women) the "nesting" instinct--- if this is what 'householders' means, then women have a primary motivation which does not appear to be very 'enlightened'.

[@cb3391]

👋

[@hogsmaws]

your hair is sooooo pretty

[@mattbrentlinger1078]

Religion is not the answer. Relationship absolutely is.

[@freedominion7369]

Where does love come from?

[@ToriZealot]

@@freedominion7369 Viagra?

[@freedominion7369]

@@ToriZealot 😳😆 I'm saying that love can't be explained through science alone and if it's a divine gift, religion helps to explain its nature (and other ethereal phenomena such as spirit or beauty, etc)

[@Nyctm91]

Omg Don Lemon was fired!!! I can’t wait to see what you say

[@Marita940]

I'm sorry I'm a lapsed catholic and I have spiritual faith in my family that have passed I believe their soul is around 😢❤

[@Bill_Garthright]

I hope that's comforting to you. I see no reason to think that "spiritual faith" is a valid way to distinguish reality from delusion and wishful-thinking, though. Indeed, it seems absolutely _indistinguishable_ from wishful-thinking. I miss my parents. I would _volunteer_ for Hell if that would make Heaven magically exist for them (and for my grandparents, friends, and pretty much everyone I've ever known who has died). But that's not likely how reality works. But my parents are still with me in my memories. And sometimes in my dreams, which is always nice. It's not real, but it's nice to see them again. Good luck to you! I hope you're comforted by your beliefs, at least.

[@Marita940]

@@Bill_Garthright Thankyou 😇

[@andrewjohnson388]

We are still Celts ..Sottish ..Irish ,,music ..depth ..same as US blues ..depth ..US is our Kin ..

[@kevinkelley7470]

As a dude who has the second E that hurt 😂

[@seektruth1760]

We were created with a spiritual hole in our heart that can only be filled by God’s truth which is faith in Jesus and His teaching. This gives us purpose and that is to be faithful in Christ for His glory and serving others in His name. He’s the only one with the plan for our redemption and the only way to enter into His eternal kingdom. That is what I live for.

[@LawnCareLady]

Very interesting and in Megyn's true style - unoffensive to Believers. He DOES have a little bit of Jesus up in him. Thank GOD;)

[@Ten414]

Ladz E. Ave As Utpal Kumar very well puts it: “The so-called modern mind is cursed with faithlessness. Ironically, it takes pride in it. It thinks faith is an antithesis to rationality. To add to it, it is also afflicted with a judgemental and know-it-all trait. Even the greatest of the souls can be judged, abused, and called names in no time.”

[@cisium1184]

"...and in Scotland, it's League Cup final day at Hampden Park, where Celtic meet Partick Thistle, who have no chance."

[@Ketofit62]

Yes, hypnotize No yes hypnotized

[@freedominion7369]

God bless you all ✝️💒

[@freedominion7369]

@@danbrand2455 Granted, but Christ also gave us authority to act on his behalf Mark 16:20 “The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it”

[@chris__10]

​@@freedominion7369 , I don't think that passage can be interpreted as God giving anyone authority to act on his behalf. I think that assumption can be quite dangerous

[@freedominion7369]

@@chris__10 Why not- if a righteous Creator gave each of us a conscience, isn't it wise to follow its virtues, just as Mother Theresa did? Otherwise and if there's no higher authority than man, why shouldn't Stalin kill since he had the most power in the Soviet Union?

[@carefulcarpenter]

_Synchronistic mathematics_ More than simple coincidence.

[@wjdyr6261]

"Synchronicity is how God remains anonymous." Einstein

[@carefulcarpenter]

@@wjdyr6261 Synchronistic mathematics is a truth system using meaningful experiences supported by falsifiable empirical evidence. I have hundreds of documented events and with many I have extremely complicated calculations. The simple example is this: when we met, I lived at 915 and my wife lived at 5349. We were married 247 days after my birthday, which was 11 days into our relationship. She had just broken up with a boyfriend who went to Florida with his brother for Spring Break. She had been married before, so I knew that trust was of great value to her. We were coincidentally married on the day that .915349% of the year falls upon. My aunt and her boyfriend joined us in Lake Tahoe on that weekend, so it was not our choice of wedding date. Coincidentally, my wife's name gained gematria values on that day of 15-26-16(first, middle, last). The exact location of the spot at the Lake that the Minister chose to say our vows is/was 1526.16 miles from my grandparent's cottage in the upper midwest. If my birth certificate number as a value is calculated as miles/feet, the last 6 digits of the total is xxxx915349. Coincidentally, the footage for our home property of 24 years was the same value as my bc# xxx.xxxxxxx feet. The property was surveyed in 1926. The complete body of my 23 years of research so far is beyond coincidental. New events occur almost daily for me now that I seem to sense these enigmas as they happen. Sadly, it is so far beyond the capacity of the "evolutionary mind of man" that I am usually ignored. Thanks for commenting. Any questions? Any events you have experienced that you would care to share? 👀🐡

[@wjdyr6261]

@carefulcarpenter always interesting stuff. The repetitive nature of history and events in the great natural sense. When it's artificially induced by man, then it breaks down and exposes the fraud usually. 6 degrees of separation. It's always interesting. Or when people like politicians and Dr Fauci "prophesied" about a pandemic and it was called a pLandemic. They speak of a once in a hundred year event or black swan events. If it's naturally occurring, it is one thing, but when men induce it and play if up like it's naturally occurring, then my alarms go off

[@achinthmurali5207]

I’ve went to church. I ended up losing my sanity with their ridiculous beliefs.

[@Ketofit62]

What is

[@braved145]

There will always be people who stop believing in religion. There needs to be a community for them that follows the common values shared by all religions like family, being good etc. Otherwise they sometimes start to think that if here is no religion, rules don't matter. They get easily attracted to the left and the entertainment industry, and believe in all the things they believe in because they seem cooler I guess. If they have a community they can follow rather than be lured by the other side , tphings would be better. They can believe in science and how it describes the world was created. The basic good values of all our religions is something that is followed by humans all around the world. If the world got destroyed and humans had to start over without knowledge of the past. Everything that happened will happen again. It's how we got to where we are. There is no point blaming the past. If an intelligent community is made without any religious association then they may choose to be part of it rather follow the values of the new left. Holidays based on scientific or historic events will help them get together as friends and families. It can coincide with religious holidays. As far as they are concerned, the point of life is to live life as a good human being with one's family and friends and to be happy when possible and enjoy it's many pleasures like food, travel, sports etc. Unlike the few addictive things the left and the entertainment industry glorifies to be cool. That's all i can think of, someone maybe can do better. It's better than losing them to people who lure them to a fantasy life filled with a lifestyle that's addictive but destructive. The truth is none of them are happy at the end of the day. They all look miserable because they don't know what the point of life is. They just want to destroy all the others unlike them so their lives look better. I think a good community and new entertainment industry is required too for all kids and people around the world who don't want to follow religion. It will save them from the radical left who currently has a good hold on them through the entertainment industry.

[@Bill_Garthright]

Have you ever _met_ an atheist? Have you ever talked to an atheist? Or is your conception about "the radical left" all from the Christian Taliban? (Note that not all atheists are on the left. Only the intelligent ones. ) Seriously, I'm always happy to talk to intelligent people who disagree with me about religion, but I find that theists - Christian and Muslim alike - are usually terrified of talking with _me._ That's sad, but it's their choice, of course. If you want to have a conversation, a back-and-forth discussion - either here or by email - I'm available. But I rather doubt that you'll be interested. Most theists prefer to stay in the bubble of their own particular religion, huh?

[@yidiandianpang]

Can't we please bad this adjective "organized"? Do we have "organized" education, militaries, industry, families, etc? And if it's about communities instead of line rangers why add "spirituality?"

[@alanking6173]

7 billion people with a different thumb print, 7 billion people with a different Eye print, 7 billion people with a different D N A print, this is a God thing.

[@achinthmurali5207]

No it’s an evolution tging

[@BellaMarsilioRN]

[@MorallyResponsible]

Wire like neuronal structures that conduct electricity via ions/neurotransmitters in the CNS/PNS possess no attribute of thinking/life and yet that has “randomly” led to life. Consciousness/thinking is an innate idea that is distinct from carbon skeleton and yet the materialist scientist believes that chemistry turned into biology via “god of randomness”/”Magic”/"law of nature". Consciousness can only stem from consciousness itself (Allah-one/indivisible/loving/self-sufficient Perfection)

[@bluesky45299]

“How it is that anything so remarkable as a state of consciousness comes about as a result of irritating nervous tissue, is just as unaccountable as the appearance of the djinn when Aladdin rubbed his lamp in the story.” -Thomas Henry Huxley

[@achinthmurali5207]

Spirituality or religion should be based on Reality and Truth. Not fairy tales and falsehoods

[@maxgain4611]

christianity is not = spirituality and atheism doe snot mean you believe in anything , this guy is lost and I don't get why would you teach religion to children , that is just feeding ignorant , violent, extreme propaganda and the guy does not even mention how many evil things have been done in the name of god and is still done to this day

[@LO-FiCOFFEE]

Religion is great for people that are lost, don't have a direction or their own handbook for life. But we can have a healthy, functioning society without it, just takes education.

[@newyorkcity7332]

Megyn you are a very beautiful woman

[@RobustArid379]

Megyn joined a Organize religion to spread Joy and biblenism. oppose to drug cartel and organize gang

[@thatstranger6114]

We don't need "religion" what we need are the fundamental teachings that come from it, primarily being common decency, individual right and motivation for prosperity and overall respect for life. The problem with religion is that even most of the religious don't even understand the meanings behind the core principles of their faith. The texts exist to teach you life lessons and morality, not as a self help book to be taken literally and at face value.

[@jdmccoy1999]

Agreed. I find most people who believe heavily in organized religion seem to have a greater need for the reward system set in place which tells them that they will get a special prize for being part of the group and a sense of feeling special that others will burn for eternity in a pit of fire and torment. Personally, I am of the opinion that getting everything you want for eternity would be a kind of torture in itself. It all seems rather silly to think people need religion to tell them to be good and can’t find it within themselves to just be a good human because it’s the right thing to do in a society. Doesn’t make sense that a person could be giving, kind, and genuinely good their entire life and yet burn in eternal hell fire because they don’t make statements of loyalty to Jesus or do rituals to appease a god.

[@judygruen920]

WIthout a God-based morality, where do fundamental teachings come from? Without God, everything becomes fungible.

[@Ketofit62]

It’s true why would you let Afghanistan happened? Why would you let those people get left there?

[@timmyhassett]

Hi Mr. Vladimir Putin. I know you watch this show.

[@timmyhassett]

@@Newbalance0311 Ah, Mr Putin. How are things ?

[@DobryiGena]

Интересно послушать мнение специалиста. Хуже когда «специалист» лезет со своим уставом в чужой монастырь и пытается контролировать жизни других людей

[@pmcclaren1]

unless a man is BORN AGAIN he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3.3, 33-34-) said JESUS. Otherwise you are in eternal lake of fire. We humans all have 'free will'--

[@MarkO-xc5pb]

A man that (Honors his Parents) wow! You are on The Narrow Road weather you know it or not!

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

IF this is all just a Cosmic Accident, the question must be asked, Why did John Gotti Die in prison?

[@achinthmurali5207]

Because he could

[@themarky2658]

Megyn...kilts Not dresses...

[@Ketofit62]

Please End it It’s not fair

[@RobustArid379]

Megyn is a Mormon

[@brianwhite1189]

Atheist finds religion. Yes, man bites dog.

[@la6136]

I don't bother arguing with people who don't believe in God. I honestly believe God is something you have to experience for yourself to believe. You have to see God move in your life to really understand why believing in God is so valuable. I just feel bad for these people because they live their lives alone with no assistance or guidance from anything higher and more benevolent than themselves. I also feel bad for them because I know they have never experienced any miracles in their life which is why they don't believe in God.

[@Bill_Garthright]

I feel bad for those people who think they need a god to have a good life. But they can believe whatever they want, of course. I just wish that faith-based thinking wasn't destroying my country and my world!

[@origami83]

And i dont bother arguing with ppl that believe in a god. They are so delusional and beyond reason that it is a complete waste of time.

[@aluk2408]

We waste too much time believing in fairy tales.

[@freedominion7369]

Disprove God, please

[@aluk2408]

@@freedominion7369 It's a silly idea invented to comfort children when granny dies. Absolutely no basis for it.

[@origami83]

@@freedominion7369 Thats not how it works. A negative (doesnt exist) cant be proven. With your logic its possible to claim anything is real, from unicorns to aliens. At best a god MIGHT be possible, same as aliens. But then why should it be your god? There have been ten thousands of gods all over history and none has proven to be real.

[@origami83]

@@freedominion7369 I see you replied to me but i cant read it fully for some reason, just the first line. With negative i meant things that are non-existent, english is not my first language. If i can somehow read more of your reply later i will respond to that aswell.

[@555Trout]

A physicist who thinks life is a random event isn't a very good physicist.

[@achinthmurali5207]

That’s your opinion as a non physicist I assume. Life is random that doesn’t mean it’s insignificant

[@555Trout]

@@achinthmurali5207 If it were "random" you wouldn't get out of bed in the morning.

[@achinthmurali5207]

If life wasn’t random than it could be predicted down to the last atom. But it can’t.

[@555Trout]

@@achinthmurali5207 Again, if you actually thought life was "random" you wouldn't get out of bed in the morning.

[@karendueck2895]

Religion sucks, it’s a bunch of man made rules which is so not the Bible. Christianity is a personal relationship between Jesus and man or woman. Try it, you’ll never go back to your old life. John 3:16 says “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

[@Bill_Garthright]

Religion only sucks because it's faith-based, not evidence-based. So, it seems to me that, instead of throwing out the baby with the bathwater, you've thrown out the baby and _kept_ the bathwater. Do you have *one piece of good evidence* that your god is real, rather than imaginary? Just *one,* but specific enough and in enough detail that I can judge it for myself? After all, evidence is how we distinguish reality from delusion and wishful-thinking. So, do you have _anything_ distinguishable from wishful-thinking?

[@williambranch4283]

Ideally Christianity is free congregational association by people who share the same creed.

[@NiaLaLa_V]

Strangely Karen I had a completely different experience than you. Reading the christian bible made me want to read other bibles and learn about as many beliefs as possible. I could never choose one, I am instead fascinated to keep learning about them. You can stay in the old life, that is your choice.

[@ArnethProductions]

*By this gospel you are saved* , if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: *that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.* (1 Co 15:3-4 ) Jesus is coming rescuing/snatching all believers up to Heaven! 🛈see Playlist.

[@HazyWave1974]

LOL. No.