The Atheist Experience 26.39 Matt Dillahunty and Andrew Seidel Live from the Freethought Library

[@SaffronHammer]

I was a fundamentalist christian for 36 years, until I woke from my indoctrination and have been able to trust my reasoning abilities and my own moral judgments. As an atheist, everything in my life had improved in everyway since leaving religion.

[@neverendingparty4832]

Wrong. It's "liberating" to be an atheist, but that's like saying "playing hooky from school" is "liberating." Both are simply shirking your responsibility to school attendance, the same way you're shirking responsibility to your creator, for the "gift of life" given you.

[@smochygrice465]

@@neverendingparty4832 Go moisty 🤘

[@joshsheridan8239]

@@neverendingparty4832 Wrong but I doubt you've ever been right.

[@SaffronHammer]

@@neverendingparty4832 HAHAHA! Wrong? haha. I am so glad I graduated and have my degree--and while I appreciate my education, I do not miss school at all. I am good, thanks! And yes, it feels amazing to have the freedom of mind and conscience. So good! How can you tell me what it feels like to be me or what I think?. You read minds? You make some interesting claims about a creator you believe in and my responsibility to it. First I would need to believe in a god, and now that I am no longer a child, I need evidence--not simply "because I say so" or "A book says so." And then, what responsibility? I view every day as a gift, a limited opportunity to feel love and be kind and helpful to my fellow humans. It feels so good to do good. But if there is a perfect, all loving, almighty god, they have no need for my worship--they would be sufficient to themselves. And just as I gave birth to my three children, I do not feel they owe their lives to me. I cared for them, raised them, and love them unconditionally --no matter what they do or don't do. They owe me nothing. That is love. To give without expecting or demanding anything in return. And who are you to tell me my life hasn't improved? I was depressed and suicidal as a faithful, active Christian, and now I wake up every day, ready to embrace life, something I never had as a christian. But you do you! If religion and the belief in a god makes your life better and more meaningful and improves the lives of those around you, more power to you! I wish you all the best.

[@jquest99]

@@neverendingparty4832 Is oppression of certain types of people one of your "responsibilities"?

[@krisaaron5771]

My mom was brilliant at believing whatever made her happy. Unfortunately, like many religious believers, she insisted everyone around her share her beliefs and was deeply offended by questions like "What evidence do you have for that?" Her reward -- the consequence of her religious delusions -- was that her much-loved family avoided being in the same room with her.

[@elainejohnson6955]

I spit out my drink laughing while I was watching a video of Aron Ra explaining that since Noah's Ark only had one window, the 8 people on it would have almost immediately died from methane gas poisoning from the animals farting and pooping!

[@cnault3244]

But god used his magic to prevent that from happening. That's where the phrase "holy shit" comes from.

[@joshsheridan8239]

@@cnault3244 I thought that particular phrase came from what spewed out of preachers mouths.

[@justinwheeler5614]

How long have humans known that manure makes good fertilizer?

[@joshsheridan8239]

@@justinwheeler5614 the first time one of them took a dump in a paddy field?

[@wwlib5390]

Elaine Johnson: Yes, an opening 18" high all around the ark which has 2 sides each 300 cubits long. If the ark had a bow and a stern, that would increase the overall final figure of the opening as you would have to include the width of those areas as well. That's a pretty big opening underneath the roof overhang. John 3 16 invites you to know God's love and promise to you.

[@johnmcclelland649]

…”look, being human is hard, but it’s also an adventure, and to say that there is an end to my existence, is to concentrate the sweetness of everything, every moment that we do have here: because that which is rare is valuable, and that which is eternal is banal…..” Stunningly beautiful words from Andrew Seidel.

[@grumpyoldman3812]

Oh! My! God! I honestly have no idea how anyone could get through any of these calls!! Your patience is a testimony to the endurance of the human spirit! Every caller I hear I want to jump through the phone and bitch slap them!! I could never do, Matt, what you do week in and week out!

[@Mr_Porter]

If you ever watched the old episodes (like back when Matt had hair) THOSE CALLS 🤦🏾‍♂️ we're beyond ridiculous. Angry religious folk calling in just to complain about being Atheist and then hanging up immediately after asking their question. Matt was a lot more patient back then and after 15+ years on the show it kinda makes sense why he is short tempered when callers come with the same shit arguments and refuse to answer direct questions. They didn't screen calls then (I don't think) so a dumb caller would come with the classic Christian apologetics, get hung up for either their answers or then being too hostile, then call back in 10 minutes later and get back on the show.

[@Mr_Porter]

I will never understand why theists who claim to be fans of the show call in every week with the same arguments that SURELY they've seen get debunked or shot down a hundred times and think that their call will be different. Whhhyyy?!

[@clmBerserker]

Dunning-Kruger effect, I can do it beter then those guys.

[@CrabtreeBob]

Maybe some of them do it for attention and possible validation.

[@Mr_Porter]

@@CrabtreeBob Well that's obvious. Some people just want to hear themselves on the internet. I'm not talking about the trolls who only call in to get a clip of themselves frustrating the hosts. I genuinely believe that 90% of these so-called fans of the show know that they are about to get their ass handed to them on a silver platter after presenting one of the worst arguments for God. Then, they act surprised when they get grilled with basic questions and start to deflect and dodge. It's irritating to watch even though it's somewhat entertaining as well.

[@Tienuyan]

Is not like they can evolve and update over time, this is a trait for science…

[@Mr_Porter]

@@Tienuyan Excellent comment 😆

[@cherrybakewell1338]

Peter from Canada, every week he thinks he can present refutable evidence. God loves a tryer 😂😂😂

[@mahmoudnasser8599]

at least he stuck to the name peter for couple of weeks now..he usually changes his name with different shows🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@FourDeuce01]

Peter wanted to demonstrate the Gish Gallop.🤡

[@socialistprofessor3206]

I'll be ensuring that my university library has Andrew's book today. Can't wait to read it!

[@calvinmusquez9162]

Peter demonstrates my favorite creationist methodology of “science is reliable when it supports my view but can’t be trusted when it doesn’t” Why are scientific dating methods reliable for showing how old that tree is but not for showing how old the earth is? If it’s not reliable at all, then your whole “the oldest tree is only 5,000 years old” argument falls apart. If it is reliable, it has to be reliable for EVERYTHING, and thus, your argument falls apart.

[@neverendingparty4832]

Science points directly to God and not a mud puddle or any other atheist cause.

[@eljison]

Cherry Picking for the win.

[@trafficjon400]

oh because the tree was 5000 years old the earth must have been here billions or trillions of eons or years. i get what your saying?

[@trafficjon400]

@@eljison He gave a good feed back and youring trolling insulted the good troll. Cherry picking is not inseason .lol

[@trafficjon400]

Funny i never thought about the oldest tree being only 5000 years old ?

[@TheTwenty42]

Dustin wants there to be a God, so he lives his life as if there is one. That isn't belief. That is called hope.

[@2msystems740]

He sounded like a theist rather than an agnostic. And his preaching about gratitude is a dead giveaway. Arrogant prick.

[@KBosch-xp2ut]

False hope.

[@seasonedbeefs]

Wondering which God he's hoping to get

[@Alresu]

@@KBosch-xp2ut Only if he's wrong. Which is likely but not proven.^^

[@ratonsito2836]

What's wrong about hope?

[@SurfMurph]

I assume flood guy, Peter, would dispute the age of Göbekli Tepe, currently dated to have been built between 9500 and 9000 BCE.

[@dwendt44]

Facts don't matter to creation fools.

[@beat0life]

Andrew Seidel be like "oh trees yeah that reminds me of this part in my new book.." 😅

[@GoBirds1989]

So glad someone else said it

[@R.H160]

I got pretty sick of his endless plugging too. I had to dislike and leave a comment myself. This was " The advertisement experience" today.

[@godlessolddude305]

Poor baby....🙄

[@hitchens67]

Without Matt Dillahunty, I, and thousands of people ARE GONE!!!

[@TheDragon-v7d]

Mat is insufferable

[@maxrichards3881]

@@TheDragon-v7d Dude, literal glass house.

[@SmithDrewSmith]

The only thing I got out of Dustin's call was that instead of muting, Matt should just turn the volume down to 1 so we can still hear them rambling but the hosts can still get their point across. It's a more accurate representation of the caller.

[@GeneralFatman27]

1:21:22 I never thought I'd see a question get a direct answer on this show. It must be a miracle.

[@jestermoon]

No god required.

[@MrDanAng1]

That is probably as unusual as answered prayers.

[@TH3-MONK]

Andrew's breakdown of US Christian nationalism perfectly put my understanding of it into words. I've seen this bubbling in the US but never heard it put into words so succinctly. I have a theory on why this has begun, and where it is headed.

[@vladtheemailer3223]

I don't really agree with him. Christian Nationalism is more of an Astroturf movement. Right wing nationalist use it to make their cause appear morally justified and legitimate. People are driven moreso by ideology than religion. It is demonstrable that people value their ideology more than religion. If we sat these people down I bet that is what we would find.

[@frankmcgovern5445]

Is this a joke? Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent US lawmaker, has proudly declared that she is a Christian nationalist. A disgusting fascist anti-American betrayal of our constitution. Do you understand that comparing something to a boogeyman in a closet suggests it’s make-believe? Do you understand how profoundly dumb and dishonest it is to call something a make-believe non-issue when US LAWMAKERS are publicly announcing both their support for that and openly announcing that they ARE that thing?

[@kathryngeeslin9509]

@@realitycheck966 You're behind the times. Christian Nationalism has been out of the closet for forty years, and recently it's been front-and-center in politics up to the Senate level with Republicans proudly proclaiming it (not just in Christian [White] Nationalist forums) but in public interviews and campaigns. Your candidates are no longer hiding and your opponents are no longer laughing. You're still a joke.

[@adako25]

What's your theory?

[@davidsmith7653]

It's curious to me that the Egyptian pyramid builders apparently didn't notice a big ass flood while they were building. You'd have thought that at least someone might have noticed the work site was under hundreds of feet of water one morning.

[@RichWoods23]

They'd be really pissed off when their beer got watered down. That's got to be worth chiselling out some graffiti.

[@joshsheridan8239]

A said the basically the same thing before the video was taken down. But my post read that it was funny the the Egyptian and Chinese cultures didn't realise they'd all drowned

[@Imagicka]

That's how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids. The global flood occurred, and those crafty Egyptians floated all those stones into place. 🤔

[@mihaicolceriu-nicola7148]

@@Imagicka 😂😂😂😂😂

[@saffronhammer7714]

They had rebellious hearts and wanted to sin, so of course they ignored the God made flood. Haha

[@bazcuda]

That's the first time I've ever seen the rest of the studio! Thanks for that shot. I've always wondered. I've been watching the Atheist Experience on KZbin for longer than I can remember so I guess this is probably not the original studio from the very earliest clips on here?

[@JDMunoz-ct9xn]

It's the same studio since they moved into the Freethought Library. The first several years of the show aired on local public access television, before the internet was mature enough to handle things. Funny thing is the studio closed for renovations for most of a year, which really forced the show, first onto a couch at Matt's home, then into the new studio they built at the Freethought library. I often wonder how much longer they would've continued using public access if that had not occurred.

[@bazcuda]

@@JDMunoz-ct9xn Thanks for the info! 👍

[@moodyrick8503]

_Made in our image._ *God is the clay, and humanity, is the sculptor.*

[@Mouse_Librarian]

I like Philosophy, but Pedro outlined one of the reasons I think that teaching your idea to someone else should be the first thing you do after having it. The best teachers are those that can articulate ideas in simple terms so that people can understand them.

[@Deris87]

I've still got about 10 minutes to go on Pedro's call, because I keep pausing due to the word salad being so goddamn tedious. I'm pretty sure he's trying to say--in the most longwinded and pretentious way possible--that everything is "connected" by virtue of being part of existence. Which, if so, woooo. Everything that exists, exists. What a novel concept.

[@SnareRushJunkie]

Andrew's mic settings are driving me crazier than the callers.

[@secularsunshine9036]

*Let the Sunshine In.* To protect your rights evoke and employ them. *"Life, Liberty and Happiness."*

[@0l550]

Dustin-TX. Just so you know I just started a new breed of dog I believe in, it never barks, poops, digs holes, or even eats or drinks water. They’re amazing it’s the first non binary breed and you’ll want to be the first to purchase it. Please msent $1,000 US currency please. Because of the way I believe in em if you try to buy it with monopoly money the whole breed will die..! It’s yours at the this bargain price. Be the first to buy this new totally believable breed that you too can choose to own just by choosing to believe that that’s real. I know now that I read this it sounds very dumb but you said it you can choose to believe in it so congratulations on this new breed God named gullible. They look exactly the way you believe they look like so you don’t need to see a picture you just need to believe. And send the real money. Lol

[@c.guydubois8270]

I'm starting a shelter for the one's that are going to be abused..

[@domiro8156]

Such a treat to be able to listen to Andrew's legal knowledge, great arguments and excellent debating skills!

[@kingjuggalo4335]

It's Rick from Canada 🇨🇦 calling as Peter lol 😂 he is so funny .

[@invaderoz]

Sometimes i pray for a consistant good audio quality.

[@lissavanhouten6628]

You can have gratitude without a god.

[@moodyrick8503]

Have you ever been grateful for anyone or anything? (gratitude)

[@saffronhammer7714]

And morality, and ethics, and compassion, and good will, altruism, kindness, generosity….

[@hayuseen6683]

You can lack gratitude while believing in a god, too. Gratitude isn't a choice as far as I can tell, it's a result.

[@moodyrick8503]

@@hayuseen6683 Anyone can be grateful or choose to show gratitude for anything or anyone.

[@hayuseen6683]

@@moodyrick8503 What does this have to do with what I posted?

[@richardfrederick1885]

Freedom of religion = freedom from religion

[@johnd.shultz7423]

If one becomes Dependent on psychological coping mechanisms to get through Life, one will be in a state of Dependency throughout ones Life,to be courageous and drop the Dependency on comforting beliefs/shallow coping mechanisms will give one the ability to find the innate strength and resiliency to face the uncertainty and problems of Living and ultimately standing one ones own 2 feet and learning from ones own mistakes...

[@pumpuppthevolume]

Pedro if u can't prove it why the hell would anyone care about your word salad

[@gailwatts4811]

Love you Matt! So refreshing to hear no nonsense truth!

[@joshsheridan8239]

I can no more choose what I believe than I can choose to flap my arms and fly.

[@amtlpaul]

@@realitycheck966 Are you accustomed to having chemically-induced delusions?

[@ajclements4627]

@@realitycheck966 Festy, the “chemicals” bit is tired AF, get new material already.

[@cy-one]

@@realitycheck966 *"Do you choose to believe that? Or do the chemicals cause that delusion?"* You seem to imply that there's an alternative mental process available to us that does not rely on the function of our brain. Would you mind backing that up, Mr. Tryhard?

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

@@realitycheck966 "Do you choose to believe that? Or do the chemicals cause that delusion?" Do you know how the process of thinking works?

[@scambammer6102]

Complete nonsense. Of course we choose whether to believe things. You can either accept, or not, a claim at any level of evidence. Some beliefs may be based on meager evidence and minimal consideration, and some beliefs we work hard to validate. We choose which beliefs to prioritize by requiring increased levels of evidence. Eg, I could choose to read a book on evolution and learn more about it, or not. Either choice will affect the content of my beliefs on that, and probably other, subjects.

[@anabolicboy4010]

To the first caller personal gratitude can elevate you so much . Saying I’m personally grateful for - Out of millions of years of evolution, we naturally find things enjoyable and having personal gratitude cements your joy for things you love.

[@WeirdWonderful]

The oldest single tree is Prometheus, whose verified age is 4900 years old, there are several trees estimated to be over 5000 years old and when you get into clonal tree colonies (where the colony is older than any of it's individual clone trees), you have one such colony with an estimated age of 13 000 years, being the Jurupa Oak, the Old Tjikko colony has a given age of ca. 9,550 years, etc. etc. etc.

[@trafficjon400]

itc etc. etc. up to a billion i bet i mean some ones bound to prove it over entetainment guess.

[@jesseberman7408]

Andrew is a great guest. He summed up the optimistic nihilist perspective so succinctly to poor Dustin. I wish someone had explained it to him like that when he was a child. Probably would have spared him a lot of anxiety and imparted a bit of humility and creativity.

[@hannah3146]

What happened to Matt's eye? Love him and this channel it's been awhile since I've been here but feel welcome always and love all the information. Thanks again Matt and everyone on this channel. So sorry I cannot donate but I'll try to give you more views and likes 💜have a great Saturday everybody

[@ciararespect4296]

The theme music sounds like an eighties show lol

[@tracer740]

Dustin is classic example of living a 'make-believe' existence. ... not unlike many children with overzealous imaginations.

[@Ty-P415]

After he said listen jack ass I busted out laughing.

[@teresaamanfu7408]

Matt was extremely patient with Pedro.

[@moodyrick8503]

*Theists:* _Who needs evidence, when you know you're right?_ Faith = Knowing that you are right. lol

[@aramicca435]

why do i want to buy Andrew's book just because his shirt looks so good with his eyes.

[@dorememe8548]

First full episode I watched a part of.

[@50_foot_punch99]

Oldest tree is 5k? Well depending on your definition of oldest tree you could say clonal colonies are 1 tree and they can push 10k I believe

[@mechtheist]

I don't know how Mr. Seidel has escaped my notice until just recently. After hearing about his new book, I immediately bought it on audible. What most impresses me is the focus on 'religious freedom' and how it's being used. Alito is proud of his Dodd ruling, going so far as to actually claim: “All I’m going to say is that, ultimately, if we are going to win the battle to protect religious freedom in an increasingly secular society, we will need more than positive law.” This is a Supreme Court justice, can he really be that stupid, or ignorant, or dishonest or what? to make such a ludicrous claim--that making it OK to strip basic rights from anyone who doesn't follow his religious beliefs is _for_ 'religious freedom'? Stopping christians from forcing their religion on others is seen as violating their freedom of religion, as persecution. These are superb examples of doublethink, but, in 1984, that was a deliberate thing, an intent to deceive, but here, I wonder how many of these mfers know they're being grossly dishonest and how many actually believe these absurdities? These are the kinds of issues that remind me how religious belief and faith require a special exemption in the DSM to keep them from being seen as mental disorders.

[@davidcaskie6680]

That 5000 year old tree is the oldest ‘existing’ tree! The earliest fossilised trees, dating back 386 million years, have been found at an abandoned quarry in New York!

[@MrDanAng1]

Absolutely... and there is at least 15000 years of identified, uninrerrupted tree history identified by annual growth rings, there isn't any point in that span of time where suddenly every tree dies and are either older or younger than a specific age.... trees die and start to grow at every point during this time, with other trees standing around for hundreds or even thousands of years predating and postdating them (of course with the exception of our youngest trees, there isn't trees hundreds or thousands years younger than them.) And the oldest known individual tree is about 5000 years, but there is tree roots with saplings where the root is way over 9000 years, and trees that form groves by clone offshoots where the entire root system is several tens of thousands of years. The argument is like thinking that the oldest human is about 110 years old, therefore the earth was flooded with a worldwide flood about the year 1912. Because, you know, humans never stop aging.

[@williezar2231]

I get into this with my friend who says, "Me and mine, we choose to believe". I think it's a want and not a choice. I've become convinced that most people don't really believe in God because of their actions but I also know I don't know what they believe.

[@moodyrick8503]

I've always thought that a good defeater for a 6000 yr Earth are all of the chalk beds found in the world. (ex. white cliffs of Dover) Dead microscopic life forms slowly filtered down through the water column for millions of years. Impossible to have all lived and died at the same time. Many are hundreds of meters deep. (Dover, 300 - 500 m) *Obvious evidence of deep time.* You could never get formations like this as a result of a flood. (requires vast time periods of relatively stable water to build up formation)

[@TheStonedApostate]

Good show

[@justinwheeler5614]

My grandmother, when I would give her the opportunity to speak her childlike-mind would often claim facts about heaven that not only could not be known by her; but would defeat the purpose of traveling they're at all, for many. She would claim that we would get new, perfect bodies -all our imperfections washed away. How many variations of perfect do you think there can be? From whose perspective are things judged as perfect? She would claim that we would get to(like it's actually something to look forward to) worship god and sing his praise for eternity. I can't imagine giving praise to anyone who deserved it for more than one hour a year. If this is true, though... would that mean there is no actual free will in heaven? We would live on a plane of existence with every other god-fearing human to have existed. I can't imagine occupying the same space as so many and not encountering much in the way of violence. Unless, god dopes everyone up before we get through the gates. Again, no free will.

[@ajclements4627]

Heaven is actually hell based on your grandmother’s views on it.

[@allisthemoist2244]

Well, this is one of the hardest things to read as a theist, because it means we have totally failed to explain anything right. Heaven is litterally nothing like you (or most people) think. What lives on after you die is your form. How you praise God after you die is if your form was set up such that post death good things from you (eg. If you had a charity or raised good children). Heaven is your will. Your children, and your charity work. That is how you live on after death and praise God. It's nothing like anyone thinks. Now you see why your good and bad deeds are what you are left with in the next life without all the batshit nonsense clueless idiots try to impose on their version of Christianity.

[@justinwheeler5614]

@@allisthemoist2244 I literally understood nothing of your second paragraph. Does not compute!

[@joshsheridan8239]

@@allisthemoist2244 I've yet to meet to believers who hold the same version of heaven. Why should I believe your version over others?

[@jquest99]

@@allisthemoist2244 It's because Christians make up stuff based on how they read the Bible. How are YOU making up your stuff and declaring how all these things work?

[@princesssayers8057]

Just got my copy of Andrew's book

[@arthurhunt642]

One of the best shows ever!

[@stevesingkofer8879]

Dustin was telling you he was afraid. He's afraid of dying. Poor man.

[@ryanrobertson8951]

Pedro makes a tremendous word salad.

[@eljison]

Pass the "feels good" salad dressing. I think it is made by the Hidden Valley company. 😇🙃

[@tituslivius2084]

I’m grateful for the atheist experience, Dustin.

[@drjstrangepork]

Could we get Patrick to do the "It puts the lotion on its skin. It does whenever it's told" lines from Silence of the Lambs?

[@patrickkarikas227]

"If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22 ICB

[@patrickkarikas227]

If the Bible verse is true then I should receive what I ask for in prayer as long as I believe in God and if that God gives me exactly what I want then that is a fulfillment of the Bible verse.

[@TBomb39]

@@patrickkarikas227 Actually, it gets better. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus changes the terms to everyone who asks. Belief or faith no longer required. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For *every one* that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

[@paddlefar9175]

@@TBomb39 And that is how a Cult leader and Car Dealership Owner gets their members to buy Cars that they can’t afford and ordinarily would never have bought. Religion is often used to manipulate gullible people for the benefit of the Church leaders, who often don’t really care about their Sheep... I, I mean Flock.

[@frankmcgovern5445]

So all those Christians who prayed to, BEGGED god for their children with cancer not to die… they didn’t believe in god because their prayers didn’t come true? ALL Christians who’ve died of terminal illnesses or lost loved ones to them, and prayed with everything they had in them for god’s help and never got it - they were all atheists? They just didn’t believe as much as you? Because it sounds like you didn’t/don’t believe that hard. Whatever your prayers were more important than people’s live or their kids’ lives? Why? Because you’re just soooooo important?

[@henrikrolfsen584]

Psychology, and Religion are in total conflict. Sigmund Freud was the first scientist to explain the phenomenon of FEELING GUILT. (An introduction to Psychoanalysis, 1917). As the religious like to describe it as "God's Laws Written on my Heart". We have decades of scientific knowledge on the subject of Human Behavior. Freud described the survival function of Guilt Feelings!

[@SaffronHammer]

I was convinced to believe in the Bible and its god since infancy (a bit like how children are made to believe in Santa Claus--and we all want the presents and not coal), daily, and fear kept me shutting down my doubts and reasons and my conscience when it inwardly felt wrong and illogical--but the fear of disobeying god made it too scary to trust my reasoning abilities, and I was indoctrinated from infancy from the scriptures--yes I have read the bible many times, cover to cover, that it was god's inerrant word, that my heart was wicked and to not trust my own understanding--that one day I would understand when I was made perfect in the next life. Until then blindly obey. 36 years of fighting against what my moral compass was telling me, shutting down my thoughts and doubts, blindly obeying, believing what I wanted was not important, that my purpose in life was to serve and sacrifice for and to god, left me in deep depression and anxiety, Jesus was returning any moment and if I wanted my everlasting life spared and those of my children, I must continue "running the race" to be spared in "the great day of God's Wrath," etc. It took being suicidal and attempting suicide--I was never good enough, it was never enough--to reach my lowest point. Like drug addict or alcoholic, I reached rock bottom and I could go no lower. I had to start anew, from scratch. I had to start loving myself now, as I was, give up trying to please a god, and learn to know what I wanted, felt, and needed. I had to embrace the fact that I am not broken, nor dirty, nor in need of saving or a savior. I came to see how unhealthy the overall message of the bible is, how codependent and the opposite of true love the entire idea of christianity is. I came to believe a loving god would not punish me for not believing or worshipping it. And when the fear dissipated, eventually, I was able to admit to myself god had never seemed real, I never "felt" it as others do, and there is zero evidence for a god; there are simply endless claims. I am no longer depressed. Every day I see as a gift, a chance at a second life. A chance to heal and come to understand unconditional love. I know that the second half of my life is going to be the best part. I feel so lucky to have found my way out of religion, and to acknowledge that while it suits many, it simply doesn't for me. I know I have one life, and I choose to live from a place of Love, no longer from Fear.

[@stevesmith7268]

Well stated. I've experienced much the same.

[@brigittea5110]

@@stevesmith7268 👍💖👍

[@AlvenmodFoto]

Not that it matters, but the oldest tree in the world is not 5000 years old, Old Tjikko in Sweden is a 9,565 year old spruce. So I guess the flood was 10000 years ago then...

[@lewismantle3887]

Does anyone know whether Andrew has written any books?

[@moodyrick8503]

Several, including his current one; "American Crusade": _How the supreme court is weaponizing religious freedom._

[@scottwills8539]

@@moodyrick8503 I believe Lewis was being sarcastic. The show was practically a commercial for his fucking books.

[@moodyrick8503]

@@scottwills8539 You're most likely right,, however, I never underestimate people's ability to miss the obvious. (far too often the case) Sarcasm, without facial or vocal cues, in text only, can easily be missed. When I use sarcasm, I always throw in a "lol" at the end, just to make sure it is not taken literally.

[@scottwills8539]

@@moodyrick8503 Yes indeed.

[@lewismantle3887]

* /s

[@TheCountBlackula1978]

I dont know how you all do it but I'm thankful you do. People need to hear how ridiculous alot of thiest think.

[@pumpuppthevolume]

does Dustin choose to believe aliens exist and visit us despite having none evidence demonstrating it ....just because that would be more neat than that not happening

[@albooga]

Thank you Peter

[@friendo6257]

Peter, it's so sad to see a man so easily fooled by fake science.

[@visforvegan8]

Bought two of Andrews books for gifts, but Peter just blew my mind, I may have to rethink everything. 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@brianpoirier6167]

Wait, what was the name of Andrew's book again?😆

[@moodyrick8503]

"American Crusade": _How the supreme court is weaponizing religious freedom._

[@bruderk4257]

"American Crusade": How the supreme court is weaponizing religious freedom. 😈😇😈😇😈😇

[@laurenpechev7210]

He also wrote “The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American” :)

[@karlacindysantamaria7292]

Such an ending! Awesome, have a good one guys!!

[@lissavanhouten6628]

Many young people are falling away from their evangelical churches.

[@joshsheridan8239]

Not falling away, but accessing the availble data and realising there is no good reason to believe.

[@lissavanhouten6628]

Yep, that's true. Young people are very discerning. They know how to do research and how to look up things on the internet.

[@jquest99]

@@lissavanhouten6628 Those young kids and their new-fangled fad for wanting evidence for things!!! What's next? They are going to find out that the earth isn't flat? Back in 700BC, we thought the earth was flat and we didn't question it!

[@jquest99]

Those young kids and their new-fangled fad for wanting evidence for things!!!

[@mackhomie6]

it is mindblowing how many callers love to hear themselves talk--ad nauseum if they're permitted. i don't have nearly the patience as any of these hosts.

[@joshsheridan8239]

Wow wtf just happened? Oh and first. I withdraw my claim to first since it has been confirmed I actually posted a minute later than Jon Clark.

[@joshsheridan8239]

@Jon Clark please read my edited comment and i apologize half heartedly for considering you a first hijacker lol

[@amtlpaul]

You could say that in a sense people 'choose' to 'believe' things for some pragmatic reason- we just don't tend to think such beliefs as particularly genuine or deeply held, and I think for good reason. So to suggest that all beliefs are 'chosen' in this way is to suggest that they either not genuine or are liable to change on a whim or when the wind changes direction.

[@russellh9894]

If a kid prays for a bicycle before bed, then gets one for Xmas, does that mean a god answered the prayer or could it be possible the parent heard the kid praying for it and decided to buy it for the kid?

[@TBomb39]

That's the same bike that gets stolen later on. The kid that steals it had prayed for a bicycle too. The next prayer is for forgiveness.

[@HailSatanOurLordAndSavior]

​@@TBomb39lmao!! 😂😂😂 thanks for the laugh mate!

[@TheCheapPhilosophy]

Kudos to Andrew Seidel! Very sharp comments.

[@racebannon5523]

When they want to believe very bad, they make believe.

[@brinstarmedia1411]

It’s Jaime asking a question in the audience!!

[@TH3-MONK]

Has Dustin heard Darth Dawkins too much? Presups insist Atheists *_choose_* disbelief.

[@cy-one]

But have they (the presups) chosen to believe Atheists choose to disbelief? And if so, why can't they - for the sake of argument - choose to not believe Atheists choose to disbelief?

[@TH3-MONK]

@@cy-one Believe....for the sake of argument, that's all presup is.... arguing. However, I edited my comment to better reflect my opinion.

[@TH3-MONK]

@@cy-one Do you think people choose their beliefs?

[@silveryfeather208]

I prayed to Zeus to pass my exam. Zeus answered!

[@nathanroe3670]

I love how stupid Peter/Ryan/what ever other names he uses is.

[@krisztianhodossy8848]

The idea of an afterlife renders this life meaningless. Since I am an atheist I appreciate everything and everyone much much more than when I believed in god.

[@francoisbolduc444]

Andrew was….not a great co-host. How many time can a man plug his book and not add up to the conversation.

[@emmanueldickerson5702]

Thought it was just me

[@Chris-op7yt]

lol Pedro..god is the necessary simplicity...but when asked about the god, "it's complicated". self score.

[@Autumn-yg6jd]

✋🤚 I agree with the bluntness to “agnostics”

[@Autumn-yg6jd]

Isn’t the oldest tree 8,000 years?

[@chatpilot]

Judging from the first caller it sounds like Dustin just decided to go with Pascals wager and accept belief in God regardless of the lack of evidence. If it is true that God exists its a win and if it is true that he doesn't then he has nothing to lose.

[@MathIguess]

Depending on the geometry and the model thereof, points are undefined objects... In R^2 or R^3 they would have a definition but that's a particular model of a particular geometry. Generally, points don't even have to be defined at all.

[@jasonspades1265]

Oh that was an awesome opening!!!!

[@fnwolf]

I was in mid-Peter call when the video cut and said wasn't available. After refreshing a few times, it's back, but all the comments are gone. What happened?

[@joshsheridan8239]

I don't know but it's possible something was inadvertently said that offended the YT gods

[@hectorcastro8136]

As the leaders of the lds corporation recommend: “doubt your doubts” lol!

[@aditsu]

Lol, Andrew laying down the self-promotion really thick 😂

[@jestermoon]

We are all convinced you are convinced. Go and meet her now Start Safe Stay Free 🙏

[@pollydoom5039]

On poinas always I love the pirate Matt.

[@thomasowens5824]

I think the choose to believe analogy is confusing to some.

[@grahamravenovich2743]

The oldest tree is the quaking Aspen clonal tree system which is about 80000 years old based on it's root structure.

[@ReneHamilton]

The first call addressed the point do freaking well!!!

[@Master-pb8lu]

All praise be to God! All praise be to the Cosmos!!!

[@Lithl]

The oldest tree on earth is 5,000 years old? Uh. "Prometheus" in Wheeler Peak, Nevada (United States) is a 4,900 year old Great Basin Bristlecone Pine "The Sisters" in Bchaaleh, North Governorate (Lebanon) is an approximately 6,000 year old Olive tree "Pando" in Fishlake National Forest, Utah (United States) is a 14,000-80,000 year old Quaking Aspen clonal colony. Pando is also the largest single organism in the world (while it appears to be a forest, they are all actually one plant), weighing in at an estimated 6,000 tons and covering approximately 108 acres.

[@kentiandacalos636]

Patrick, how do god choose which prayers to grant? Why yours? Why not those who died from cancer who certainly prayed harder than you do? Maybe god raffles all prayers and then he pick randomly?

[@walterfristoe4643]

Can someone "choose to believe" in Santa Claus? I don't think so!

[@queezle4277]

Can we clone Andrew? One for each state should be enough

[@smochygrice465]

🤘

[@TBomb39]

Hi Smochy! 👍👋👌