The Atheist Experience 725 with Matt Dillahunty and Tracie Harris

[@PFWoody488]

Best AE joke yet. "You've basically called a bunch of atheists to ask why Jews don't believe in Jesus." It could almost be a Monty Python skit. Brilliant.

[@tedgrant2]

"If a man sells his daughter to be a slave, she shall not go free after six years as the male slaves do." So it not only allows slavery, but discriminates against women.

[@pedazodeboludo]

Exodus 21:20-21 is my favorite passage to shock believers in the Abrahamic god: "Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property."

[@LogicAndReason2025]

An all powerful genius god can't write an even slightly comprehensible book? WTF? Any book that has to be apologized for, is only good for ridicule. Jehovah must think lying is the ultimate virtue, because his followers seem to devoted to that more than anything.

[@BrianFedirko]

Forced raped forever, and forced beaten slavery, and apologists make up excuses and won't answer if it's moral, ever. They fight at lengths not to answer a yes or no question. Always "well blah blah blah" or "look at that bird blah blah blah", Never will they answer... never, not even either "Yes" or "No"... refuse refuse refuse... over and over and over...so so sad. It makes me cry. How is this possible? How?

[@yarnpower]

That first caller really didn't understand the point that Matt was making. If the caller is thinking of the Bible as the word of God then there shouldn't have been horrible laws like slavery being okay, beating slaves being okay or rapist men forced to marry their victims, in it at all if God is moral!

[@maxbenser8210]

AUSTRALIA 70.000 YEARS OLD CULTURE, AND WE TALKING ABOUT "JESUS"?!!!

[@gspendlove]

Morality is about doing what's right, no matter what you're told. Religion is about doing what you're told, no matter what's right.

[@EctoBuzz]

22:31 to 24:03 < In that portion, Matt couldn't be more spot on about the so called "moral guidance" from the buybull. So well said.

[@Bewizeorwize]

I'm from Sweden and even I can recognize the voice of "Mike" or like in the episode #722 where he called himself Thomas from London. I think his earlier name was Mark. In one of the episodes it seemed like he did do some progress in thinking and question his religion. However, I'm not sure what his doing now though.

[@henrikrolfsen584]

I love the way Matt Dillahunty holds these callers feet to the flames!

[@slumberzzzz]

Mike first seemed like a rational thinking dude but the more he talked the more relevant it becomes that he ain't so.

[@brianestoll]

"Praise the lord", a Tracie Harris episode!! They're rare and precious.

[@negative.infinity]

Another brilliant masterpiece from the makers of The Atheist Experience! :D (Nice bling ya got there on that finger Matt...)

[@dkinetik]

i wish i could speak as much sense as matt dillahunty ... just amazing .. my favourite atheist :) !!! great show again too :D !!

[@mattb6646]

These are the best episodes, the ones in the past.

[@nejtilsvampe]

"... I have no interest in stoning you" - "Oh thanks Matt!" =) I like when people thank people for the minimal amount of tolerance.

[@MolecularCocktail]

Slave #1: "Yup, I got sold into slavery but at least I get my Sundays off" Slave #2: "You're an idiot"

[@drstrangelove09]

Not sure why Greg from Knoxville is surprised by Matt's answers to his questions...?

[@kreskinkun]

"Is it moral or not?" The simplest questions are the hardest to answer for theists.

[@viridismonasteriense]

Mike can't hear the mike? HILARIOUS

[@silverbars2508]

Did this "Mike" ever call back? That I would like to listen too!

[@unit0033]

not too sure where caller greg was going, his questioning seemed all over the place possibly looking for holes and finding none

[@MrCoolTre]

Matt is a total beast. Best arguments I've ever heard.

[@CletisVanDam1]

I'm definitely an atheist. Thanks for the great shows. You make mincemeat of the theist suckers. Tracie you da bomb girl.

[@612Tiberius]

Wow - Matt took down that jerk first caller virtuously by himself in much less time than the two hosts together took to just break even, debate-wise, in last week's episode - and that included the usually formidable Jeff Dees! Way to go, Matt!

[@Andrewticus04]

That was one of the most amazing beratements of a theists' cognitive dissonance and avoidance that I've ever seen. You have no idea how often I've wanted to speak those words in a public forum. Fuck, Matt...run for Governor. I'd vote for you.

[@mykegoh]

Man, Matt is very knowledgeable, lots to learn from just watching him answer questions.

[@PUMKINMANforever]

I really think it's time for this show to go big. You have a much larger fanbase than most other public access show. I think you should start a fund raising initiative to try and get your show picked up by a major network like HBO or MSNBC. You could regularly invite well known Christian apologists, free thinkers and have a higher budget. Thumbs up if you'd help contribute to making this happen!

[@ahtaimo]

Wow! Matt's on fire today!

[@MMAGamblingTips]

The dynamic duo

[@tedgrant2]

I think the Gospel writers overplayed their hand. There is so much exaggeration and magic surrounding the story of Jesus that we cannot tell truth from fantasy. Maybe it's all fantasy. He obviously didn't curse a fig tree, send demons into pigs, walk on water and fly up into the clouds.

[@Pickle900]

I need to get my friend to call in or email you guys. He accepts that the bible teaches slavery, but he says it was okay, and the system could still work today if only it was applied correctly. Disgusting.

[@julzabro]

Excellent advice, Tracie!

[@unit0033]

caller mike was cornered and shown his bible to be morally bankrupt lol

[@valkolakk]

Wow. Mike is deep in it. That is sad.

[@Faustaao]

Matt is great. Matt is good. Thank you for this show amen.

[@000phill000]

Next episode 726 - the first caller "George from Wilmington" is Mark yet again. This is getting fucking ridiculous. He can try to hide how his voice sounds, but his way of speaking is the same.

[@jumarelrichie1127]

Its nice 2 c in the earliest episodes both would call in 2 the show b4 they became host.

[@Lleanlleawrg]

@TheAtheistExperience Me gusta. I've steamrolled The Atheist Experience for about... a week now? Thoroughly enjoying it. I got into it because of all the bizzarre callers, like Mark for example, but now I've started following the full episodes, and I must say I love the work you're doing. I think (or hope, rather) you're reaching quite a lot of people, and I wish we had a similar initiative here in Norway.

[@GoblinXXX]

Go to 21:00 for some epic pwnage from Matt. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

[@ezelouie]

man 3 full episodes in 1 day, its almost too much

[@francistheindividual]

There are several things I love about The Atheist Experience. Firstly, that theme song (what is it, it's awesome.) Secondly, the fact that it's a place to observe intelligent, non-judgemental conversation involving both theism and atheism, amongst intelligent individuals. Finally, Tracie Harris.

[@martinteel]

really like to know what passages were being talked about in the call with mike

[@moreopiumplz]

20:55-21:00 matt facepalmed.

[@thomasmills339]

Mike has to look at it again...

[@way2jaded1]

Looking at the start of the cloyne report and at its recommendation's it appears to say to me that since 1996 when the church said it would learn from it's mishandling of child abuse claims to the period of this report no progress was made it failed to implement a change that would protect the children in its care. The report then goes on to make recommendations for better file keeping, communication and action in a timely manner. In short I find the report lacks significance by itself.

[@gspendlove]

@RedSun875 (My explanation, part two): And it would be very easy to say, "Well, those were aberrations. Those people were crazy, and they perverted the true intentions of those religions." But you have to remember that no one joins a "cult." They join a religious movement, or a self-help group. They're upright and totally sane, most of them. But, very gradually, many of them shed their morals like a cast-off snakeskin and follow their leader, whom they believe is God's representative.

[@D-me-dream-smp]

Indeed the main difference between a cult and religion is that simply by virtue of having a long history of widespread acceptance by a population a religion has been tacitly integrated into their culture - religion employs the same tactics as cults which is why many cults begin with a religious basis/tenets because religious people have already been primed to be submissive, subservient and have unquestioning obedience to a “higher power” .

[@2011blueman]

46:28 "a high majority" LMAO.

[@Silversong88]

Mike is intentionally taking the bible out of it's context because he has a premise that God is always good. No matter what the bible says, he will perform mental gymnastics to justify it. This is called being 'Close Minded'.

[@SignOfTheTimes008]

I was nervous there at the start. I thought something bad was about to happen to them in his retelling.

[@Sizifus]

Mike is even worse than Mark from Austin church.

[@falcoperegrinus82]

Just realized how cool the opening animation is.

[@tedgrant2]

My dog is an atheist, but he is frightened when I test the smoke alarm. He trembles. Does he think the alarm is a demon ? I've no way of knowing. When I take him out walking, we often pass a church and he likes to sniff the grave stones. But he's never shown any interest in the church itself, except to cock a leg at the grave stones.

[@JacksInn]

Mike - YOU ARE A MANIAC.

[@tedgrant2]

When there is a barking dog on the TV, my dog barks back and goes looking for the dog. He believes there really is a dog in the house that requires his immediate attention. There is no way of explaining to my dog that the dog on the TV is not real. Similarly, there is no way of explaining to a Christian that their soul is not real.

[@johnlopperman2161]

ted Your dog is demonstratedly smarter than typical theist. Dog goes looking for barker, christians just believe the barking

[@dkinetik]

i wish i could speak as much sense as matt dillahunty ... just amazing .. my favourite atheist :) !!!

[@gspendlove]

@RedSun875 (My explanation, part three): And you also may be saying, "That would never happen to me. I could never do what those people did." That's exactly what those who have committed atrocities in the name of their religion thought (those who lived through the commission of their atrocities, that is). I look at wrong after wrong after wrong being perpetrated by people on their fellow man in the name of religion, and I can't come to any other conclusion than my original post.

[@Hemmersfield1]

Man I've missed these guys!

[@augusthome9860]

The love story between Jack and Rose on the Titanic was totally fictional but the story of the Titanic is of course true. There may have been a real Jesus but he wouldn’t recognise himself today on account of all the attributes that have been heaped on him. Just in my lifetime Jesus has gone from being the son of god to being god.

[@MrVoseMusic]

I love these shows Should have some air time on TV

[@plasticiconoclastic]

@SoulThriveMusic I think it's a Naval anchor; Matt was in the Navy, and I recall him mentioning as much in another episode.

[@WalkerOfMyles]

@thatguysaids lol i'm with ya dude. i've commented on that on a few atheist experience vids. her smile makes me smile.

[@hhvictor2462]

"methodological naturalist"... I like that.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

I bet Mario really felt smart after that call.

[@KazeKirin]

@r0bbinz I can't post links to the study, but it was posted in Wired Magazine in April 2008. Researchers with brain scanners could predict someone's decisions a full 7 seconds before they even made their decision. Essentially, they were able to perform simple, small scale mind reading before the person even realized they had made a decision, because the brain decides the action, but you only realize it consciously when your brain integrates that into your conscious mind.

[@lessreligion]

I like episodes with you Tracie!!!

[@viridismonasteriense]

"As opposed to what?" best question ever

[@pdoylemi]

For me, the problem with every discussion of free will that I have heard fails in one basic aspect - they fail to define what the "self' is. If you haven't clearly defined what YOU are, you can't very well figure out from the attributes of that whether free will is possible. I think it well may be - but not in a way that would satisfy some people. I begin by defining "me", as my current brain state, which is a complex combination of chemical, electrical, and biological elements acting together as a system. That is me. The me that I am was shaped through experience and genetics to be biased toward certain moral and personal preferences - some biases stronger than others. So, for example, I like some Indian food, but I am a big fan of Chinese and Mexican food, so given a choice, the odds are that I usually will not choose Indian, but since it is not an extremely strong bias, some random firing in my brain or whatever will sometimes get me to choose it, or even something more rational such as having had Chinese and Mexican a lot, and wanting a change. And even then, that is just the interaction of two biases - a bias against always eating the same thing overcomes my bias against Indian food. All of this is unique to the biological system that is me. Therefore, that was a choice made by "me", and uninhibited by outside factors. If we look at something where the bias is much stronger, like murder, it will take something extraordinary to overcome that bias in my brain and get me to do it. For example, if I knew for a fact that a Navy SEAL was determined to kill my child, and I cannot get any authority to accept this or do anything. I know that my ability to defend my child against a highly trained warrior like this is not likely to be sufficient in any fair fight. That's when the part of me that is biased in favor of protecting my child at all costs overrides my bias against murder, and I plant a bomb in his car or some other devious method of killing him. But everything that leads to that choice is an intrinsic part of ME and nothing else. So I would call that a type of free will. However, I did not freely choose to make this comment so long - sorry :-)

[@maixck]

@PenIsland34567 Yes that;s my point they all have regular jobs and most likely no one of them works on Sundays so that's why they can do it on Sundays. They don't get any money from this.

[@JM-ot8ux]

Love the show, hate the surrounding music. Could definitely do without that part of it.

[@extropian314]

Awesome intro music and video, AE

[@KazeKirin]

@r0bbinz I'd post a link but KZbin won't let you post links in full. After Wired.com, it's "/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/mind_decision"

[@VortexMotiveVision]

I LOVE this show. LOVE IT.

[@Neeboopsh]

My catholic ex chastised my drug use from my youth. I said "yeah, i may not be perfect but i do not support rape". she said she didnt, i said "you put money in the plate. some of which (small fraction) reaches relocation programs and legal fees, and buyout settlements. i am superior in this respect"

[@lostfanvanjellies22]

thejournal(DOT)ie(SLASH)article-search(DOT)php?st=cloyne+report Here you can find a number of news articles (from an Irish news site) about the cloyne report mentioned at the start of the show.

[@DerMaskenfrosch]

22:00 Shit's about to go down. Go Matt!!!

[@AscendingParadigm]

Christians, I sincerely want to experience a single moment of the supernatural reality described in the Bible. I would love, for instance, to speak directly with an angel or demon. Can you help? Is there anything I can do to have an angel or demon talk to me through a snake? As God tells us in the bible, snakes make excellent mediums for such channelings. Conveniently, I happen to have a pet snake in my room. Please send any technical advice you have. Much appreciated. Thanks & God bless.

[@AtheistDelight]

Don always got so many corrections. Hahaha. He’s the cohost sweetie.

[@rodseller9936]

Legendary episode.

[@jimmybrite]

Mike just plows through and talks and talks, it's annoying.

[@Albert18Einstein]

He said no I'm an atheist.I was painting at a house one day when this happened.Well I didn't hassle him a whole lot.And later in the day I decided to show God's Love by buying him lunch I think I bought Wendy's.I'm not sure if it changed his character later but I think he felt good that day.I felt happy and that was a unique instance cause I will talk to anybody about God.Glad I was able to experience something like this.Hopefully he remembers that and thinks about God this my hope.

[@puppetsock]

Free will is the opposite of coercion, not of causality.

[@LogicAndReason2025]

All supernatural claims are theoretically possible. The problem is that there are nearly infinite number of them, and they are indistinguishable from fantasy.

[@TomMSTie1138]

This has been another Dillahunty Pwnage!

[@HConstantine]

at 15:05, the context is bride rape. If a young man and woman wanted to get married without the father's permission, the only way they could do it, was to run off together. This was termed rape (which literally means abduction). The bible verse ensures that such couples would be allowed to be married, rather than the father hunting the couple down and killing them for the loss of his honor.

[@Parralyzed]

Only because you don't understand it doesn't mean it doesn't make sense.

[@Albert18Einstein]

People who really know God are supposed to be real love towards people.Not judges and not hatred.If people who say they believe in God judge people and show hatred towards other people its because they are religious slaves and not faithful people of God.I am against atheism cause I know God.But if I met an atheist I would not be hate I would be wise and be like one that is for The Way Of Love.Actually I did meet an atheist one time I just remembered.I asked him if he believed in Jesus and he

[@stiimuli]

@mellowmark1 thats an excellent point that I wish matt would have asked him. its the same as when you corner a theist on "why would god do that" and they answer with things like "god works in mysterious ways" or "our puny minds cannot fathom his existance" ok.....then how the hell do you know he's even there? Or that he's even a HE??? it all comes down to "how do you know?".

[@robotpanda77]

I have never seen anyone try to weasel out of something as much as a theist calling into this show. Disgusting human beings. Trying so hard to justify the wicked to suit their beliefs. If they can do it in their mind, the real world is only a small step away.

[@crystalheart9]

Traci is a great:)

[@HerricktheMildlyPerturbed]

@lobothesacred3 It's not actually a study, per se. The information is public access statistical data collected by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and then compared to more standard census data collected regarding religious affiliation in the country. The one I was citing, incorrectly I might add, was something I saw on holysmoke dot o r g showing Hindu religions to be in the minority, which I mistakenly said was Buddhist. I will continue to research and post more links here as I find them.

[@bradrobbins1978]

Her name is on the screen for half of the show, and you still spelled it wrong. =)

[@MacMan5555]

PROUD TO BE THE ONLY ATHEIST IN MY SCHOOL

[@Mysio]

@PUMKINMANforever but this would mean that all of the hosts would have to quit their jobs, leave their families and loved ones for long periods of time etc. Dont force anything on them if they dont want to.

[@SoulThriveMusic]

What is the tattoo on Matts arm? Just curious.

[@stramster1]

Mario: calls an atheist to get advice on dealing with Jews. Classic!

[@HConstantine]

It would be the father's choice, but it may be that some fathers would not want to kill their own daughters, and would look for any face-saving means of doing so. Austen's sense and sensibility, by the way, contains a satire of bride rape, which had become a common feature of Gothic romances at that time.

[@ProportionalResponse]

Great episode, as usual!

[@kreskinkun]

@000phill000 I think he honestly thinks he can defeat Matt if he tries enough times, but he doesn't like getting stuck with the baggage of being proven wrong on other points so he needs a "fresh start".