TTA Podcast 189: Unoriginal Faith (with AronRa)

[@fifimsp]

Oh Aaron I totally feel ya! I think half the reason I married my husband was he didn't like watching sports. I always feel bad for him when he goes somewhere and some guy tries talking to him and ask him "So you watch the Broncos?" My husband then says, "I don't like sports." Then the other guy stands there looking into the air trying to find something else to talk about!

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

+fifi msp How about cars, power tools, beer ... there are other things men can and do tlk about, sports seems to be the ice breaker, other than sex.

[@fifimsp]

+Old Man from Scene Twenty Four LOL. My husband calls the handy man...so no power tools...cars...we have a civic and prius....beer...My husband likes beer. How about Comic Books?

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

fifi msp Comics are cool. I'm partial to old school comics ... does he like Thor, Spiderman, Green Lantern?

[@fifimsp]

+Old Man from Scene Twenty Four Spiderman for sure. Green lantern I think. He loves Firestorm.

[@kathyheitchue2022]

Because the guys do not.know to.talk about any thing else🤔

[@haysuse9810]

If I could only up-vote this twice.

[@jessiehermit9503]

Hay Suse Zasu!!!!

[@joheyjonsson2825]

Saw (with AronRa) in the title and instantly upvoted. Anything with AronRa in it is bound to be good.

[@vespuzzi]

Seth and Aron, I can't describe how much I enjoy this conversation of yours. Thank you!

[@infidelboy7040]

Can't wait to see Aron, Seth and Matt in Melbourne. I was at the GAC here and one of the highlights for me was being able to shake Aron's hand and thank him for what he does.

[@RickReasonnz]

I'm sure I could easily hear these two chatting for hours more. Great to hear a conversation, rather than a pointed discussion.

[@warwithangels]

HUMAN VALUES: Family; Respect for Human Life; Respect for all Life; Respect for our Earth; Meeting Human Challenges

[@ThatEphelGuard]

AronRa is always great to listen to. This was an excellent show.

[@lDrownded2]

Just to throw it out there, I have no problem with the ads. I'm a realist and understand that, unlike religion, there is no money in atheism. The money from the ads allows you to devote your time to secularism and still survive. I'm also strong and intelligent enough to not be swayed by advertising, unlike some in this thread who are so weak of mind that they are worried they might be indoctrinated into buying pretzels. I also have no use for people who think an unsub threat is some form of blackmail that should scare you into changing your content. It is a childish and impotent threat made more obvious when they hang around and try to be a nuisance so they can get attention to distract them from their lonely and empty lives. If you feel the need to respond to them, I've found "Bye." to be very effective.

[@taikoHH]

Enjoyed this a lot. Thanks for letting us folks sit at the table.

[@BigRalphSmith]

+Charles Laine I live in Texas too and I can say without exaggeration or embellishment that it is exactly as Aron Ra describes in this state.

[@ADADEL1]

I assume it depends on the area. When I lived in El Paso I didn't notice a lot of it.

[@jonathannorburg1376]

A car repair shop near where I used to live in St. Paul, Mn. Has a changeable sign outside. A few years ago they announced that they were offering pumpkin spice oil changes. The liquor store I worked at part-time offered a pumpkin spiced ale called Headless Heron, as their logo featured a heron.

[@Troubleshooter125]

Really enjoyed the interchange between you and Aron, Seth. Maybe that's something you could do on a semi-regular basis, maybe once a year or so, talking about the state of atheism in Texas, Oklahoma and the US in general. Worth a thought.

[@harrypothead42024]

AronRa saved me from sinking in a sea of sargons

[@jessebryant9233]

Actually, Ra is a Klingon... 👽🐒💩

[@qwertydog9795]

nice

[@tarakerac]

Aron for president of Earth!

[@troyevitt2437]

But.....but....He's a KLINGON! vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/7/74/Kruge.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110113202037&path-prefix=en

[@AuthorLillith]

@@troyevitt2437 immigrant representation!

[@lxoxrxexnx]

It is such a pleasure to listen to you guys!

[@ikus2011]

You guys should do a video about the Catholic church accepting the theory of evolution and the Big Bang theory. I know that the Catholic church has been accepting this theories for a time now, but I think the topic is interesting.

[@SweetsProductions]

love when you have Aron on great upload!

[@Domzdream]

Such a brilliant podcast (and episode)! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@MikadoOkami]

I always love Aron's big foot story.

[@kathyheitchue2022]

Yes r on is a b imposing figure!

[@moneymikz]

Sweet I thought this was an old podcast at first, gotta love the RaMan!!

[@nicsnort]

"When you wish upon a cow, all the gods are in it now, anything your heart desires, will come to you..."

[@TheThinkingAtheist]

I may have to steal this line for my next book. :)

[@Troubleshooter125]

***** Now just imagine Jiminy Cricket singing it! ROFL!

[@sorryifoldcomment8596]

God damn Seth is smooth. It's crazy how talented both Aron and Seth are, but with different focuses. Aron Ra holds knowledge, while Seth holds the path that carries the knowledge. Both are talented speakers, to be clear, but just in their descriptions you can see slightly different focuses. They talking about it is awesome.

[@rodneywoof]

Hey Seth just wanna say you're more awesome than Jesus.

[@Conformist138]

pumpkin pecan waffles as a candle would be okay, but yesterday I discovered someone put pumpkin pecan waffles SOAP in the bathroom. It's very strange to come out of the bathroom smelling like you scrubbed your hands with a waffle.

[@philo-]

And where might I buy 50 of those?

[@MrRussiancoma]

You should NEVER come out of the bathroom smelling your hands... just sayin.. 😎

[@fadedglory1045]

Stevie B 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

[@MrRussiancoma]

@@fadedglory1045 thanks Just Me! It seems there are real people out there...!

[@qwertydog9795]

as soon as I heard Bibleman, I was brought back to my childhood, the days sat in front of the TV watching "Saturday morning cartoons" on TBN...

[@TurboDally]

Damned NatureBox advert makes me feel hungry all the time. I WANT NOM NOMS!

[@pooddescrewch8718]

I rather nough-nough

[@kennyhooten]

Seth, I hope i did not offend you with the comment yesterday, as i said it was in no way directed toward you. your my fav podcast, never miss a one!!! love your work your wonderful, and this is my fav person you have on here.

[@TheThinkingAtheist]

No offense taken whatsoever. :) Thanks!

[@zeldaofarel]

All this Naturebox talk makes me think of the last piece of apple pie in my fridge. I made it with spelt and whole wheat flour, cane sugar, and some rum. Pretty healthy. I usually make everything myself, because I'm lactose intolerant and also have a nut allergy.

[@ChickenRamen]

I love how theists will cry out "persecution!" when atheists speak out against religious figures in a public squares, but will lay out if free thinkers get together in a public place, like a school, or university.

[@SmartVideosJarkaWatched]

You guys are incredible. Most people would see all that wondrous things you see & "just HAVE to share with the ones you love" (you talk about near 1:15:00) and echo 'How Great God is for creating such stuff.' ... I think you guys really are glorifying 'The Creator' (I agree that 'such a deity' probably doesn't actually exist, but you prove 'his spirit' (I've heard it called ZOE) over-and-over ... like the blacksmith from the last verse of Isaiah 54) by taking & using 'his' gifts the way they ought to be used. Thank you.

[@micmacnz]

Come back, I missed you last time...p.s. sorry about Ray Comfort :-)

[@merinsan]

I gotta check out this trip to Australia. Hopefully I can manage to go see you guys.

[@RobertBuckinghamTh.D.]

Glad to see this guy keeping busy after leaving the WWE!!!

[@FirstClassVO]

Awesome show!

[@hawkesworth1712]

You guys will enjoy it here in Australia. We don't take religion too seriously but, sadly, shake our heads when we see what is going on in the US.

[@DustyWall]

1:21:00 Yeah in 2002 I went 14 hours in a 747 from LA to Sydney so I know somewhat of this hell. Great talk between two of my favorite atheists.

[@troyadams19]

Just to clarify on the ancient Egyptian afterlife, they had an underworld of sorts as well. When you died your heart would be weighed against a feather, if it was heavier than the feather, you would be utterly destroyed, otherwise you'd move on to the afterlife with whatever possessions were buried along side you. The method of preservation used on your corpse would also change your standing in the next life, if I'm not mistaken.

[@ideasandwich3975]

Unbelievably awesome to witness this unholy convo with the Saskwatch uncreator! Lovin it unreservably.

[@jrochest4642]

AronRa -- two suggestions: take what you have written of the book, and talk to publishers and/or agents. You aren't in the usual first author position: the series is a youtube hit and you're a known speaker. They can look at the videos and the MS that you have -- that's usually what you need to get a contract -- and, if they decide to take it on, would certainly give you some help putting it together. The Web-to-Book thing has been done before by everyone from The Oatmeal to The Lego Bible, so a publishing house wouldn't be breaking new ground, and editors and researchers are wonderful. And the Phylogeny Explorer program should SURELY be the sort of thing that an academic working in science education (digital humanities, digital communications, god, there's got to be something else) might be interested in helping with.

[@cookienibz2578]

What an excellent show! So glad Aron could fill in, I love some Aron. I have always thought satanists were the people who "hate god", or people who were just rebellious against the idea of god. I have always wondered if they actually considered themselves theists. I know this podcast is over a year old, but I'm glad I found it. I fully intend on watching the "Ghost Stories" podcast next. Thanks Seth, for all the work you put into your show!

[@todbeard8118]

Love listening to Seth Andrews and Aronra. If you like comedy on youtube check out Jim Jeffries on religion. His atheist bit is hilarious.

[@ideasandwich3975]

.. and all praise to the Great Pumpkin.

[@dragonfiremalus]

I was wondering what to do with a couple Audible credits I have, then you mentioned your book. Problem half solved!!

[@MrRobinhalligan]

Another good show Seth, loved your guest shame i will miss the tour but you should come over to New Zealand and do one. And for those that are interested in bibleman thebiblereloaded did a couple of episodes of it and i cannot believe it was on telly. Bibleman Begins

[@peterrivera8964]

You guys forgot that Moses has the same origin story as Superman

[@Questron71]

His homeplanet exploded? I've neglected my bible for too long if i can't remember that one, right? :D OTOH you can hardly step through the vast field of ancient mythology without stumbling about dozens and dozens of children left out in the wild or floating down some river or another in a basket just to end up a prince of this or that nation yadda yadda yadda. You almost find more stories about such events than other "origin" tales... It's a kind of story TV tropes would call "older than dirt".

[@RickReasonnz]

Can't believe DC hasn't sued Christianity yet for plagiarism!

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

Superman was created by two jewish guys concerned about master race rhetoric coming from Germany at the time .

[@ReiperX]

I'm glad I'm not the only person that picks teams because of their colors.

[@g.wagner979]

Ads pay the bills. No sponsor, no air time.

[@SIMKINETICS]

24:08 Such a great story from a skeptic! ...damned funny! The mythical Bigfoot turns out to be an Atheist!

[@artyfarty3]

@1:18:00 - You guys are talking about coming to Australia :) how awesome ! :) I'm in Australia :) sadly my town of Adelaide is not on Your tour list :( It's sad because city of Adelaide is often called "city of churches" and I think it would be a great place for enlightened talk like Yours to be opening minds and harts of so many misguided "believers" over here . P.S. Love Your pod casts :) great work in opening peoples "eyes" to the truth about religions :) Thanks :)

[@donaldsmith7824]

Sounds like sunday morning at grandma’s House, my mom catholic, me an alter boy ca 7 year Old, uncle sherman JW, aunt Jean and uncle pete Luthern, god damn they were all hellbound late 40s early 50s what a trip.

[@plaguedoct0r]

OMGOMGOMG THEY'RE COMING TO AUS! YESSSSS!!!! It fucking SUCKS being on the other side of the planet sometimes! Thank you for pledging to come so far away! I'm in Melbourne, but us, sydney and brisbane are all very close. You should probably go to perth, and for your own benefit - queensland as well. Go see the reef WHILST YOU CAN! (tony abbott is destroying it!)

[@Siberius-]

I can't wait either, I'm even bringing my mother lol she isn't even an atheist (sort of is though).

[@KTBlackadder]

Beautiful country and you are already producing your own atheist luminaries I believe. Which is a pity for those of us on the other side of the world to _you_!

[@Semjasa616]

thanks for tim minchin though you beautiful people kisses

[@Siberius-]

Semjasa616 What about Kem Ham? he's from here too lol, every country has good and shitty people.

[@Semjasa616]

I am from austria - we export dictators and start world wars - so yes every country has that ;>

[@josav09]

56:10 and in viking mythology at the end of Ragnarok the only place is not cleared by waves is a forest that can't burn

[@mjc8281]

For what its worth, the US military no longer claim that the Roswell incident was a weather balloon, which might well be why the original story that it was a UFO was released by the bases own information officer. It(according to them)was connected to Project Mogul the balloons used in this project where made from Polyethylene something that wasn't common until the very late 1950s. couple that with the alloy capsule that housed listening equipment used for the long-distance detection of sound waves generated by Soviet atomic bomb tests, its easy to see why people acted as they did, this wasn't something simple it was state of the art equipment, truly science fiction for that kind of time period.

[@jasonmillett3544]

Luna is actually in New Mexico, although Luna Lake is just across the border in Arizona. I have to wonder if those "coyotes" were really Mexican Gray Wolves. They're small as wolves go, easy to mistake for coyotes if you don't know your canids, and more likely to show aggression toward larger animals. If so, this incident would be pretty noteworthy, since I don't think there were any confirmed sightings in the area between the early '70s and their reintroduction in the late '90s.

[@sandraunderwood492]

Wondering if there are Atheist groups in MA. Probably needed more down south, Midwest.

[@TechnocraticBushman]

Christianity or most flavors of it at least, is also polytheist. It got so when it got imported into the Hellenic culture. Romans were getting pissed at this outsourced wimp God so loads of stories got merged back into the Bible. At the very least, think about how Christmas got started. They actually had to move Jesus's birthday so that the poor oppressed Christians would stop the boycott.

[@benadams3569]

I absolutely love Seth's "snooty Oklahoma theist" impression.

[@HelMask]

The whole thing about football, golf, video games, etc... I TOTALLY get that xD I don't care for football and all my friends are like, "How can you not be interested in football!?" And I'm like what's to like? you just pick a color you like. And i play video games. It's my way of relaxing. and I'm looked down on by people who have "real" hobbies lolol i do love golf though. My dad taught me to golf when I was a kid. But I do prefer video games generally speaking:). Anyways, yeah i just thought it was really interesting how you pointed that out

[@Dorvin55]

"Gaze upon my infinite and eternal glory!" "Oh crap your blind again" *Back away slowly whistling*

[@Beer_Dad1975]

With Aaron there on the football - it's Rugby here, but the same cultural attitude abounds and I always get weird looks from people for being a Kiwi male who isn't interested in watching other people play sports. Also agree with Seth, I see people get a lot of joy out of it and that's cool, there are lots of things other people don't understand that I get a lot of joy out of - just because I don't understand it doesn't mean I should hate on it.

[@jennifermeaux1074]

I can relate . I am a Louisiana Cajun Atheist that doesn't care to drink alcohol more than thrice a year .

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Jennifer Meaux Be yourself I say! My wife is always pressuring me to get interested in horse racing (another favorite passtime here) but I just can't even feign interest. Actually horse racing seems cruel to me, so I'm not even sure I think that's a thing people should be getting joy out of.

[@eMel9000]

Pumpkins: The Reason for the Season!

[@Koronia047]

Naturebox ftw!

[@Siberius-]

Can't wait until the tickets go on sale for the Unholy Trinity Tour.. I wasn't raised christian so I've been essentially an atheist my whole life.. although my grandparents on both sides are both quite christian... my mother kind of likes the ideaaaa of christianity (the good parts) but it's just an identity thing, she isn't a practicing christian by any means.. we don't pray or go to church or talk about gods at all, they don't care about religion.. my father is too smart for christianity.. I know there's smart christians but he's very logical and can work shit out easy, not easy to fool him with that stuff.. So I'm going to be going with my mother lol she wanted to come.. even though she isn't an atheist.. she likes the topic and finds it interesting and agrees with every point against christianity and religion in general that she heard when watching the unholy trinity tour on youtube in the US. Should be fun lol.

[@Sativameister]

seth whenever you do the nature box thing, i can't help but think of powder milk biscuits - Garrison Keillor

[@rchuso]

***** When are you in Auckland? I live in Murchison (look it up on maps.google.co.nz, and work in Wellington).. might be able to get up to Auckland to see the talk.

[@Roxor128]

Hey, Seth, when you come to Australia next year and try Vegemite, remember: spread it THIN. It's got a very strong flavour, so you don't need much.

[@swedishlina]

Roxor128 why would you want to inflict such torturous treatment on these two gentlemen. I have lived here for twenty two years and I still can't stand the smell of it. My husband has to eat it in a different room or I will dry reach 🤢

[@Roxor128]

@@swedishlina I know it's got a strong flavour, but that's ridiculous. You must have a nose to rival a bloodhound. As far as I can tell, Vegemite is all taste and no smell. I wonder if it's due to a reaction with an enzyme, like how you can smell when someone's eating peanuts, but you can't smell anything when they're just sitting there in a dish.

[@swedishlina]

Roxor128 it could be, but I do have a strong sense of smell when it comes to food. It can be quite a pain sometimes, because it really makes me sick to my stomach when it comes to certain smells and the associations it gives me🤢. If he wants to eat tin tuna /salmon he has to eat it in the garage, because it really makes me feel ill. It smells like cat food to me, so even my two cats have to eat in the garage on the days we give them fish 😂😂😂😳. I know it is unreasonable but I can't help it, luckily my husband can relate to me as olives does the same thing to him. Otherwise he most likely would have gotten rid of me by now 😱. Stay safe and sane 😊

[@MacGuffinExMachina]

They talk about the appeal of Christianity. For me, that's easy because this was behind my thinking when I believed. I loved the idea of living on in some way after death... and being reunited with lost loved ones. I was not raised in an extreme religious environment, so a lot of the hell stuff, until I became influenced by more religious friends, was not in my mind.

[@Questron71]

But isn't that an empty promise? The "why" already doesn't make much sense in itself, if we're doomed sinners on this world why would god make another kind of life afterwards for the very same flawed people that corrupted his "perfect creation" in only a handful of generations (or a single afternoon directly after being created?), So.... what's the motivation for having a "trial run" in flesh and blood form if the real life happens afterwards in spiritual form anyway and for a vastly longer timespan? (Having the physical bodies we inhabited in life even after death is a whole other can of rancid fish i do not really want to open here and now, let's suffice it to say that makes everything even more problematic and unfeasible...) And then there's the question of evidence for the afterlife, all you get is words and promises, not even an explanation of the "how", just like with anything else religion teaches.... never ever you get a mechanism or way it allegedly will solve anything. And if you leave town and listen to the same promises fifty miles over it probably will sound VERY different from your old church as two preachers seldom share the very same vision of the "afterlife"...

[@ginagamba]

As a former music reviewer, I can say my rule of thumb was "Be honest, not unkind." There was maybe one album by The Flaming Lips that I really did not like. I was and am a Beatles fan and The Flaming Lips has given an already somewhat trippy Beatles album the psychedelic rock treatment. It was insanely hard to listen to! I had to look around the Internet for other reviews and found a few that were pretty critical of this album. As a writer and amateur musician, myself, I know well the feeling of vulnerability when you share something that really is a part of you personally.. It's scary as hell and I haven't always received positive feedback in my own endeavors. I'd never want to subject others to that.

[@jamesbong5135]

I guess you could download and slice it to smaller bits if Seth doesn't mind.

[@UkyoKuonji2010]

It costs me about 700$ CDN for a round trip from where I live(St. Anthony NL) to St. John's(also NL). It's an hour flight.

[@Mutex50]

I don't like football, but I see why others do. For the life of me though, I can't figure out why people like Nascar or baseball.

[@mikeyvester]

Seth has good taste in squash plants. I like pumpkins too.

[@errolreeves5296]

going to wear a pasta strainer or colander for Halloween and see how many people know the reference.

[@stephenmccarthy4235]

you should spend some time for yourself in Australia even if its just to see the wildlife if you get the chance see Canberra and when your in Brisbane you should see the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

[@JustWitchLucy4]

Im in KC come here!

[@Sines314]

I don't know, from what little I've seen of Bibleman, it actually looks to revel in it's silliness. Villains are goofy and over the top, and the tone of the show seems to recognize that it has two purposes. One to teach morals (naturally) and two, to be a silly show to make kids laugh. It's not particularly good, but it doesn't let it's preaching step on it's silliness (for the most part), and unlike most other Christian media, they intended for me to laugh at it.

[@MrAllenCrown]

I've read a bit of La Vey. (2/3book) God, does that man know how to present good literature. I recommend reading that book to about anyone.

[@Davidtheinfidel]

FYI, Roswell and Area 51 are not connected. They are two completed separate topics. People often conflate them.

[@peterrivera8964]

+AronRa I don't get it or watch it either I live in South Carolina and I know how you feel

[@steveb0503]

YAY! The Texas Tank!

[@FaganRoberts]

Oh my goodness! I would never carry a gun without the nra. Possessing a semi auto rifle is so extreme. I blame the nra for being so extreme.Who needs a semi automatic?

[@gregorystockman4670]

I'm not sure that 'semi auto' means what you think it does. And like many other things, if you don't want one, don't buy one. There's no reason your law-abiding neighbor shouldn't be able to legally own one though. And let's be clear on this topic, more laws and restrictions don't affect a criminal, who by their very definition are already not following the law. All more laws and restrictions do is harm the law-abiding gun owner.

[@peterrivera8964]

+Dan G I live in South Carolina after the Charleston church it confirmed the fact that Jesus won't protect us even in his own house.

[@tunabomber111]

24:45 A group of coyotes is called a band, a pack or a rout.

[@mcsolvang]

I wish this show was split up in different chapters, so that I could share different parts of it. It's such a great episode, but it's too long for most people.. Where is the best of-list? :-)

[@TheThinkingAtheist]

Who determines what's best? A hugely subjective selection process. And why present the show in 7 different sections when people can simply listen to the same link, in sections, at their leisure?

[@mcsolvang]

I totally agree - it was just a sigh on my part. There are so many cool/fun/interesting parts in this show! ☺

[@rogertheshrubber2551]

Link a timed start spot that starts the subject you are referencing. Just let your intended audience know what time the subject ends.

[@mcsolvang]

The Kris thanks, I didn't know you could set a time-parameter in the URL! :-)

[@Mariomario-gt4oy]

Third. Loved the podcast

[@jennifermeaux1074]

( MT) Fandom , partisanship , and religion function in much the same way .

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

Mylar wearher balloons take on a disc shape as they deflate

[@koltirasrip5775]

I wish the Davis vs Abbott race were closer than it is. They're 12-15 points apart with Abbott leading. I'm certain we'll have another 2-3 terms of Republican "leadership" in this bloody state before people pull their heads out of their asses. On the other hand, I have to travel all over central Texas for my work, and I have YET to see a Davis ad board on the roadways. It's like she's not even running. Abbott is the only governor's board I see and they're ALL OVER.

[@redtankgirl5]

How do I get some one to understand that Atheism is not a Religion. That as an Atheist I do not go to meetings or some sort of church or follow some sort of book like a bible etc. such as my christian friends. They just can't seen to comprehend and I just can't seem to get it through their heads that there is no organized group function.

[@_barm]

Red Tankgirl It's not really possible to explain it to them. For one thing it's a defense mechanism on their part ... they're trying to do two things at the same time: lower atheism to being as silly as they're religions beliefs, or raising the validity of their religious beliefs to the level of reason atheists use to reject their religious beliefs. Look at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theism atheism is no more a religon that theism is. Atheism is "without theism" ... a rejection of theist claims.

[@TechnocraticBushman]

One simple phrase that always worked for me is to explain that atheism is a religion only if you accept that abstinence is a sexual position or that not playing football is a sport. The one with the sexual connotations is especially silly and breaks the tension. Ask them about how they feel about some god they don't believe in. Then tell them that it's the same for you. Just a thought...

[@redtankgirl5]

Well thank you. That explains it better than any thing I've ever heard before. Abstinence as a sexual position or not playing football as a sport is so on the money. Thnkyou so much. This has been a frustration for me, for some time now. You have help me so. I just could not understand how not having a god, meetings, and a organized religion, still constituted a religion to those I talked with. This should help or at least like you say lighten the conversation a little. Wonderful.

[@TechnocraticBushman]

Red Tankgirl They usually say something along the lines of "you can't explain that therefor god" or "it takes faith to believe something came from nothing". I always say that I don't know the answer to those questions and if I want to find the real answer, I should not presume I know it before I start. It's more honest to live your life as though there is no promise of redemption, no second chances and what we do here and now, really really matters. A promise of redemption is an invitation to sin, but this is kind of offensive and they might not get it. My only chance at immortality, as the evidence shows to me, is how others will remember me, what I will leave behind when I am gone. And if there is a God, he's surely not that dumb to condemn me.

[@redtankgirl5]

I myself let them know clearly. i am born , I live and then I will die. I will be eaten by bugs etc and that is it and I am good with a that and that is all there is. So all I can do is live as well as I can here and now and be remembered well, for that is all I have, when it is said and done. That is when the question of what happens to the people who kill or rape people comes into play . This is where they have a hard time understanding that justice comes in the here and now. Wow. I just end up giving my head a shake. For I find it ever so simple. But, somehow, They seem to feel there is no justice unless someone is going to burn in some, made up hell, for some eternity. And if we have no religion how do we have any justice for those people? Hahahaha Oh my... Sorry, I guess I really shouldn't laugh.

[@DecoytheSkeletalBoy]

AronRa, confirmed Sasquatch. I accept this!

[@moneymikz]

For next week, how can you NOT mock the idea that a talking snake tricked a rib woman into eating a magic fruit that gave us morality while also dooming us for eternity. It's just so rigoddamndiculous

[@MenwithHill]

If you wanna learn about hell, there is a series by Baud 2 Bits here on youtube reading a book on it it's really great.

[@kcox669live]

Love that series. I always find it amazing that it's written by an atheist woman over a century ago.

[@gh778jk]

Pumpkin coffee??? Seth...you're a sick man! Paddy

[@SupaDr00g]

Isn't it ironic that the creasechins didn't learn the moral of the pagan story of Pandora. They opened the door to have religious icons and activity on public property and didn't consider the consequences that some people might choose to express religious beliefs they don't share in or like.

[@GenerationX1984]

Here's my take on Exodus. It exaggerates Hebrew slavery in Egypt. There was a time that the Egyptian Empire ruled Hebrew territory in southern Canaan and a certain group of Hebrews called the Shasu left Egypt and formed the nation of Israel. Probably bringing a deliverance story from Egypt as well as the cult of Yahweh with them. Source: The Bible's Buried Secrets. A Nova Special that aired on PBS.

[@GenerationX1984]

+Chris Tubestinks You can also see maps of Egypt at the height of its power when southern Canaan was a part of the Egyptian Empire. Hebrews being ruled by Egyptians would have come up with myths of deliverance from Egypt once the Egyptians stopped ruling Canaan.

[@Questron71]

You know that there are some archaeologists and historians that by now even doubt that the Israelites did - before the babylonian exile (about 800 to 650 BCE IIRC?) - even live in Canaan originally? Those guys have them down as one of the Arabic tribes from the triangle between Bagdad, Amman and the inner of Saudi Arabia as far as i know... Which would work out very well with the numerous mentions of places in Iraq or Jordan in the early patriarch stories.... even Moses&Gideon went into Israel through Jericho which is nowhere near the Egyptian borders but guards an important stretch along the river Jordan where anybody coming from the East would try to cross it... If you add the clearly formulaic parts of mythology (creating "explanations" for enmities between neighboring tribes and deriving their names from mythological persons instead of proper etymology), there is little reason to hold this for anything but a constructed story without any historical precedence or one that is so unimportant and long in the past that it is almost unrecognizable (like the flood which was around for at least 600 or a thousand years in several handful of cultures/citystates before the Hebrews got to invent their own version of it, including stealing the depth of the flood in earlier records and yet making it nonsensical by declaring it worldwide instead of localized in the mesopotamian floodplane...) Abraham, Joseph, Moses ... Israel, Heber and Canaan... are no more historically reliable persons than are Romulus and Remus or the heroes of the Trojan War or "King Brutus" of Britain...

[@rich4209]

What does star trek got do with anything

[@vovacat1797]

Little did they know who would actually win the 2016 election

[@nohandle2]

Peannut Butter Nom-Noms! lol

[@Eliphas_Leary]

About the question at 1:09:00, why is christianity so popular: As you can see in parts of western Africa, for example with the Dogon in Mali, christianity and islam are successful in converting people away from their polytheistic or animistic religions, because they are so very simple. There's basically just one rule in christianity or islam: obey the dude that reads that book to you and STFU. Can't be more simple. Atheists on the other hand make things much more complicated, there's science and philosophy and you have to think for yourself, you can't blame stuff on the devil and his minions or praise god because you found a parking spot or your keys. It's not easy to emerge from one's self-incurred immaturity...

[@ChrissonatorOFL]

Apparently, the individual was a devout Christian, not a Satanist.