I never said i believed in it. It was a poster my mom had growing up and you talk to me about this same thing every single video. Trust me your opinion has been heard.
Welcome all to the era where God has revealed His chosen unworthy servant. It's me who is less than nothing! 😂 I'm the chosen servant! Receive the Holy Spirit and you're guaranteed to go to paradise together with God amen!
@@juliabriggs1141Who claims to have all of the correct interpretations. But... If the word itself is the word of god and you can read it, why do you need man?
Those Christians who say that "god works in mysterious ways" are the exact same people who are quick to tell you what god is thinking, what god means, what god wants, and so on, as if he's suddenly not all that myserious.
@@MindShift-Brandonyou have amazing content for Christians who need to come out of the literal/slave/controlled paradigm but have you looked at any esoteric, alchemical or symbolic interpretations such as Carl Jungs work? On a side note everyone, the Bible has no historical content, names, events etc at all. Good luck everyone!
As a Christian, I felt more depressed and anxious than I had ever been. Always worrying about my sin, preaching the gospel, whether I was doing enough or if I was really saved. Such a heavy burden has been taken off since my deconversion, something Jesus had promised he would do. These promises are just thrown at us like magic charms to chant and make us feel better, but I always noticed problems with them before. Thanks for your channel and another good video Brandon.
@@Cuffsmaster exactly. Can't even glance at a pretty girl the wrong way or have a certain thought without having the threat of eternal fire torture looming over your head.
"as a christian" and "always worrying about my sin" are two things that should never go hand in hand, Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. he paid our sin debt, his holy spirit keeps our soul from being "defiled" while our flesh will sin till the day we die, it is the holy spirit that separates/cuts off the deeds of the flesh by the blood of christ so that when we die this corrupted flesh will not stay attached to our soul but will shed off so that God only see's our true self by what Christ has done, he gave his life so that we may live In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: [12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. circumcision = cutting off/ God has separated the ("body" of sins) FROM "our soul" via the Circumcision of Christ aka what Christ did on the cross, he has "nailed" our sins to the cross so that it is no longer attached to our debt, thus we no longer have to "worry about our sins" when it comes to if we're doing right by God, God no longer looks at our sin debt, he see's that we've trusted in Christ, thus we are pure, not by our works but by the works of Christ on the cross, i hope you understand what it Truly means to trust that he paid our debt. btw the Holy spirit is fire that consumes our sins, so while our flesh may be defiled our soul stays pure via the holy spirit which resides within those who have trusted in Christ to pay their sin debt. this is how we can KNOW WE ARE SAVED, no more guessing
I remember growing up in the Catholic Church in the 50s and 60s; missing Sunday Mass was a mortal sin, and if you died without confessing this, you would go to hell. I can’t even imagine telling this to a child at the age of six. I had a Missal, in which there were prayers that would grant you 365 days indulgence- meaning a year off of your purgatory sentence. I would madly say these prayers over and over again. We were constantly told how unworthy we were of his love, and to be honest, I was too fearful to consider that it was all myth. That fear followed me for over sixty years, and now, at the ripe old age of 70, I am finally free of the guilt, the fear and the shame.
A lot of people also don't realize that these teachings haven't changed, they're just de-emphasized. For example, according to the Catechism, masturbation is a mortal sin ("grave matter"). Therefore, deserving of and will result in eternal damnation. I couldn't conscience the silliness of that eventually.
@@karenmoody2763 Sounds like the intellectual "liberal' Christianity of the Protestant church I grew up in. They're all based on the foundation story of Eden: that we're wrong, we're born wrong, if we work very very hard we might be able to get right enough not to be eternally tortured -- but probably we'll never really make the grade.
Damn, I cannot thank my dad enough for allowing me to dodge the bullet of childhood indoctrination. My early childhood was pretty religion-free but when I was 12 my parents got divorced and my mother converted to JW. At first she got custody, but I wasn't going along with the program. I eventually became violently opposed to it so much that by 13 I was allowed to live with my dad. I consider the year of attempted brainwashing as my 'dark ages'. I still wondered if I was wrong and everyone around me was right, so I searched very hard to find out if Christianity was real. I'm 52 years old and I'm still coming up bumpkis...
JW are actually a cult. It's pretty bad, so yeah, you dodged a bullet. Good for you for being able to stand up for yourself. You are really lucky you didn't grow up in that cult.
Be glad you got away from that cult, I was born in always at a young age knew something was wrong with that religion .Left at age of 17 ,lost my family and friends being they shun all that aren't in the same religion but I'm good now .
Jesus saying he would return before the generation of his time died away is like a dad saying he's going out to get milk when he's actually going to be gone for 10 years.
How am I? Jesus explicitly said that "this generation will not pass away until all things have come to pass." Are any of the disciples still alive and had not tasted death as it is stated?
I’m glad after my deconversion, that I have a thing to still listen to around 10-11 am in the morning on sundays, but instead of it being hatred it is much more inspiring and a better listen for my brain overall
Speaking of a deity protecting its faithful, whenever I hear a religious person telling me that the reason we have these school shootings is because we've kicked God out of our schools. I always have to ask, "why does your deity not protect children from being molested in his own house and place of worship?..."
I remember all the promises God said he'd deliver. The constant asking, to a deaf ear. I worked the church projector atban old church of mine. I remember the services would feed my depression, because it looked like God was fufilling everyone elses promises, when all I asked was to hear back. Then I started doubting. Then I found channel's like these. They said it wasn't logical to believe this, and gave reasoning so much more concrete. You guys do amazing work, keep it up. You are helping change lives.
God doesn't heal the sick at least all sickness god first get us jobs housing medical ins. Or anything except hope thdt our burdens will be rirvrd after our passing from earth
The community who respected my Mom as an overworked elementary school teacher and deeply devoted church lady, had no idea what she was like when alone at home with me and my brother who were then defenseless small kids. She'd found us wanting on the blind acceptance of her faith, and if not for the fact that we were in her way, she would have spent every waking minute on church business and her job. She terrified us with her belt-wielding blind rages, which she much later denied ever doing. It had been her habit to stay hours late after school, so when she came home exhausted and fed up, we were in suspense that beatings could follow, and came to know that our fear satisfied her. That's how she broke the child/parent bond, and we outright rejected following her faith. Brandon, you are a comfort!
I used to feel personally offended when told by a fellow Christian: "You are not a real Christian". Now, I smile, They are as ignorant as everyone else. They have no idea. I am no better, or worse than them. They are no better or worse than I.
Indeed, we are all sinners, the only difference between a believer and a non-believer is one has accepted the death payment of Christ to pay for their sin debt and the other has not and will pay their sin debt themselves, one has accepted what Christ has done for them and the other hasn’t, simple as that, we’re all in the same boat, we’re all enslaved to sin, one has just chosen Life by he who is Life aka Jesus Christ
@@japexican007 Wrong. We are not all sinners. The difference between Christians and non-Christians is this concept of being born of sin. The debt sin requires payment in blood. Only an innocent man can fit the bill. What a bizarre concept this seems to other faiths. No wonder we are thought of as Bloody-drinking, Flesh-eating, Virgin killers. Be careful how you justify this. Not all faiths require a human sacrifice as a foundation for their religion. I worry that you and I are more likely to think ourselves better that others. If good people, like you believe you have been saved, where others have not, then are you honestly a good person? If Christians can not agree on this basic issue, then why do we expected to be taken seriously? I love my Bacon Butties. My local is the centre of my community. Our Vicar joins us in Ruggers and dresses up for Samhain Parties. I reject Puritanism and all that it demands. I love Christmas too much to be a Puritan.
@@tomsenior7405 “we’re not all sinners says they sinner, born in sin and continual sin are two different things, regardless of Adam and Eve you still sin even if you deny such a truth which is why you reject God, pray tell what makes you without sin? Why are you holy you probably get mad at Christian’s for claiming God exists, that’s a sin already, you lie : a sin, you cheat : sin, you’ve stolen : sin, you lust after women : sin, at least be an honest sinner, even when you claim to not be a sinner you’re already sinning for spreading such lies
@@japexican007 From a small bundle of kindling, such an inferno is made. Now you claim that I reject God. How dare you. You are exactly the beast of which I speak. Be gone you evil thing. For all the good you have done sitting there, In the name of God go!
I literally feel relief after deconverting. I can finally let go of the stress and confusion of racking my brain, trying to make the Bible fit observation.
@@20july1944keep coping, pathetic Neanderthal. People are leaving your cult by the masses. Because nobody is buying your primitive Bronze Age fairy tales anymore.
I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that gods deals never add up. "Ask and yee shall recieve" is more like beg me because i like hearing it more than one might think and MAYBE , key word, I'll throw some scraps your way once in a while. Now i do my very best to provide for myself and take care of myself despite the gas lighting i get from my loving religious relitives every day.
My parents were big on the idea of God having a particular spouse picked out for me, a particular college he wanted me to go to, a particular car he wanted me to purchase, etc. Mostly they used this to control me (big surprise), but I remember being in my mid-20's and finally realizing how absurd this was. People marry "the wrong person" all the time. What would happen if my "right person" married the wrong person. Or what if I married the wrong person, now I've ruined the life of my "right person", as well as the life of the person I married, as well as the life of the person who was supposed to marry the person I married. It gets messy really fast! I challenged my parents with this hypothetical, and they just said that if I was faithful to God and careful to follow his will, he would make sure that didn't happen. Talk about main character syndrome! XD
On a funny side note: You CAN argue with these people that "You NEVER believed in Santa." since: if they stopped believing, that means they never TRULY believed Santa was real. According to their own reasoning.
I don’t know if one truly believed or not, only God knows, I do question however how one goes to accepting the free gift of life by Jesus Christ’s death payment to rejecting his free gift, I’m not talking about going to church or doing x,y,z work I’m talking about the gospel, how does a believer who believes we are “saved” aka were going to heaven and have been given eternal life by accepting what Jesus cross did for us (he took our sin debt and paid it in full on the cross so that by what he did we may reconcile ourselves to God) how does someone come to accepts this freely through no act of their own and then do a 180? How do you come to reject something that never had anything to do with what you do or how many sins you have, only by trusting his finished works, what leads you to change your mind, not about the “church indoctrination” aka building rituals but by merely what he did for you, the other stuff is meaningless if you never did the first thing aka place your trust in what he’s done for you to be with him
@@japexican007there are many videos that explain the path to atheism. It is different for everyone. But it many times starts with reading the holy book of your church and asking questions on things that don't appear to make sense. Then disbelief in the holy book. Then disbelief in all holy books. The passages and things that don't make sense are different for different people. I do know that this gift you talk about, once you said it was life and then you said it was heaven, isn't any different than anything else in the Bible. It is a claim that eventually doesn't look like a true thing. But if you really are interested and want to know, watch or listen to a bunch of people's stories about deconstruction. It is too long of a story to answer in a comment section with any details. First I believed. Then some things didn't seem true. Then it all appeared to not be true.
according to your own words you're no different than the many atheists who claim truth, sadly as many atheists that have deconverted are there many more who begin in atheism and end up finding God aka the truth, good luck with your non-belief@@kirielbranson4843
I absolutely love your content, Brandon. It's like you stepped into my brain and pulled out every single problem I had with Christianity. You're a breath of fresh air and wisdom. Thanks for the work you're doing.
This is the most disgusting thing about relligiouse people - the things they say to you after you have lost a loved one - 💔🥶🤮😭😭😭 They don't even feel the stuff they say, how psychopathic that stuff is.
When the 18 year old kid died (that I mentioned a few months ago), people used the "god works all things for good" verse and it did not help. Also, god promising never to flood the whole world again (probably one of god's most famous promises) is awfully convenient because there isn't enough water on earth to flood it all at the same time.
One guy told me once that the center of the Earth is filled with water and god opened a hole in the Earth and flooded the surface. Well ok, but how do you get the rabbit back in the hole.
@@20july1944 Ha Ha Ha Ha 🤣 1. You are misinterpreting my picture. I am simply looking down at my camera. 2. You are demonstrating the saying "There is no hate like Christian 'love'."
Do you not understand how power works? Do you not know that Christianity was built to spread the torah, an the end goal is world dominion, ran by A.I. with noahide slaves to do the physical stuff that ai can't? Do you not recognize the same script writers are literally in control of every avenue of power and influence? They only censor and shadow ban that which threatens them. The "chosen" lose their power and death grip if Christianity ceases to exist. The need to keep it alive enough to change it into Noahide compliant
Guy robs a bank, gets saved that night, goes to heaven. Guy kills 10 people, gets reborn, goes to heaven. Another guy helps others all his life, gives up his possessions to help people, goes straight to hell because he never said he believed on Jesus. The Bible is a horrendous book that has rotted the brains of billions of people, all of whom were duped into believing the insane nonsense in the Bible.
GOD gives every person a chance to be with him for all eternity by believing on his Son and desire to be with him if a person chooses not to believe than GOD has no choice than to separate him from eternity with him in the new heaven and new earth unfortunately that place is a dark place void of his light
@@user-ym1kp5np8k Have you read the Bible? That god is a serial mass murderer that loves genocide, racism, misogyny, slavery, rape, torture, animal sacrifices, incest, infanticide, child rape & human sacrifices. That entire cult is built on human sacrifices. Have you ever wondered why an all knowing, all powerful entity can create all the complexities of the universe but only able to resolve issues by murdering people? Have you ever questioned that book? Have you ever searched for truth and evidence? I was Christian but then I read the Bible. And read it again. It’s obvious anyone reading that book is infinitely more moral than the psychopathic god described in its pages.
I don't consider myself an Atheist, but I have my own experience to talk about. Every since I was a child, my mother took me to the church. At first, it was no big deal, but when I turned 12, I started not wanting to go anymore, and she forced me to go until I was 16. Nowadays she tells me that I changed a lot, that I wasn't acting the way she raised me, that I was irrecognizable. I simply can't take this anymore, to the point I simply have become apathetic to everything she tells me, and the more she preaches to me, the more I start to ask questions, and her reactions are predictible as hell: extremely aggressive. Dude, I'm just 22 years old and have already distanced myself from the church because I was forced to attend every Sunday, but now, I'm starting to question the validity of these claims. I feel like with your videos, I dodged a bullet, but my mother still seems to blame me for everything.
Hey Brandon, I’m really glad you made this list. Whenever people ask me why I left faith, I often reply with the divine hiddenness argument. But that often is just dismissed as me not emotionally feeling something, and not having the faith to push through my emotions. So when you have a list of promises, it adds to this divine hiddenness to where now I call it the problem of unmet expectations.
Divine hiddenness is one of my favorite arguments for sure. But I think my all time favorite, is that the bible is wrong. Yes, as a label it's very broad and imprecise, but the bible is broadly wrong in many ways. If I look at the bible, and look at reality, they don't match. It may not be terribly effective at convincing others, since there's a lot of work establishing and demonstrating where and how it's wrong, but at it's root, that's why I'm not a Christian. And while it can be claimed that this has a heavy burden of proof, I could also say that the apologists hold a heavy burden of proof to convince me that the bible is true. Especially given how often Christians argue with each other what the bible really says. Perhaps there can be a case to be made that God exists, and the bible is flawed. But since Christianity is founded on the bible rather than God, I can't say I want to participate in a form of Christianity that has little assurance that any of it is true. I have seen cases presented of versions of Christianity (arguably labeled so), that I might get behind. Except that they are sufficiently removed from the bible, that not only do I hesitate to call them Christianity, but it feels like things are made up as needed. Sure we can glean wisdom from the great theological thinkers, but I don't see the need to do so religiously (in all senses). I also don't have the faith to push past all the problems, and frankly I'm glad of that. I prefer to base decisions based on reason, where possible.
@@stevewebber707 Your comment puts into words multiple ideas that have been floating about my head for months, and I sincerely appreciate it. I've always felt like the only people who were doing Christianity "right" were the ones who were taking the bible literally, at face value (and ending up as horrible people as a result), and the nicer sects and churches were the ones who let their morality guide them to not focus too hard on those horrible parts, but failed to realize that it meant they fundamentally disagreed with the divine word of their god. You put it so eloquently. Christianity is founded on the Bible first and foremost. That's what makes it distinct from Islam and anything else that proposes a singular god. So to distance yourself from the bible while still devotedly following its god seems bizarre and nonsensical to me. This mentality also features heavily into why I don't believe. When the foundation of your beliefs is provably, factually inaccurate, the way the bible is on so many of its points, major and minor (mostly the major ones, tbh), then you have a problem. This is also my answer when asked what I'd say to God after I died and he's about to throw me into hell. I'd ask him "why was your inspired word so blatantly incorrect? Why does almost every avenue of exploration into the nature of our world reveal more flaws in your perfect book? Why is it reasonable to expect me to outright deny reality, and to punish me if I do not?" No human has ever given an acceptable answer to any of these questions, and that's certainly not for lack of trying. So many people clamor to justify it any way they can, and I watch them fall over themselves and I just feel sad for them. I just want to save them from this horrible idea-prison they were locked up in. ....Great, I made myself feel bad.
@@riluna3695 Thank you for the very personal; response. I'm not quite so pessimistic about the thought prisons for Christians though. Not that that couldn't happen. But I suspect it would be more because of lazy thinkers than the inherent bible qualities. The bible is so complex, and in my opinion ambiguous, that manufacturing a simple simple and satisfying "thought prison", is actually a significant challenge. I would heartily agree that the religion can easily result in thought stopping resolutions though. But again, the process of getting there would probably take either simplistic thought processes that tend not to stand much scrutiny, or convoluted mental gymnastics to attempt justifications. Either way, either there wasn't much thought to trap from the beginning, or a great deal of thought happened. One other comfort I have, is that to interpret the bible, requires external ideas and wisdom that I don't believe is in the bible. Most Christian bible interpretations are in my opinion, heavily informed by personal beliefs and relevant culture. There are just too many examples of Christian claims and beliefs that are either not in the bible, or are ambiguous at best. Positions on slavery and abortion, are two subjects off the top of my head demonstrating such. So to some degree, personal thought and ideals have to go into the process. I think what I see as a very dangerous intellectually dangerous issue, is a somewhat common granting of excessive authority to some preacher. Something I've seen more often in more conservative churches. But this again is not entirely the bibles fault. More like an issue with religion, and it's potential to be misused by unscrupulous leaders. Though Christianity and the bible arguably does encourage granting some major authority, so I suppose some fault can be found there. Complicated issues to ponder.
@@stevewebber707 Yeah, it was the "convoluted mental gymnastics" side of thought-prisons I was referring to. That desperate need to fend off any threats to the idea any way you can, even if you have to throw out things you'd never accept in a casual friendly discussion of the topic with another Christian. Just a blanket piece of advice to anyone reading: If you have a thought-stopping technique anywhere within your intellectual framework, that is a major red flag and you need to look into it ASAP. That is all.
It really resonated with me when you were talking about how all the Christian sects can't even agree on what one needs to do to be saved. Surely God wouldn't make this central point so confusing!
God will forget our sins, except of course God is incapable of forgetting, so he will just politely pretend like he doesn't know we did those things. But he still knows. And oh boy is he thinking about them.
Another great video. I wish people promoting Christianity to Christians would teach them about intelligently reading their Bible and identifying who is speaking and who they are speaking to and what the context is. That clears up a lot of these false promises, as you said.
The Ultimate Promise is also the Ultimate threat: Love me with never ending loyalty and worship and anything goes up to and including murder. All you gotta do is get born again and get “saved” and bam, you get to go to the eternal theme park. But, if you ever want evidence or proof or question any of my really bad decisions or just happen to be born in the wrong time or place of the world or in history and don’t accept me as your overlord, he will send you to your eternal torment in hell. The Abrahamic God and Emperor Palpatine should really get together and go bowling sometime. They seem to have a lot in common….
All these motivational verses has triggered an operant conditioning response in me to sing hymns from my childhood. Right now from "Redeemer of Israel," "Restore my dear Savior the light of thy face. Its soul healing power impart, And let the sweet longing for thy holy place Bring hope to my desolate heart." Intellectually, the words are hollow, but the poetry, the nostalgia, and the early training still carry an emotional punch.
This is where I’m standing on my deconstruction/deconversion path. I don’t have a physical out for now. But as someone who plays drums, piano, and sings for the church I go to, it’s so easy to “get in that groove.” As a childhood musician, music is one of the most powerful tools people can use for good and bad. Even when I logically don’t believe the words being sung, the theory and composition and arrangements are made so you can’t help but feel. I think that’s why people believe so easily…because of what they feel. It’s neurological, psychological.
"Operant Conditioned response" Some of the Christian music is good because it reinforces what we want to believe. I can still hear Elvis sing "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and get emotional just from his performance. This happens not because I believe what he is singing will actually happen at death. I know the foundation is false but damn he did a great job singing it. Part of the programing for most faith involve music and convincing those hearing the song that it represents truth. You can still feel those old feeling even after you leave the faith. Music is about feelings and by-passing the use of logic in many cases. I can also hear "Amazing Grace" and still remember and feel the writer's conversion from a Captain of a slaveship to someone actively opposing slavery in England. It's a great story. But the part of the song about singing gods praises for 10 000 years just sounds boring and maybe frighting as hell. After a few hundred years of that and you'd be begging god to send you to hell. As you know, songs reinforce many aspects of life including patriotism to a cause or Nation. love and faith. When I hear the Righteous Brothers sing "Unchained Melody" it takes me back to the Vietnam era and all the guys overseas longing for wives and girlfriends. It gives me a unique feeling however I look at it with reality and hindsight. This song still draws out emotion in people. Almost every Nation has a National Anthem that invokes emotion and to a high level during times of crisis. It becomes more than a song when people get upset with someone takes a knee when it is played at a sporting event. That, in a way is like a religious song. Songs are intended to bring out human emotions and cause physical changes like relaxation or we would pay no attention to them at all. We are programed to react to music and I think this happened thought evolution as a part of civilization development. Songs help bind people and beliefs. I often analysis why I react to a song of some type. Think about all the different types of songs you react to in your life and what response it cases. Here I am, long winded again.
@@Cuffsmaster I needed to read this, just to understand I’m not alone and there’s a name to (one of) my struggles. Music is beautiful…yet when it becomes part of something I’m at odds with, it feels like a weapon or a dagger. As a worship leader, the dagger enlarges to a spear. Makes me wonder if there’s vocal music out there that’s not about “God,” or even current hits constantly talking about sex, drinking, partying or drugs. I just want to experience music that can help…
@@trythelight8319 "makes me wonder if there is music not about god .. sex - drinking - parting - drugs" Oh man I am not good at offering musical advice at all. Louis Armstrong "its a wonderful world" is where I'd start. People write about life and how they live life so many things will be covered but I know what you are talking about. Therefore sex and drinking will be talked about. John Prine wrote simple songs about life. He was a look in the mirror at ourselves. His song "Sam Stone" is heart wrenching to us old vets but was so truthful. It was about the struggle of addiction in vets. Bob Dillon challenged us and confronted up with social injustice. John Denver wrote of beauty all the time. The beauty of love and nature. Yeah I am AGING myself badly.. I admit I know little about modern music as it does not interest me so I am no help in that area. Hey I am an old fart,,, But if you want to feel good about the world, "Lous Armstrong "it's a wonderful world" I am sorry I am of no real help here. I often travel in my car with the radio off and the windows down hearing the sounds of the road and nature and feeling the air as I take in smells.
The way you carry yourself is very respectable. I have tried to show atheistic RUclips videos to my Dad who will be instantly put off with the stereotypical "angry atheist". However your videos are well thought out, methodical and consistent in using the scriptures to expose the scriptures.
Appreciate that. I do (mostly) aim to be able to be heard by believers and especially those on the fence but sometimes, i too, can have a backfire effect im sure.
Using scripture to expose scripture. Huh? The devil talks with a split tongue. He tells the truth and a lie at the same time. This guy is a devil. The devil knows the Bible better than anyone! This guy needs to repent for leading people to damnation and misleading those who are trying to understand the word. I pray this guy stops this false teaching seriously.
They used to refer to that as "Dying in your sins!" We were all terrified that we might inadvertently "die in our sins-" because we KNEW what THAT meant! That "desires of your heart" line was thrown at me during a time when a man I loved dumped me for another woman. He ended up MARRYING her 2 years later. (Maybe the desires of HER heart were more important ot God than mine were)
I hear a lot that so long as you accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, you'll be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. I'll ask, so Jeffrey Dahmer is going to heaven, and his victims are going to hell? The conversation almost always ends there.
"He shall wipe away every tear....." What if someone is crying because they know there are people out there being denied a proper death and instead being forced to exist in a torture chamber for perpetuity? If Jesus really wanted to wipe away tears, he could find the guy who made the torture chamber and deal with hi - ooooooohhhhh.
This video hit something deep... I used to pray with my grandad everyday growing up. As soon as you said those different names that we attribute to God, I almost started to cry. It reminded me of my relationship with him when I was a believer and how he doesn't even acknowledge me as an atheist now. These names are the main things I pointed out to him. God did nothing for me, is what I said. I told him that all those prayers sent to him were meaningless and empty in retrospect and if a god does exist, he doesn't deserve these titles
You are braver than I. I never openly confronted my Mother or Grandparents about their faith and my rejection of it. They have passed and I have told the remaining members of the family. . I just never saw the need to hurt mom's feelings. The preacher at mom's church knew I was an atheist and asked me if it was ok if he came to visit my mom as she was living with me in her final years. I said ok but remember it is her faith not mine.
@@Cuffsmaster the worst part of it for me was that my grandfather IS the pastor and I was living with him and my grandma at the time. They started talking about hell and I started to ask questions. That's when everything started to unravel. It seemed as if my grandpa knew exactly what to say to get me to unpack what I was feeling. But he ultimately got angry with me, but it was only temporary and came to the conclusion that I'm not really an atheist and that it's just a phase. My grandma, on the other hand, seemed to be a lot more sympathetic towards my state of mind at the time.
@@MLamar0612 I don't know his sect of the faith by many believe that once you are saved you are always saved no matter what. If that is the case he may be leaning on that belief. That is the case with my family. What I was talked into as a child and rejected with age does not matter to them as they hold on to the belief I was saved early in life. It gives them something to hold on to with people that logically reject the faith.
@@Cuffsmaster he's Pentecostal. But I know for a fact that he doesn't believe that once someone is saved, then they're always saved. He believes that unbelievers burn in the lake that flows with fire and brimstone. Revelations 21:8 was damn near a mantra when I was younger.
@@MLamar0612 "pentecostal He does not believe once saved always so.. burn in the lake of fire and brimstone" I wish you luck in dealing with that and I am not wise enough to give helpfull advice. ... One of the crimes of religion is separating families for the glory of god. It seems that the closer a faith is to a cult like mentality the more this happens. I have always avoided Pentecostals as much as possible to avoid having to say "f**k off and leave me alone" Not that the Southern Baptist are much better. The sad part is that he is probably a good man outside the faith with others. If I was starting a faith I'd not say anyone is saved if they leave. I'd do that simply to keep them in so I could make more money. It would be practical. I believe most founders of faith also were looking at their pocket book as well as their faith. It is interesting how the concept of hell changed from the old testament until today.
When I was in six grade and a new born-again Christian, I took seriously God's promise that He would give me wisdon (which I understood to be knowledge) if I just focused my mind on God. I actually believed that by continually praying and meditating on God during class, God would magically give me answers to tests. He didn't. But I persisted and remained steadfast in my devotion. How did God thank me? I failed six grade.
That’s when they’ll say something trite such as, “God helps those who help themselves”, which is really just a tacit admission that your successes and failures are your own doing. Of course, they can’t even manage to remain consistent on that point, because those same people are usually the first to thank god for their fortunes, as if people aren’t ultimately just as responsible for their successes as they are their failures . If something good happens, they give credit to god; if something bad happens, it’s your own damn fault, lol.
The idea there is utility to prayer, proves it is nothing more than wish fulfillment. Asking God for anything to include forgiveness is no different than asking for a wish to be fulfilled.
I was always taught Matt 7:7 was “keep” asking and knocking which meant that when he didn’t answer me it was my fault because I gave up too early. It probably kept me in longer because I thought that maybe an answer was just beyond the corner
I know exactly what you mean. Jesus didn't even use the word "keep". So God wants us to grovel and beg and then look down on us when we don't ask him enough times.
The other issue is that if these promises are open such that they may appear to fail to happen NOW but will at some indeterminate time in the future be fulfilled, what good is that? Why should I keep asking after failure upon failure? At what point can I be reassured that alright, THIS TIME it's gonna happen? The promise must be immediate by the very metaphor Jesus is employing here. Knock and the door shall be opened, not "knock and keep knocking and hope that maybe in 3-4 hours someone will be walking down that hallway on a lunch break and overhear your frantic knocking and open it unto you."
"Logic, reason and rational" is why I started seriously questioning the faith at an early age. By the time I graduated high school I was done with it. I was raised in a fundamentalist Baptist Church so there many examples of the lack of reasoning around me all the time. I was in the 3rd or 4th grade when I started questioning those assumed to be spiritual leaders in the Church. I remember that before a High School football game us players would have a joint prayer in the locker room before taking the field. Often the prayer was asking for victory on the football field. I just could not figure out how a god would show favoritism in a High School football game or why he should even give a f**k about who won. I am 74 now but remember knowing it was silly back when I was 15-18 years old. If you use logic you can see things like that constantly when examining faith. Most of it just makes no logical sense. You also see how the lack of logic just goes over the heads of others that never even think about it as they are so deep into the propaganda. If you do point it out they seem to be offended. I find that funny today but at age 13 I found it very confusing.
I asked God for a wife for 15 years being completely sexless and I was never helped in this area. Church people said just keep praying but as soon as I began to question God’s so called promises I was told he isn’t a genie and it’s up to me anyways. What I realized , God most likely isn’t their and it’s up to me as a human to create my opportunities. Never again will I be duped.
Brandon how much would i pay you to go to talk me out of that path in the past, imposible but, at least you are here now and your content has being a great gift, this is why i would truly call a blessing😂😂, you are one of the best content creators in this space , i hope you have a long career and many successes, thanks for your videos
Most of religion is just to make the believers feel good, but in reality it does more harm than good. The real harm is taking it as an absolute truth, when the bible isn't concise enough.
Thanks Brandon for another video. If there is nothingness after death, it actually brought me more comfort and encouragement than that of the Christian worldview, it’s just a very morose worldview and this one life if that is all it is never had discouraged me because it’s honestly better than false hope, and I never found it hopeful to give my faith to a cruel and vindictive, self boasting,petty and jealous and narcissistic god.
I love the way you flip flop back and forth between the promises and their contradictions. Most preachers take an hour just to cover one of these promises, and never show the contrary verses. So to you I say "Godspeed" my friend.
thank you! it is easy to muse on one when you dont have to have it make sense or be consistent lol. I have been thinking about doing videos from the Christian perspective where i give a sermon on a ridiculous verse just to show how easy it is to manipulate.
Nice, I would really like to see you debunk Allen Parr, and his version of Bible slavery, there's just so much wrong with a black man defending slavery, I don't know where to begin@@MindShift-Brandon
@MindShiftSkeptic The time Jesus cursed the fig tree would be hilarious. That's one that I got to and couldn't make sense about at all. It didn't make any sense as a parable and for someone that could walk on water. raise the dead. Turn water into wine heal the sick. Feed the multitude with a couple of fish and loaves bread. Why did he not just make it bear some figs? No he cursed it and killed it in an hangry fit.
I know right? It even says it wasn't the right time of the season for bearing fruit, so why would Jesus curse a fig tree for simply being a normal fig tree? @@TonyLambregts
For me, the biggest promise, *Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find" is the biggest evidence that god isn't real. Either hes a liar and doesn't give you what you ask for or hes incapable. One way or another, it proves hes not god.
@@MindShift-Brandon They always point out the people god cures of cancer, but ignore the fact he's never cured someone of an amputation. I guess those guys are not worthy enough.
6:01 - As soon as you mentioned this one I was reminded of a hymn we used to sing, using the same words, and the first thing that popped into my mind was this being sung by the Israeli troops before going into battle. WOW! How that would encourage and strengthen them.
Hi, Thanks Branden. Having a great deal of trouble finding a version of this online, being performed the way we used to at our little church, back home. This was back in the early 80s and this seemed to be pretty popular back then. Lovely concept being presented actually, and we used to sing it in a much more reverent manner, as well. I'm Canadian by the way, from a Salvation Army background. I am no longer Christian myself, actually, and walked away from all of this long ago, and have long, tried to be more Broad Based Spiritual than fanatically, fundamentally, religious. There is a huge, huge, difference for me there. In almost, all things in life, I'm pretty Liberal Progressive actually, which meant attempting to be Christian was always, rather difficult for me. My common sense reason would tell me one thing, and that went quite a ways back too, while my faith was telling me something else. Well, by my late teens to early 20s, I could not accept it anymore and had to walk away. I'm in my late 50s right now, so to hear you guys talking about deconverting, and deconstructing your faith, sounds kind of, odd to me, as I never saw it that way myself, and would never have thought of putting it into those terms, it just, became something that no longer resonated truth to me, so I walked away from it. It was not the easiest though. I had to undo all that brainwashing, and fear mongering, and that was not easy. And after that, like I'm sure so many more have felt; I had to ask myself; now what? Where do I go from here? Well, for me, it was to attempt to remain Spiritual and try to continue to develop my life along those lines. Some 30 plus, years later, I'm still working on that. My attitude about Jews and Israel sure, comes out of my religious upbringing to a large degree; and things I found out about their ongoing persecution which lead to the Holocaust in the 40s, which I found out about pretty early, in my life actually. And from the fact that Jesus was Jewish, and never stopped being Jewish until his death. All of it combined, made me resolve at a pretty early age, that I would be a friend to and supporter of, Jewish people, which I have stuck with my whole life. And while I understand to some degree, the issues the Palestinians put forward; I also, cannot deny that Israel, the land, belong to the Jews from ancient times; and also, their need for a state and home, regardless; where they can feel safe and protected; and where they have the say and control, themselves. I feel that once the Palestinian people, or extremist islam at least, ceases being a threat to Israel, Israel can then, work on addressing the issues they have, which I think they are perfectly, willing to do, under the right circumstances. I put more faith in the noble character of Jews today, more so than a great many seem willing to, right now, for sure, the younger ones in particular, who really, are being "useful idiots" for the extremist. And of course, what was done to them on the 7th of October simply, cannot be justified, warranting the need for them to respond as they do now. I understand the power of inspirational music to greatly, strengthen and inspire, which is why I instantly, saw the value in this when you read it out. I actually, had forgotten that hymn, but now that I'm reminded again, I'll be singing it all the time. There are so many more I'm aware of, but I can't present any of it or provide links because if I do RUclips keeps hitting me with spam notices. They have targeted me three times, already. So now, I'm left not being able to support as I wish, because this silly, poorly monitored, site does not even, know what I'm doing. Does not and cannot know what the intentions are. Extremely, frustrating. I also, understand what you stated in one of your other videos, about the attitude of Ancient Israel as to why people have had this negative attitude toward them down through the ages, as I have expressed the same thing myself; but that was then and this is now, and I don't think most modern Jews are like that today, and non-Jews persecuting them because of their past, certainly, does not make us any better, or such treatment justifiable, either. No matter how they may have behaved in ancient times, does not warrant what was done to them today, on the 7th of October, correct? And not even close. Anyway, sorry for that long winded response. My Best. Out. 🖐🏼❤🔥😔
@@ivanj.conway9919 *I also, cannot deny that Israel, the land, belong to the Jews from ancient times* except, no it didn't. Historically, genetically, the Jews came from the Canaanites. Egyptians were also in the Levant at the same time. So who does the land really "belong" to? And why hold some weird idea that because some people lived on it in the past, they have some special claim to it? People win and lose land all the time all throughout history. Look at the Americas. All that land belongs to the indigenous people since ancient times. No sign that its conquerors are going to give up the land anytime soon or that those plumping for Israel for the same reasons are going to turn and say the same about the Europeans in the Americas. Shall we honor all ancient claims? Maasai in Africa believe quite devoutly that god created all cows and gave them exclusively to the Maasai. And if any other people on earth also have cows, well, they stole them from the Maasai. Shall we go along with that idea as well and return all our cows? Or do we know, as we must, that that's just a story?
@@druidriley3163 : Fine, so what does any of that mean for the people of Israel today? I'm no expert on this land, I'm learning as I go along here, like I hope, the rest of us are as well, though I doubt that about the pro-Palestine side, I have to say. It seems they will only take notice of anything that supports their narrative and ignore anything else. Are you Jewish? I'm not Jewish, I'm a white, Canadian, guy who comes out of a christian background. No non-Jew can possibly, understand the insanely, special place this land holds for Jewish people. Muslims can go on with whatever bull they wish to, there is no, possible, way this land holds a higher, special, place for them as for the Jews. No way. Absolutely, no way. Also, at this stage in the game now, I'm not sure anyone can know for certain what may or may not have been done right or wrong in the establishing of the Modern State of Israel, upon the ashes of the Ancient Kingdom of Israel. One side says one thing while the other side says another, and here we are now, going into 80 years later, not being able to be 100% certain which side is telling the greater truth. For me though, because of how I have a better sense of how muslims operate, and how they are actually, encouraged to lie within their faith - you honestly, should check into that - I am more inclined to believe what the Jewish side says rather than the muslim side. For me, because I was brought up Christian, and was taught at a very early age that this land was promised to the Jews, and that they have a Divine Right to it, I cannot root that out of my system just like that. I think Jerusalem, I think JEWS. I think Bethlehem, I think JEWS. It's ingrained in the soul of my being, as much as a Jewish person I think. I'm pretty sure most other Christians would say the same, and one of the groups of strongest supporters for Jews and Israel are the Christians, right now. And we all know the Christian Right in the U.S., weld a fair amount of power. But are not Muslims claiming the same thing now. Because they seem to have to appropriate everything that came before them to legitimate themselves, they are making the same claims about the land, the city and the temple mount. Of course, surprise, surprise, even though they came some 500 years after the ancient Jews were forced out of their land. Any bold face lie to try to get the world to side with them over Israel and the Jews. Even as a non-Jew I find this as insulting and degrading as all hell, I can't begin to imagine what it must feel like for the Jews themselves, then all the more so when this senseless, modern, world will buy into it, on top of it. But like everyone who supports the Palestinian side, you are only, seeing a fraction of the overall, picture. You know, you must know, this is a rather unique situation unlike almost, any other. You know, you must know the history of Jewish people all over the world, leading up to the events of the 1940s in Germany. You know that there have been know other race of human beings treated so badly, for so long, by so many people, in so many parts of the world. You know that, and that simply, cannot be overlooked in working out this issue, this problem today. I almost, despise the left right now, for so willingly, and so coldly, overlooking this extremely, important point. It truly, makes me question why they are like that. Then you need to take into consideration of WHO, CREATED, EVERYTHING, we see in Israel today. It was JEWS NOT MUSLIMS. Muslim came in and took over what the JEWS, had already established there. Jerusalem was created by JEWS. Bethlehem was created by JEWS. The Temple Mount, the MOST, Sacred Site in Judaism, was created by JEWS, OF COURSE! And those are only, the handful of things I'm aware of right now, I'm sure there are more. Modern Day Jews carry the LEGACY and SPIRIT, of their Ancient Jewish Forerunners, NOT MUSLIMS, my friend. Not Muslims. It is the Muslims who are the invaders, the occupiers and not the Jews, not by a long shot. Now, to the point of their being a genetic connection as well. Are modern day Jews GENETICALLY, CONNECTED, to the ancient Jews of Israel. I'm not an expert here for sure, and maybe there are people working on this, but I believe they are, and it is their religion and the length of history for any given, Jewish community, within the Diaspora, worldwide. The religion, of course, goes back to ancient Israel. How would they have it if not by descent from ancient Jews. Then we have to think about Jewish communities with the Diaspora, worldwide, who go back hundreds and hundreds of years, and who are able to trace their migration to still, older places closer to the Middle East, and then back to Jerusalem itself. There was one Jewish Community in Poland, if I remember correctly, which the Nazis annihilated, that actually, went back well over a 1000 years. Utterly destroyed. All the Jews there, slaughtered! Now honestly, where do you think they originated from if not from Ancient Israel, Judea, itself?! They have been dispersed all over the world for some 2000 years now, but I have no doubt, what-so-ever, that all of them are able to trace their ancient history back to Ancient Israel, and the Ancient Jews, millennia ago. How much more needs to be added to the narrative here, to convince everybody the Jews today, have more than a legitimate right to this ancient land. The ancient land of THEIR, forefathers. What?! Honestly, what? Long Live Israel. Peace In Israel. Victory For Israel. ❤🔥😔
Being raised in the Penecostal branch really fucked with my head growing up. Not getting the right feelings was met with, "Well are you doing all the things?" Joining the choir and eventually band, they were all, "Don't you feel his presence?" No I didn't. I prayed, studied, and volunteered, but for years I got nothing back. No joyous presence. No filling of the spirit. No feeling of belonging. I blamed myself for a long time. I thought I just wasn't believing enough. My doubts haunted me. I felt guilty for going through the motions. I felt like a fraud. I felt something like peace when I discovered the consistency, and tangibility of math and science. I'm an Atheist, and that has brought me more peace than any religion. I was in a group that claimed this being would be tangible and that never worked. If there is a god out there then they better prove themselves both indisputably real, and worthy of worship.
This channel is helping me so much. The technical explanations of the bible, the clarification of the lies. Part of what kept me in religion n woo was pure confusion. The insane logic(or lack thereof) drove me mad. As an intelligent person, I practiced truly crazy mental gymnastics to make it make sense. Of course it never did, it never could! But I thought, I was wrong, not the religion. That the devil gave me my thinking brain. I get to be smart again! (Well, I’m on my way back, lol.) But I love the incredible depth of knowledge this man has. Very impressive, n waaay helpful. Ty
At the bare minimum, according to the scriptures, prayers to cure cancer should work 100% of the time. Or at least, they should work 100% of the time on people who have YET to be saved. Which means that if you want to convert an atheist, you should pray to magically cure their cancer. 😀
I love your channel, thanks to you my religious trauma and my desconstruction has been less lonely. I tried my best to be the best christian ever (having gender dysphoria) and taking conversion therapy, my mental health has crumbled. Thank you sir, I appreciate you so much
This isn't related to the video but I think you'd find it funny. My brother sent me a video from instagram that explains higher powers pretty well. lol PERSON1: If Cthulhu can be summoned by humans which are so far beneath it, why can't humans be summoned by ants? The answer is, they should be. PERSON2: Well, if a bunch of ants formed a circle in my house I'd certainly notice. I'd try to figure out where they're all coming from and possibly reap destruction there. PERSON3: That's why knowing and correctly pronouncing the true name is so important to the ritual. Imagine how impossible it would be to not go take a look at the circle of ants chanting your name. And they're like, "You can't leave because we drew a line of tiny crystals. Now you have to do us a favor." And you're like, well let's just see where this goes. "Yup, you got me. What's the favor?" And usually the favor is like, "Kill this one ants for us" or "give me a pile of sugar" and you're like.... okay? And you do because, why not? It isn't hard for you and boy is this going to be a fucking story to tell. These fucking ants chanting your name and wanting a spoonful of sugar or whatever. And SOMETIMES you get asked for things you can't really do. One of them, she is like "I love this ant but she won't pay attention to me. Make me important to her." And you're like...ummm? How? So you just kill every ant in the colony except the two of them. TA-DA! Problem solved! And the first ant is like **horrified whisper** "What have I done?" 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I used to refer to many of these verses you lited for encouragement and edification when I was a Christian.I am glad I got to revue these with you as an atheist.I was gullible enough to believe these words and others like them.I was part of the health/wealth movement of the seventies, which is also been called the confession/possession movement.We were taught to "claim" scriptures like the ones you listed and to have faith i them in spite of what may be going on around us.Don't believe (be in denial of)the symptoms of a sickness and hold on to the promises of healing in the Bible instead.This belief system of belief was like Christian Science on steroids.This belief led to a lot of disappointment and depression for me.I'm so glad to be an atheist and to be finally be using my critical thinking.Thanks for sharing your unique take on the Bible, Brandon.I'm looking forward to your next video.Peace,
If Brandon ever forms a cult, I wanna join! (haha) Seriously, this is such good stuff! Objectively looking at the Bible is NOT condoned by those who believe it. (Best line in the whole video: 25:56 "This is not only a disgusting promise, it has nothing to do with you." Love it!)
Just like others mentioned, my depression and anxiety was horrible while i was a christian. I constantly thought about death while simultaneously fearing hell. I always wondered why god didn’t seem to bestow me with any blessings, i grew up a loner because of my black and white views, i hated my body while being confused about how god loves me as i am wonderfully and fearfully made, but also says im a horrible sinner that doesn’t even deserve him, but since he’s so gracious i get spared. But its like, i never asked to be born, hell I loved queen’s song bohemian rhapsody just because of the “sometimes i wish ive never been born at all” line. Also i used to mutilate my own body because i was so ashamed of being alive, then ashamed of being such a freak. To this day i struggle with self worth, although after leaving the faith it was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Ironic because i was always taught that id feel that with god, then why is it that away from god I finally feel some semblance of peace? My parents tell me im suffering because i’m not with god whenever i find life hard, but the truth is it’s them that absolutely destroys my mental health. Also, my dad based his fathering on the bible, so you can imagine how emotionally and verbally abusive my childhood was. I was told that i wasn’t needed by my own mortal father, and my heavenly father never gave me a sign that hes even there. Also funny, i have a testimonial as an atheist. When i tried to hang myself on my bedroom door, I prayed for god to send a sign, i NEEDED to know for sure he was real. I wanted, i begged, and as my consciousness was slipping i saw nothing, i heard nothing, just a dark quiet void. The only reason why im here today is because my dog scratched at my door. Sure, i was a coward for not hanging myself from the ceiling, and yes, i was afraid of dying. Who isn’t? Anyway my dog saved me that day and not god. My mom says that was god’s sign, but I disagree because i begged him to give me a sign that i could not doubt nor explain with anything else. But I guess i was testing god so I didn’t deserve it. If my dog wasn’t home that day i would have been dead at the age of 21, not too long after my birthday
Why would a loving & all-powerful GOD who wants everyone to get to Heaven; allow babys to be born that cannot speak, if a requirement to obtain Salvation is confessing some script??
Great video as usual Brandon. Your observations, insights, and commentary are extremely interesting and I wanted to thank you for the content you make. So glad your channel was recommended to me a few weeks ago.
@@MindShift-Brandon This was a good one as all of use have heard most of these verses uses to justify faith and to make excuses for when things didn't work out. . A reminder of why they should not be taken serious without analysis is good. Thank you. I am at a point in my life now to were all these verses just bounce off my b/s shield but many have not reached that point or the understanding of the weakness of the faith and the bible. A reminder of how we need to justify what we believe is very good.
Yeah, I always wondered why there are so many denominations and so many creeds if there was only one God, one Bible. You’d think Christians would have only one denomination. Kind of like God is teaching them different ways. Thank you, Brandon, I’ve learned so much with each video.
Brandon Thanks. Your knowledge of and insights into the bible are truly.... frightening. It is frightening to think how much time you must have devoted to its study. In your case I think that this time has not been wasted , as you are using that knowledge purposefully. How many , however, have spent an equal amount of time and are either still under the delusion that it is true, or else have come to realise that they have simply wasted huge amounts of their lives . Think of all that could have been achieved had all of that human effort not been wasted on one, bad book (well, a collection of bad books lumped together. These people could have been doctors, scientists, engineers , musicians .Whilst we're at it they could also have been expert fishermen .,..or carpenters. Had they put the same effort into any of these things. This would be bad enough if they had chosen to do so freely, as adults ( I'm not about scholars who choose to study the Bible....Bart Ehrman hasn't "wasted" his time studying the Bible😃) .In the vast majority of cases ,they did not. They were made to waste the most important developmental years of their lives,a time when their minds were at their most receptive, being force fed this ...lie. What makes it even sadder is that this was done by people who loved them. I am glad that you have found a way to use your knowledge to help others understand that it is better, albeit not easier, to seek truth in this life rather than futilely hoping for "reward" in a non-existent future one.Helping others is the best use any of us can make, of any knowledge we have gained in this world.
It is frightening.....how much time he wasted on a subject so ridiculous and hypocritical. He could have studied any other worldly subject and learned something useful yet he chose the Bible. How sad.
I appreciate this. Thank you. Just trying to find the silver lining of 30 years devoted to this god. Hopefully i can shorten just how long it takes others to get out.
When i was a christian I thought when he said " this generation will not pass away" before all that takes place - I thought he was referring to the generation that saw Israel become a nation again. Obviously its been over 40 years for that too. Then we are told that the Lord is tarrying hoping more will be saved. There is always an excuse for God not keeping promises. We give God many more breaks and excuses than we will ever give another human. If we continually break our promises we are just called a liar.
Oh yeah. One of the problems I have with religion is when people tell me that I need to do a certain thing or I'm not going to be saved. But when I point out that other people have told me differently, they say that those people were wrong and they are right. Then I tell them that those other people said the same thing, and they just doubled down. If every claimant has no way to prove that their method is the correct one, why should I listen to ANY of them?
You need Holy Spirit and you're set for eternity. We receive Holy Spirit when we believe. Here are all the verses concerning this: Romans 8:9, Ephesians 1:11-14, Galatians 3:1-5, John 14:16, Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:22
Notice how none of these people or their holy books ever seem to have a simple test you can do to determine whether you're on the right track. Well, actually, the Bible does say that if a prophet says something will happen and it doesn't that he's a false prophet and you shouldn't listen to him, but then when Jesus or Paul say something that doesn't come true we forget all about that.
@@Uryvichk 2 Corinthians 13:5 is the test. Christians have Christ in them, the Noble Holy Spirit in them and should examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. I did and a person who heard from God who had made a prophecy about me that came true said I had Holy Spirit HalleluYah!
Love the work you are doing here, Brandon! I'm currently reading the entirety of Paradise Lost, and I thought that you would really enjoy looking at this epic poem through the perspective of someone who has gone through the painful process of deconversion. When I first read the first book of Paradise Lost, I unintentionally began to view Satan as a misunderstood hero-and I'm not the only one who has felt this way; there are many who resonate with the experiences of Milton's Satan. I hope you get the chance to check it out :)
@@sundayoliver3147 I think a lot of current readers, including myself, look back and see the antiquated nature of the early modern period. Definitely an ick. All the more reason to read it today, to understand societies of the past and the importance of progress.
I always enjoy your commentaries. While I was a Christian I never really paid attention to any so-called promises in the Bible. I guess I was never a true Christian.
Another great listen! I look back and see how selective and complicated it was for the Clergy to keep the New Testament sounding coherent, and now I wonder why they went to all of that trouble. Thanks again
14:00 Yeah, ever read _Of Human Bondage_ by W. Somerset Maugham? The protagonist prays for his club foot to be healed, and of course it doesn't happen (he's a kid, and really believed). I did the same as a team for acne. I wanted a clear complexion, what teen doesn't? Didn't happen....sadly, I remained a Christian for another ~ 30 years. Perhaps this is a strong wedge to use in helping people overcome their presups, reminding them of all the things God dropped the ball on and asking why.
@@Non-religiou So you want to exclude people the way fundamentalists do? Because they don't meet the requirements you think they should, according to your beliefs?
"But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town." Luke 10:10-12
Congratulations, you are my new favorite RUclips-Atheist. This platform sorely needs atheists like you because all the old ones have either lost interest in the subject, are simply going through the motions of repeating their established rhetoric or simply don't have enough knowledge about religion to talk about it beyond a certain depth. Christian apologetics meanwhile have become more sophisticated, having adjusted and evolved to address the "canon" of atheist arguments which has established itself in the last 16 years. You have already made some videos refuting Mike Winger and I would like to see more of those, directed either at him or apologists like him because he does a good job refuting many atheist critiques of the Bible I, until recently, have thought slam-dunk arguments against it. At the very least he shows there is enough room for alternate interpretation and perspective that the atheist will have to do a lot more serious study in order to prove the atheist interpretation is the correct one. If I could make any other requests, I would like you to analyse and deconstruct the works of the 19th century russian author Dostoevsky. Ever since Jordan Peterson mentioned him, it seems to me that he's become a favorite author/intellectual for conservatives to name-drop. If you don't know him, his major works are "Crime and Punishment", "The Idiot", "Notes from Underground", "Demons" and "The Brothers Karamazov". His major theme is that without God both society and the individual self-destructs and that atheist "intellectuals" in particular, after they're done using their precious intellect to prove God does not exist, either become self-interested scumbags or inert nobodies who pathologically rationalize their way out of ever doing or being anything. These are not exactly ground-breaking arguments, in fact they are the most basic arguments against atheism out there. Yet I haven't seen an atheist directly confronting them yet. Maybe you have in one of your many videos and I simply haven't seen it yet. But if you addressed them in the context of a deconstruction of Dostoevsky you would seriously help out the atheist cause because he represents both the most simple and yet high-level critique of Atheism out there.
Wow. What an incredibly kind and thoughtful comment. Thank you very much. You will be glad to know my old channel was a booktube channel. I have read all of Dostoevsky and love him dearly despite his critiques. I think a video including his philosophy would be a great idea. In the meantime i have one video that addresses some of this. just search mindshift nihilism.
Hmmm, sounds like Dostoevsky and Peterson invoking him are 1000% correct. Prophetic, even---> modern society has inadvertently vindicated Dostoevsky to a Tee...
I grew up Christian. Started off in an independent, Pentecostal-like church, then went Lutheran, then finally Baptist. I never heard it suggested that the name you used for God would have any effect on your prayers. That's an interesting concept to me. (Also sounds suspiciously polytheistic...)
@@eugeneoisten9409 "trinity god's ..big deal in Rome and Egypt" OK, why should I care? Roman or Egyptian fake gods are no more powerful or useful to me than a Hebrew fake god(s). Well Roman and Egyptian gods are for less dangerous today than Hebrew gods because few if any believe in them and try to harm others on their behalf or claim they are on their side in war or hate. A god's power only exist because people believe they have power. Believers invent ways to convince themselves that the say god (s) are real.
@TheZeroNeonix Because the Abrahamic religions all have the same defining attribute of only worshipping...ONE God...🙄 Ergo, to call yourself a Christian, you believe there is ...ONLY ONE God...duh!!!
Welcome, all. Thanks for being here for this one!
Happy Sunday! Looking forward to the listen. I love these Sunday morning atheist sermons.❤
Thank you! Yes need to find a good term for that!
I never said i believed in it. It was a poster my mom had growing up and you talk to me about this same thing every single video. Trust me your opinion has been heard.
Welcome all to the era where God has revealed His chosen unworthy servant. It's me who is less than nothing! 😂 I'm the chosen servant! Receive the Holy Spirit and you're guaranteed to go to paradise together with God amen!
@@ready1fire1aim1
Inside the realm of Holy Spirit is constant victory ✌️
The road out of Christianity is paved with read bibles.
💯💯💯
😂
W quote
No, the problem is that people are just interpreting the Bible themselves instead of relying upon the teaching authority of the Catholic Church.
@@juliabriggs1141Who claims to have all of the correct interpretations. But... If the word itself is the word of god and you can read it, why do you need man?
Those Christians who say that "god works in mysterious ways" are the exact same people who are quick to tell you what god is thinking, what god means, what god wants, and so on, as if he's suddenly not all that myserious.
Yes 100%!
This part is everything
What a great insight! Thanks!
@@MindShift-Brandonyou have amazing content for Christians who need to come out of the literal/slave/controlled paradigm but have you looked at any esoteric, alchemical or symbolic interpretations such as Carl Jungs work? On a side note everyone, the Bible has no historical content, names, events etc at all. Good luck everyone!
It's kind of how George Bush Jr Said "God" told him to go to war
I can’t see how a loving God lets a child who loves him lie awake at night scared to death of being damned.
def me as a child
As a Christian, I felt more depressed and anxious than I had ever been. Always worrying about my sin, preaching the gospel, whether I was doing enough or if I was really saved. Such a heavy burden has been taken off since my deconversion, something Jesus had promised he would do.
These promises are just thrown at us like magic charms to chant and make us feel better, but I always noticed problems with them before. Thanks for your channel and another good video Brandon.
Yes! The actual peace from not having to make excuses any longer for a god that wasnt there is real. Thank you!
I feel like I’ve been cured after deconstruction.
Keeping you depressed and anxious about sin is part of the propaganda ot keep you coming to Church.
@@Cuffsmaster exactly. Can't even glance at a pretty girl the wrong way or have a certain thought without having the threat of eternal fire torture looming over your head.
"as a christian" and "always worrying about my sin" are two things that should never go hand in hand,
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
he paid our sin debt, his holy spirit keeps our soul from being "defiled" while our flesh will sin till the day we die, it is the holy spirit that separates/cuts off the deeds of the flesh by the blood of christ so that when we die this corrupted flesh will not stay attached to our soul but will shed off so that God only see's our true self by what Christ has done, he gave his life so that we may live
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: [12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
circumcision = cutting off/ God has separated the ("body" of sins) FROM "our soul" via the Circumcision of Christ aka what Christ did on the cross, he has "nailed" our sins to the cross so that it is no longer attached to our debt, thus we no longer have to "worry about our sins" when it comes to if we're doing right by God, God no longer looks at our sin debt, he see's that we've trusted in Christ, thus we are pure, not by our works but by the works of Christ on the cross, i hope you understand what it Truly means to trust that he paid our debt.
btw the Holy spirit is fire that consumes our sins, so while our flesh may be defiled our soul stays pure via the holy spirit which resides within those who have trusted in Christ to pay their sin debt. this is how we can KNOW WE ARE SAVED, no more guessing
I remember growing up in the Catholic Church in the 50s and 60s; missing Sunday Mass was a mortal sin, and if you died without confessing this, you would go to hell. I can’t even imagine telling this to a child at the age of six. I had a Missal, in which there were prayers that would grant you 365 days indulgence- meaning a year off of your purgatory sentence. I would madly say these prayers over and over again. We were constantly told how unworthy we were of his love, and to be honest, I was too fearful to consider that it was all myth. That fear followed me for over sixty years, and now, at the ripe old age of 70, I am finally free of the guilt, the fear and the shame.
So glad you are free!
Sounds alot like JWs .You was never ever good enough and if you had evil thoughts you would die at the end of days 😂
Fellow ex-Catholic here too. The Catholic guilt is strong - all the best to you.
A lot of people also don't realize that these teachings haven't changed, they're just de-emphasized. For example, according to the Catechism, masturbation is a mortal sin ("grave matter"). Therefore, deserving of and will result in eternal damnation. I couldn't conscience the silliness of that eventually.
@@karenmoody2763 Sounds like the intellectual "liberal' Christianity of the Protestant church I grew up in. They're all based on the foundation story of Eden: that we're wrong, we're born wrong, if we work very very hard we might be able to get right enough not to be eternally tortured -- but probably we'll never really make the grade.
Damn, I cannot thank my dad enough for allowing me to dodge the bullet of childhood indoctrination. My early childhood was pretty religion-free but when I was 12 my parents got divorced and my mother converted to JW. At first she got custody, but I wasn't going along with the program. I eventually became violently opposed to it so much that by 13 I was allowed to live with my dad. I consider the year of attempted brainwashing as my 'dark ages'. I still wondered if I was wrong and everyone around me was right, so I searched very hard to find out if Christianity was real. I'm 52 years old and I'm still coming up bumpkis...
Dodged the bullet indeed. I cant even imagine a childhood free of this nonsense.
No need to let yourself feel pain from the wrong messages delivered to you as a child by well meaning but wrong people. You are not alone
JW are actually a cult. It's pretty bad, so yeah, you dodged a bullet. Good for you for being able to stand up for yourself. You are really lucky you didn't grow up in that cult.
@@MindShift-Brandon That's sad. I believe childhood indoctrination is akin to child abuse.
Be glad you got away from that cult, I was born in always at a young age knew something was wrong with that religion .Left at age of 17 ,lost my family and friends being they shun all that aren't in the same religion but I'm good now .
Jesus saying he would return before the generation of his time died away is like a dad saying he's going out to get milk when he's actually going to be gone for 10 years.
Makes those dads look like heroes
@rboland2173 Sure. That is reasonable. At least he wouldn't have said that you wouldn't taste death until he comes back.
You’re misconstruing the verse wrongly that’s why.
How am I? Jesus explicitly said that "this generation will not pass away until all things have come to pass." Are any of the disciples still alive and had not tasted death as it is stated?
Or 2,000 years...and counting...a long time to be shopping for milk.
I’m glad after my deconversion, that I have a thing to still listen to around 10-11 am in the morning on sundays, but instead of it being hatred it is much more inspiring and a better listen for my brain overall
Thats very kind. Glad to be able to provide an alternative. Thanks!
@@MindShift-Brandonyou are so important to us.
Thank you very much
I would listen but it's being drowned out by 2 sets of church bells.😅
@davidbudge8359 lol!
Speaking of a deity protecting its faithful, whenever I hear a religious person telling me that the reason we have these school shootings is because we've kicked God out of our schools.
I always have to ask, "why does your deity not protect children from being molested in his own house and place of worship?..."
Right!!! Excellent point
It is very awkward when school shootings happen at a Christian school and they try that.
I remember all the promises God said he'd deliver. The constant asking, to a deaf ear. I worked the church projector atban old church of mine. I remember the services would feed my depression, because it looked like God was fufilling everyone elses promises, when all I asked was to hear back. Then I started doubting. Then I found channel's like these. They said it wasn't logical to believe this, and gave reasoning so much more concrete. You guys do amazing work, keep it up. You are helping change lives.
Appreciate that!
God doesn't heal the sick at least all sickness god first get us jobs housing medical ins. Or anything except hope thdt our burdens will be rirvrd after our passing from earth
@@user-qb2th1ck8r so god takes credit for the stuff we do ourselves? Also the Bible says that God is supposed to give hope as well.
@@user-qb2th1ck8r the fact that God allegedly raised a guy from the dead, but cant give a near suicidal person hope is astonishing
@@user-qb2th1ck8r so what you're saying is there's no way for us to distinguish between a world created and guided by God and a godless world.
The community who respected my Mom as an overworked elementary school teacher and deeply devoted church lady, had no idea what she was like when alone at home with me and my brother who were then defenseless small kids. She'd found us wanting on the blind acceptance of her faith, and if not for the fact that we were in her way, she would have spent every waking minute on church business and her job. She terrified us with her belt-wielding blind rages, which she much later denied ever doing. It had been her habit to stay hours late after school, so when she came home exhausted and fed up, we were in suspense that beatings could follow, and came to know that our fear satisfied her. That's how she broke the child/parent bond, and we outright rejected following her faith. Brandon, you are a comfort!
Unfortunately its an all to common story. I am so sorry to hear about this
@@MindShift-Brandon I feel like you're an ally, and am loving your videos!
I used to feel personally offended when told by a fellow Christian: "You are not a real Christian". Now, I smile, They are as ignorant as everyone else. They have no idea. I am no better, or worse than them. They are no better or worse than I.
Indeed, we are all sinners, the only difference between a believer and a non-believer is one has accepted the death payment of Christ to pay for their sin debt and the other has not and will pay their sin debt themselves, one has accepted what Christ has done for them and the other hasn’t, simple as that, we’re all in the same boat, we’re all enslaved to sin, one has just chosen Life by he who is Life aka Jesus Christ
@@japexican007 Wrong. We are not all sinners. The difference between Christians and non-Christians is this concept of being born of sin. The debt sin requires payment in blood. Only an innocent man can fit the bill. What a bizarre concept this seems to other faiths. No wonder we are thought of as Bloody-drinking, Flesh-eating, Virgin killers. Be careful how you justify this. Not all faiths require a human sacrifice as a foundation for their religion. I worry that you and I are more likely to think ourselves better that others. If good people, like you believe you have been saved, where others have not, then are you honestly a good person? If Christians can not agree on this basic issue, then why do we expected to be taken seriously? I love my Bacon Butties. My local is the centre of my community. Our Vicar joins us in Ruggers and dresses up for Samhain Parties. I reject Puritanism and all that it demands. I love Christmas too much to be a Puritan.
@@tomsenior7405 “we’re not all sinners says they sinner, born in sin and continual sin are two different things, regardless of Adam and Eve you still sin even if you deny such a truth which is why you reject God, pray tell what makes you without sin? Why are you holy you probably get mad at Christian’s for claiming God exists, that’s a sin already, you lie : a sin, you cheat : sin, you’ve stolen : sin, you lust after women : sin, at least be an honest sinner, even when you claim to not be a sinner you’re already sinning for spreading such lies
@@japexican007 From a small bundle of kindling, such an inferno is made. Now you claim that I reject God. How dare you. You are exactly the beast of which I speak. Be gone you evil thing. For all the good you have done sitting there, In the name of God go!
@@tomsenior7405 Do you deny you're a sinner, douchebag? You are.
Once again, truth and common sense along with reasoning manage to blow the paper battleship called the bible right out of the water.
Ha. Love that. And appreciate that.
💯💯💯👏👏👏 Love your comment 👍
I know that's right. I read parts of the Bible and was like what the fuck is this!
God wants everyone to come to repentance.
Knowingly creates a world where most won’t.
Exactly
I literally feel relief after deconverting. I can finally let go of the stress and confusion of racking my brain, trying to make the Bible fit observation.
Yes! I know the feeling
I am so happy for you!
We Christians also feel relieved by your desertion -- truly a win-win!
@@20july1944keep coping, pathetic Neanderthal. People are leaving your cult by the masses. Because nobody is buying your primitive Bronze Age fairy tales anymore.
@@20july1944 So nice of you! The real Christian spirit: exclusion.
I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that gods deals never add up. "Ask and yee shall recieve" is more like beg me because i like hearing it more than one might think and MAYBE , key word, I'll throw some scraps your way once in a while. Now i do my very best to provide for myself and take care of myself despite the gas lighting i get from my loving religious relitives every day.
My parents were big on the idea of God having a particular spouse picked out for me, a particular college he wanted me to go to, a particular car he wanted me to purchase, etc. Mostly they used this to control me (big surprise), but I remember being in my mid-20's and finally realizing how absurd this was. People marry "the wrong person" all the time. What would happen if my "right person" married the wrong person. Or what if I married the wrong person, now I've ruined the life of my "right person", as well as the life of the person I married, as well as the life of the person who was supposed to marry the person I married. It gets messy really fast!
I challenged my parents with this hypothetical, and they just said that if I was faithful to God and careful to follow his will, he would make sure that didn't happen. Talk about main character syndrome! XD
On a funny side note: You CAN argue with these people that "You NEVER believed in Santa." since: if they stopped believing, that means they never TRULY believed Santa was real. According to their own reasoning.
I don’t know if one truly believed or not, only God knows, I do question however how one goes to accepting the free gift of life by Jesus Christ’s death payment to rejecting his free gift, I’m not talking about going to church or doing x,y,z work I’m talking about the gospel, how does a believer who believes we are “saved” aka were going to heaven and have been given eternal life by accepting what Jesus cross did for us (he took our sin debt and paid it in full on the cross so that by what he did we may reconcile ourselves to God) how does someone come to accepts this freely through no act of their own and then do a 180? How do you come to reject something that never had anything to do with what you do or how many sins you have, only by trusting his finished works, what leads you to change your mind, not about the “church indoctrination” aka building rituals but by merely what he did for you, the other stuff is meaningless if you never did the first thing aka place your trust in what he’s done for you to be with him
I think if you watch enough of Brandon's videos, or other Atheist RUclipsrs you will understand.
@@japexican007there are many videos that explain the path to atheism. It is different for everyone. But it many times starts with reading the holy book of your church and asking questions on things that don't appear to make sense. Then disbelief in the holy book. Then disbelief in all holy books. The passages and things that don't make sense are different for different people. I do know that this gift you talk about, once you said it was life and then you said it was heaven, isn't any different than anything else in the Bible. It is a claim that eventually doesn't look like a true thing. But if you really are interested and want to know, watch or listen to a bunch of people's stories about deconstruction. It is too long of a story to answer in a comment section with any details.
First I believed. Then some things didn't seem true. Then it all appeared to not be true.
according to your own words you're no different than the many atheists who claim truth, sadly as many atheists that have deconverted are there many more who begin in atheism and end up finding God aka the truth, good luck with your non-belief@@kirielbranson4843
@@kirielbranson4843 So are you an atheist?
I absolutely love your content, Brandon. It's like you stepped into my brain and pulled out every single problem I had with Christianity. You're a breath of fresh air and wisdom. Thanks for the work you're doing.
Wow. Right before your video there was an ad by the LDS. Always find such ads amusing.
This is the most disgusting thing about relligiouse people - the things they say to you after you have lost a loved one - 💔🥶🤮😭😭😭
They don't even feel the stuff they say, how psychopathic that stuff is.
When the 18 year old kid died (that I mentioned a few months ago), people used the "god works all things for good" verse and it did not help.
Also, god promising never to flood the whole world again (probably one of god's most famous promises) is awfully convenient because there isn't enough water on earth to flood it all at the same time.
Its sickening how people use the bible. And yes great point on the flood
One guy told me once that the center of the Earth is filled with water and god opened a hole in the Earth and flooded the surface. Well ok, but how do you get the rabbit back in the hole.
@@Cuffsmaster That is very silly
@@DannyS177 You look so sad in your avatar, Danny -- I always want to cry for you! Boo hoo hoo
@@20july1944 Ha Ha Ha Ha 🤣
1. You are misinterpreting my picture. I am simply looking down at my camera.
2. You are demonstrating the saying "There is no hate like Christian 'love'."
I’m reminded of the old hymn we used to sing in church when I was a kid; “Standing on the Promises”. Christians, you’re standing on shaky ground.
One thing that's always bothered me is that the all powerful creator of the universe is never responsible for anything.
Right?!
Wait what does that even mean? Responsible for the stuff inside or outside like creating the universe?
I'm amazed that this channel hasn't blown up. It hits home for me and so many other people I know.
Thats very kind. Thank you and i am glad to hear so
Do you not understand how power works?
Do you not know that Christianity was built to spread the torah, an the end goal is world dominion, ran by A.I. with noahide slaves to do the physical stuff that ai can't?
Do you not recognize the same script writers are literally in control of every avenue of power and influence?
They only censor and shadow ban that which threatens them. The "chosen" lose their power and death grip if Christianity ceases to exist. The need to keep it alive enough to change it into Noahide compliant
I know you just said this in passing, but I also was about 8 or 9 years old when I prayed to god to save me because I was terrified of going to hell!
Its so ridiculous that any kid should have to do with these insane fears
"8 or 9 prayed to be saved"
Been there and done that. Looking back on it I see it as a form of Child abuse.
Don't worry, Guy -- you're not saved!
@@20july1944 Yeah no fake magic being can save anything if it does not exist to start with.
@@Cuffsmaster A meaningless statement on your part. Eat it.
Chocolate Easter Bunnies are hollow, to represent god’s promises. 🤣
And if you take them in, later on they turn into poop. 💩
Guy robs a bank, gets saved that night, goes to heaven.
Guy kills 10 people, gets reborn, goes to heaven.
Another guy helps others all his life, gives up his possessions to help people, goes straight to hell because he never said he believed on Jesus.
The Bible is a horrendous book that has rotted the brains of billions of people, all of whom were duped into believing the insane nonsense in the Bible.
GOD gives every person a chance to be with him for all eternity by believing on his Son and desire to be with him if a person chooses not to believe than GOD has no choice than to separate him from eternity with him in the new heaven and new earth unfortunately that place is a dark place void of his light
@@user-ym1kp5np8k Have you read the Bible? That god is a serial mass murderer that loves genocide, racism, misogyny, slavery, rape, torture, animal sacrifices, incest, infanticide, child rape & human sacrifices. That entire cult is built on human sacrifices. Have you ever wondered why an all knowing, all powerful entity can create all the complexities of the universe but only able to resolve issues by murdering people? Have you ever questioned that book? Have you ever searched for truth and evidence?
I was Christian but then I read the Bible. And read it again. It’s obvious anyone reading that book is infinitely more moral than the psychopathic god described in its pages.
@@user-ym1kp5np8k That strikes me as a very small and spiteful god.
I don't consider myself an Atheist, but I have my own experience to talk about. Every since I was a child, my mother took me to the church. At first, it was no big deal, but when I turned 12, I started not wanting to go anymore, and she forced me to go until I was 16. Nowadays she tells me that I changed a lot, that I wasn't acting the way she raised me, that I was irrecognizable. I simply can't take this anymore, to the point I simply have become apathetic to everything she tells me, and the more she preaches to me, the more I start to ask questions, and her reactions are predictible as hell: extremely aggressive. Dude, I'm just 22 years old and have already distanced myself from the church because I was forced to attend every Sunday, but now, I'm starting to question the validity of these claims. I feel like with your videos, I dodged a bullet, but my mother still seems to blame me for everything.
I love this way of dissecting old world views. Great job Brandon.
Thank you!
No better way to start my Sunday than listening to a knee mindshift episode
Thanks so much, Chris!
Hey Brandon, I’m really glad you made this list. Whenever people ask me why I left faith, I often reply with the divine hiddenness argument. But that often is just dismissed as me not emotionally feeling something, and not having the faith to push through my emotions. So when you have a list of promises, it adds to this divine hiddenness to where now I call it the problem of unmet expectations.
Yes theres so much ammo and proof for why this god either doesnt exist or is not a good god if he does
Divine hiddenness is one of my favorite arguments for sure. But I think my all time favorite, is that the bible is wrong. Yes, as a label it's very broad and imprecise, but the bible is broadly wrong in many ways.
If I look at the bible, and look at reality, they don't match. It may not be terribly effective at convincing others, since there's a lot of work establishing and demonstrating where and how it's wrong, but at it's root, that's why I'm not a Christian.
And while it can be claimed that this has a heavy burden of proof, I could also say that the apologists hold a heavy burden of proof to convince me that the bible is true. Especially given how often Christians argue with each other what the bible really says.
Perhaps there can be a case to be made that God exists, and the bible is flawed. But since Christianity is founded on the bible rather than God, I can't say I want to participate in a form of Christianity that has little assurance that any of it is true.
I have seen cases presented of versions of Christianity (arguably labeled so), that I might get behind. Except that they are sufficiently removed from the bible, that not only do I hesitate to call them Christianity, but it feels like things are made up as needed.
Sure we can glean wisdom from the great theological thinkers, but I don't see the need to do so religiously (in all senses).
I also don't have the faith to push past all the problems, and frankly I'm glad of that. I prefer to base decisions based on reason, where possible.
@@stevewebber707 Your comment puts into words multiple ideas that have been floating about my head for months, and I sincerely appreciate it.
I've always felt like the only people who were doing Christianity "right" were the ones who were taking the bible literally, at face value (and ending up as horrible people as a result), and the nicer sects and churches were the ones who let their morality guide them to not focus too hard on those horrible parts, but failed to realize that it meant they fundamentally disagreed with the divine word of their god. You put it so eloquently. Christianity is founded on the Bible first and foremost. That's what makes it distinct from Islam and anything else that proposes a singular god. So to distance yourself from the bible while still devotedly following its god seems bizarre and nonsensical to me.
This mentality also features heavily into why I don't believe. When the foundation of your beliefs is provably, factually inaccurate, the way the bible is on so many of its points, major and minor (mostly the major ones, tbh), then you have a problem. This is also my answer when asked what I'd say to God after I died and he's about to throw me into hell. I'd ask him "why was your inspired word so blatantly incorrect? Why does almost every avenue of exploration into the nature of our world reveal more flaws in your perfect book? Why is it reasonable to expect me to outright deny reality, and to punish me if I do not?" No human has ever given an acceptable answer to any of these questions, and that's certainly not for lack of trying. So many people clamor to justify it any way they can, and I watch them fall over themselves and I just feel sad for them. I just want to save them from this horrible idea-prison they were locked up in.
....Great, I made myself feel bad.
@@riluna3695 Thank you for the very personal; response.
I'm not quite so pessimistic about the thought prisons for Christians though. Not that that couldn't happen. But I suspect it would be more because of lazy thinkers than the inherent bible qualities.
The bible is so complex, and in my opinion ambiguous, that manufacturing a simple simple and satisfying "thought prison", is actually a significant challenge.
I would heartily agree that the religion can easily result in thought stopping resolutions though. But again, the process of getting there would probably take either simplistic thought processes that tend not to stand much scrutiny, or convoluted mental gymnastics to attempt justifications.
Either way, either there wasn't much thought to trap from the beginning, or a great deal of thought happened.
One other comfort I have, is that to interpret the bible, requires external ideas and wisdom that I don't believe is in the bible.
Most Christian bible interpretations are in my opinion, heavily informed by personal beliefs and relevant culture. There are just too many examples of Christian claims and beliefs that are either not in the bible, or are ambiguous at best.
Positions on slavery and abortion, are two subjects off the top of my head demonstrating such.
So to some degree, personal thought and ideals have to go into the process.
I think what I see as a very dangerous intellectually dangerous issue, is a somewhat common granting of excessive authority to some preacher. Something I've seen more often in more conservative churches.
But this again is not entirely the bibles fault. More like an issue with religion, and it's potential to be misused by unscrupulous leaders.
Though Christianity and the bible arguably does encourage granting some major authority, so I suppose some fault can be found there.
Complicated issues to ponder.
@@stevewebber707 Yeah, it was the "convoluted mental gymnastics" side of thought-prisons I was referring to. That desperate need to fend off any threats to the idea any way you can, even if you have to throw out things you'd never accept in a casual friendly discussion of the topic with another Christian.
Just a blanket piece of advice to anyone reading: If you have a thought-stopping technique anywhere within your intellectual framework, that is a major red flag and you need to look into it ASAP. That is all.
It really resonated with me when you were talking about how all the Christian sects can't even agree on what one needs to do to be saved. Surely God wouldn't make this central point so confusing!
God sure does a lot a remembering for an omniscient being.
Ha! Sure does
God will forget our sins, except of course God is incapable of forgetting, so he will just politely pretend like he doesn't know we did those things. But he still knows. And oh boy is he thinking about them.
Another great video. I wish people promoting Christianity to Christians would teach them about intelligently reading their Bible and identifying who is speaking and who they are speaking to and what the context is. That clears up a lot of these false promises, as you said.
The Ultimate Promise is also the Ultimate threat:
Love me with never ending loyalty and worship and anything goes up to and including murder. All you gotta do is get born again and get “saved” and bam, you get to go to the eternal theme park. But, if you ever want evidence or proof or question any of my really bad decisions or just happen to be born in the wrong time or place of the world or in history and don’t accept me as your overlord, he will send you to your eternal torment in hell.
The Abrahamic God and Emperor Palpatine should really get together and go bowling sometime. They seem to have a lot in common….
Just a glimpse at what has happened in Israel and Palestine makes one ask - what has the Abrahamic god done for those poor folks?
This is such a good channel. You express so well the finer points which apologists gloss over.
Appreciate that!
All these motivational verses has triggered an operant conditioning response in me to sing hymns from my childhood. Right now from "Redeemer of Israel,"
"Restore my dear Savior the light of thy face. Its soul healing power impart, And let the sweet longing for thy holy place Bring hope to my desolate heart."
Intellectually, the words are hollow, but the poetry, the nostalgia, and the early training still carry an emotional punch.
It gets in deep
This is where I’m standing on my deconstruction/deconversion path. I don’t have a physical out for now. But as someone who plays drums, piano, and sings for the church I go to, it’s so easy to “get in that groove.”
As a childhood musician, music is one of the most powerful tools people can use for good and bad. Even when I logically don’t believe the words being sung, the theory and composition and arrangements are made so you can’t help but feel.
I think that’s why people believe so easily…because of what they feel. It’s neurological, psychological.
"Operant Conditioned response"
Some of the Christian music is good because it reinforces what we want to believe. I can still hear Elvis sing "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and get emotional just from his performance. This happens not because I believe what he is singing will actually happen at death. I know the foundation is false but damn he did a great job singing it.
Part of the programing for most faith involve music and convincing those hearing the song that it represents truth. You can still feel those old feeling even after you leave the faith. Music is about feelings and by-passing the use of logic in many cases.
I can also hear "Amazing Grace" and still remember and feel the writer's conversion from a Captain of a slaveship to someone actively opposing slavery in England. It's a great story. But the part of the song about singing gods praises for 10 000 years just sounds boring and maybe frighting as hell. After a few hundred years of that and you'd be begging god to send you to hell.
As you know, songs reinforce many aspects of life including patriotism to a cause or Nation. love and faith.
When I hear the Righteous Brothers sing "Unchained Melody" it takes me back to the Vietnam era and all the guys overseas longing for wives and girlfriends. It gives me a unique feeling however I look at it with reality and hindsight. This song still draws out emotion in people.
Almost every Nation has a National Anthem that invokes emotion and to a high level during times of crisis. It becomes more than a song when people get upset with someone takes a knee when it is played at a sporting event. That, in a way is like a religious song.
Songs are intended to bring out human emotions and cause physical changes like relaxation or we would pay no attention to them at all. We are programed to react to music and I think this happened thought evolution as a part of civilization development. Songs help bind people and beliefs.
I often analysis why I react to a song of some type. Think about all the different types of songs you react to in your life and what response it cases.
Here I am, long winded again.
@@Cuffsmaster I needed to read this, just to understand I’m not alone and there’s a name to (one of) my struggles. Music is beautiful…yet when it becomes part of something I’m at odds with, it feels like a weapon or a dagger. As a worship leader, the dagger enlarges to a spear.
Makes me wonder if there’s vocal music out there that’s not about “God,” or even current hits constantly talking about sex, drinking, partying or drugs. I just want to experience music that can help…
@@trythelight8319 "makes me wonder if there is music not about god .. sex - drinking - parting - drugs"
Oh man I am not good at offering musical advice at all.
Louis Armstrong "its a wonderful world" is where I'd start.
People write about life and how they live life so many things will be covered but I know what you are talking about. Therefore sex and drinking will be talked about.
John Prine wrote simple songs about life. He was a look in the mirror at ourselves. His song "Sam Stone" is heart wrenching to us old vets but was so truthful. It was about the struggle of addiction in vets.
Bob Dillon challenged us and confronted up with social injustice.
John Denver wrote of beauty all the time. The beauty of love and nature.
Yeah I am AGING myself badly..
I admit I know little about modern music as it does not interest me so I am no help in that area. Hey I am an old fart,,,
But if you want to feel good about the world, "Lous Armstrong "it's a wonderful world"
I am sorry I am of no real help here. I often travel in my car with the radio off and the windows down hearing the sounds of the road and nature and feeling the air as I take in smells.
The way you carry yourself is very respectable. I have tried to show atheistic RUclips videos to my Dad who will be instantly put off with the stereotypical "angry atheist". However your videos are well thought out, methodical and consistent in using the scriptures to expose the scriptures.
Appreciate that. I do (mostly) aim to be able to be heard by believers and especially those on the fence but sometimes, i too, can have a backfire effect im sure.
Using scripture to expose scripture. Huh? The devil talks with a split tongue. He tells the truth and a lie at the same time. This guy is a devil. The devil knows the Bible better than anyone! This guy needs to repent for leading people to damnation and misleading those who are trying to understand the word. I pray this guy stops this false teaching seriously.
They used to refer to that as "Dying in your sins!" We were all terrified that we might inadvertently "die in our sins-" because we KNEW what THAT meant! That "desires of your heart" line was thrown at me during a time when a man I loved dumped me for another woman. He ended up MARRYING her 2 years later. (Maybe the desires of HER heart were more important ot God than mine were)
I hear a lot that so long as you accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, you'll be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. I'll ask, so Jeffrey Dahmer is going to heaven, and his victims are going to hell? The conversation almost always ends there.
The road to atheism is paved with fully read and understood Bibles.
Ha! Indeed!
Mark Twain: “The best cure for Christianity is reading the Bible."
"He shall wipe away every tear....."
What if someone is crying because they know there are people out there being denied a proper death and instead being forced to exist in a torture chamber for perpetuity? If Jesus really wanted to wipe away tears, he could find the guy who made the torture chamber and deal with hi - ooooooohhhhh.
This video hit something deep... I used to pray with my grandad everyday growing up. As soon as you said those different names that we attribute to God, I almost started to cry. It reminded me of my relationship with him when I was a believer and how he doesn't even acknowledge me as an atheist now. These names are the main things I pointed out to him. God did nothing for me, is what I said. I told him that all those prayers sent to him were meaningless and empty in retrospect and if a god does exist, he doesn't deserve these titles
You are braver than I. I never openly confronted my Mother or Grandparents about their faith and my rejection of it. They have passed and I have told the remaining members of the family. . I just never saw the need to hurt mom's feelings.
The preacher at mom's church knew I was an atheist and asked me if it was ok if he came to visit my mom as she was living with me in her final years. I said ok but remember it is her faith not mine.
@@Cuffsmaster the worst part of it for me was that my grandfather IS the pastor and I was living with him and my grandma at the time. They started talking about hell and I started to ask questions. That's when everything started to unravel. It seemed as if my grandpa knew exactly what to say to get me to unpack what I was feeling. But he ultimately got angry with me, but it was only temporary and came to the conclusion that I'm not really an atheist and that it's just a phase. My grandma, on the other hand, seemed to be a lot more sympathetic towards my state of mind at the time.
@@MLamar0612 I don't know his sect of the faith by many believe that once you are saved you are always saved no matter what. If that is the case he may be leaning on that belief. That is the case with my family.
What I was talked into as a child and rejected with age does not matter to them as they hold on to the belief I was saved early in life.
It gives them something to hold on to with people that logically reject the faith.
@@Cuffsmaster he's Pentecostal. But I know for a fact that he doesn't believe that once someone is saved, then they're always saved. He believes that unbelievers burn in the lake that flows with fire and brimstone. Revelations 21:8 was damn near a mantra when I was younger.
@@MLamar0612 "pentecostal He does not believe once saved always so.. burn in the lake of fire and brimstone"
I wish you luck in dealing with that and I am not wise enough to give helpfull advice. ... One of the crimes of religion is separating families for the glory of god. It seems that the closer a faith is to a cult like mentality the more this happens. I have always avoided Pentecostals as much as possible to avoid having to say "f**k off and leave me alone" Not that the Southern Baptist are much better.
The sad part is that he is probably a good man outside the faith with others.
If I was starting a faith I'd not say anyone is saved if they leave. I'd do that simply to keep them in so I could make more money. It would be practical. I believe most founders of faith also were looking at their pocket book as well as their faith.
It is interesting how the concept of hell changed from the old testament until today.
When I was in six grade and a new born-again Christian, I took seriously God's promise that He would give me wisdon (which I understood to be knowledge) if I just focused my mind on God. I actually believed that by continually praying and meditating on God during class, God would magically give me answers to tests. He didn't. But I persisted and remained steadfast in my devotion. How did God thank me? I failed six grade.
That’s when they’ll say something trite such as, “God helps those who help themselves”, which is really just a tacit admission that your successes and failures are your own doing. Of course, they can’t even manage to remain consistent on that point, because those same people are usually the first to thank god for their fortunes, as if people aren’t ultimately just as responsible for their successes as they are their failures . If something good happens, they give credit to god; if something bad happens, it’s your own damn fault, lol.
Yes, they quote, "God helps those who help themselves" like it's in the bible,...which it isn't.@@TestMeatDollSteak
The idea there is utility to prayer, proves it is nothing more than wish fulfillment. Asking God for anything to include forgiveness is no different than asking for a wish to be fulfilled.
I was always taught Matt 7:7 was “keep” asking and knocking which meant that when he didn’t answer me it was my fault because I gave up too early. It probably kept me in longer because I thought that maybe an answer was just beyond the corner
Just christian excuses to blame the person when god fails
I know exactly what you mean. Jesus didn't even use the word "keep". So God wants us to grovel and beg and then look down on us when we don't ask him enough times.
The other issue is that if these promises are open such that they may appear to fail to happen NOW but will at some indeterminate time in the future be fulfilled, what good is that? Why should I keep asking after failure upon failure? At what point can I be reassured that alright, THIS TIME it's gonna happen? The promise must be immediate by the very metaphor Jesus is employing here. Knock and the door shall be opened, not "knock and keep knocking and hope that maybe in 3-4 hours someone will be walking down that hallway on a lunch break and overhear your frantic knocking and open it unto you."
Your channel is so well presented and informative! Logic,reason,and rational! Thanks!
Thank you! Its so nice to hear.
"Logic, reason and rational" is why I started seriously questioning the faith at an early age. By the time I graduated high school I was done with it. I was raised in a fundamentalist Baptist Church so there many examples of the lack of reasoning around me all the time. I was in the 3rd or 4th grade when I started questioning those assumed to be spiritual leaders in the Church.
I remember that before a High School football game us players would have a joint prayer in the locker room before taking the field. Often the prayer was asking for victory on the football field. I just could not figure out how a god would show favoritism in a High School football game or why he should even give a f**k about who won.
I am 74 now but remember knowing it was silly back when I was 15-18 years old. If you use logic you can see things like that constantly when examining faith. Most of it just makes no logical sense.
You also see how the lack of logic just goes over the heads of others that never even think about it as they are so deep into the propaganda. If you do point it out they seem to be offended. I find that funny today but at age 13 I found it very confusing.
I asked God for a wife for 15 years being completely sexless and I was never helped in this area. Church people said just keep praying but as soon as I began to question God’s so called promises I was told he isn’t a genie and it’s up to me anyways. What I realized , God most likely isn’t their and it’s up to me as a human to create my opportunities. Never again will I be duped.
Sounds sort of like the "stone soup" story.
Brandon how much would i pay you to go to talk me out of that path in the past, imposible but, at least you are here now and your content has being a great gift, this is why i would truly call a blessing😂😂, you are one of the best content creators in this space , i hope you have a long career and many successes, thanks for your videos
So thoughtful and sweet. Thank you very much. Like you said, at least we both made it here now!
Most of religion is just to make the believers feel good, but in reality it does more harm than good.
The real harm is taking it as an absolute truth, when the bible isn't concise enough.
Well put.
Thanks Brandon for another video. If there is nothingness after death, it actually brought me more comfort and encouragement than that of the Christian worldview, it’s just a very morose worldview and this one life if that is all it is never had discouraged me because it’s honestly better than false hope, and I never found it hopeful to give my faith to a cruel and vindictive, self boasting,petty and jealous and narcissistic god.
Well said..
I love the way you flip flop back and forth between the promises and their contradictions. Most preachers take an hour just to cover one of these promises, and never show the contrary verses. So to you I say "Godspeed" my friend.
thank you! it is easy to muse on one when you dont have to have it make sense or be consistent lol. I have been thinking about doing videos from the Christian perspective where i give a sermon on a ridiculous verse just to show how easy it is to manipulate.
Nice, I would really like to see you debunk Allen Parr, and his version of Bible slavery, there's just so much wrong with a black man defending slavery, I don't know where to begin@@MindShift-Brandon
@MindShiftSkeptic The time Jesus cursed the fig tree would be hilarious. That's one that I got to and couldn't make sense about at all. It didn't make any sense as a parable and for someone that could walk on water. raise the dead. Turn water into wine heal the sick. Feed the multitude with a couple of fish and loaves bread. Why did he not just make it bear some figs? No he cursed it and killed it in an hangry fit.
I know right? It even says it wasn't the right time of the season for bearing fruit, so why would Jesus curse a fig tree for simply being a normal fig tree? @@TonyLambregts
As an ex-mormon, James 1:5 has some special significance for me. I''m glad to have heard your take on it.
For me, the biggest promise, *Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find" is the biggest evidence that god isn't real.
Either hes a liar and doesn't give you what you ask for or hes incapable.
One way or another, it proves hes not god.
Yup it is highly problematic and just so easily excused by the believer. Weird how no one response to my challenge on it when i put it out there.
@@MindShift-Brandon They always point out the people god cures of cancer, but ignore the fact he's never cured someone of an amputation.
I guess those guys are not worthy enough.
Anything more untrue than the concept of unconditional love? The god of the Bible should be termed 'the god of terms & conditions'.
Ha! Right
God - the ever broken invisible wish vending machine.
😂😂😂👏👏👏
6:01 - As soon as you mentioned this one I was reminded of a hymn we used to sing, using the same words, and the first thing that popped into my mind was this being sung by the Israeli troops before going into battle. WOW! How that would encourage and strengthen them.
Hi, Thanks Branden. Having a great deal of trouble finding a version of this online, being performed the way we used to at our little church, back home. This was back in the early 80s and this seemed to be pretty popular back then. Lovely concept being presented actually, and we used to sing it in a much more reverent manner, as well. I'm Canadian by the way, from a Salvation Army background.
I am no longer Christian myself, actually, and walked away from all of this long ago, and have long, tried to be more Broad Based Spiritual than fanatically, fundamentally, religious. There is a huge, huge, difference for me there.
In almost, all things in life, I'm pretty Liberal Progressive actually, which meant attempting to be Christian was always, rather difficult for me. My common sense reason would tell me one thing, and that went quite a ways back too, while my faith was telling me something else. Well, by my late teens to early 20s, I could not accept it anymore and had to walk away. I'm in my late 50s right now, so to hear you guys talking about deconverting, and deconstructing your faith, sounds kind of, odd to me, as I never saw it that way myself, and would never have thought of putting it into those terms, it just, became something that no longer resonated truth to me, so I walked away from it. It was not the easiest though. I had to undo all that brainwashing, and fear mongering, and that was not easy. And after that, like I'm sure so many more have felt; I had to ask myself; now what? Where do I go from here? Well, for me, it was to attempt to remain Spiritual and try to continue to develop my life along those lines. Some 30 plus, years later, I'm still working on that.
My attitude about Jews and Israel sure, comes out of my religious upbringing to a large degree; and things I found out about their ongoing persecution which lead to the Holocaust in the 40s, which I found out about pretty early, in my life actually. And from the fact that Jesus was Jewish, and never stopped being Jewish until his death. All of it combined, made me resolve at a pretty early age, that I would be a friend to and supporter of, Jewish people, which I have stuck with my whole life. And while I understand to some degree, the issues the Palestinians put forward; I also, cannot deny that Israel, the land, belong to the Jews from ancient times; and also, their need for a state and home, regardless; where they can feel safe and protected; and where they have the say and control, themselves. I feel that once the Palestinian people, or extremist islam at least, ceases being a threat to Israel, Israel can then, work on addressing the issues they have, which I think they are perfectly, willing to do, under the right circumstances. I put more faith in the noble character of Jews today, more so than a great many seem willing to, right now, for sure, the younger ones in particular, who really, are being "useful idiots" for the extremist.
And of course, what was done to them on the 7th of October simply, cannot be justified, warranting the need for them to respond as they do now.
I understand the power of inspirational music to greatly, strengthen and inspire, which is why I instantly, saw the value in this when you read it out. I actually, had forgotten that hymn, but now that I'm reminded again, I'll be singing it all the time. There are so many more I'm aware of, but I can't present any of it or provide links because if I do RUclips keeps hitting me with spam notices. They have targeted me three times, already. So now, I'm left not being able to support as I wish, because this silly, poorly monitored, site does not even, know what I'm doing. Does not and cannot know what the intentions are. Extremely, frustrating.
I also, understand what you stated in one of your other videos, about the attitude of Ancient Israel as to why people have had this negative attitude toward them down through the ages, as I have expressed the same thing myself; but that was then and this is now, and I don't think most modern Jews are like that today, and non-Jews persecuting them because of their past, certainly, does not make us any better, or such treatment justifiable, either. No matter how they may have behaved in ancient times, does not warrant what was done to them today, on the 7th of October, correct? And not even close.
Anyway, sorry for that long winded response. My Best. Out. 🖐🏼❤🔥😔
@@ivanj.conway9919 *I also, cannot deny that Israel, the land, belong to the Jews from ancient times* except, no it didn't. Historically, genetically, the Jews came from the Canaanites. Egyptians were also in the Levant at the same time. So who does the land really "belong" to? And why hold some weird idea that because some people lived on it in the past, they have some special claim to it? People win and lose land all the time all throughout history. Look at the Americas. All that land belongs to the indigenous people since ancient times. No sign that its conquerors are going to give up the land anytime soon or that those plumping for Israel for the same reasons are going to turn and say the same about the Europeans in the Americas.
Shall we honor all ancient claims? Maasai in Africa believe quite devoutly that god created all cows and gave them exclusively to the Maasai. And if any other people on earth also have cows, well, they stole them from the Maasai. Shall we go along with that idea as well and return all our cows? Or do we know, as we must, that that's just a story?
@@druidriley3163 : Fine, so what does any of that mean for the people of Israel today? I'm no expert on this land, I'm learning as I go along here, like I hope, the rest of us are as well, though I doubt that about the pro-Palestine side, I have to say. It seems they will only take notice of anything that supports their narrative and ignore anything else.
Are you Jewish? I'm not Jewish, I'm a white, Canadian, guy who comes out of a christian background. No non-Jew can possibly, understand the insanely, special place this land holds for Jewish people. Muslims can go on with whatever bull they wish to, there is no, possible, way this land holds a higher, special, place for them as for the Jews. No way. Absolutely, no way. Also, at this stage in the game now, I'm not sure anyone can know for certain what may or may not have been done right or wrong in the establishing of the Modern State of Israel, upon the ashes of the Ancient Kingdom of Israel. One side says one thing while the other side says another, and here we are now, going into 80 years later, not being able to be 100% certain which side is telling the greater truth. For me though, because of how I have a better sense of how muslims operate, and how they are actually, encouraged to lie within their faith - you honestly, should check into that - I am more inclined to believe what the Jewish side says rather than the muslim side.
For me, because I was brought up Christian, and was taught at a very early age that this land was promised to the Jews, and that they have a Divine Right to it, I cannot root that out of my system just like that. I think Jerusalem, I think JEWS. I think Bethlehem, I think JEWS. It's ingrained in the soul of my being, as much as a Jewish person I think. I'm pretty sure most other Christians would say the same, and one of the groups of strongest supporters for Jews and Israel are the Christians, right now. And we all know the Christian Right in the U.S., weld a fair amount of power. But are not Muslims claiming the same thing now. Because they seem to have to appropriate everything that came before them to legitimate themselves, they are making the same claims about the land, the city and the temple mount. Of course, surprise, surprise, even though they came some 500 years after the ancient Jews were forced out of their land. Any bold face lie to try to get the world to side with them over Israel and the Jews. Even as a non-Jew I find this as insulting and degrading as all hell, I can't begin to imagine what it must feel like for the Jews themselves, then all the more so when this senseless, modern, world will buy into it, on top of it.
But like everyone who supports the Palestinian side, you are only, seeing a fraction of the overall, picture. You know, you must know, this is a rather unique situation unlike almost, any other. You know, you must know the history of Jewish people all over the world, leading up to the events of the 1940s in Germany. You know that there have been know other race of human beings treated so badly, for so long, by so many people, in so many parts of the world. You know that, and that simply, cannot be overlooked in working out this issue, this problem today. I almost, despise the left right now, for so willingly, and so coldly, overlooking this extremely, important point. It truly, makes me question why they are like that. Then you need to take into consideration of WHO, CREATED, EVERYTHING, we see in Israel today. It was JEWS NOT MUSLIMS. Muslim came in and took over what the JEWS, had already established there. Jerusalem was created by JEWS. Bethlehem was created by JEWS. The Temple Mount, the MOST, Sacred Site in Judaism, was created by JEWS, OF COURSE! And those are only, the handful of things I'm aware of right now, I'm sure there are more. Modern Day Jews carry the LEGACY and SPIRIT, of their Ancient Jewish Forerunners, NOT MUSLIMS, my friend. Not Muslims. It is the Muslims who are the invaders, the occupiers and not the Jews, not by a long shot.
Now, to the point of their being a genetic connection as well. Are modern day Jews GENETICALLY, CONNECTED, to the ancient Jews of Israel. I'm not an expert here for sure, and maybe there are people working on this, but I believe they are, and it is their religion and the length of history for any given, Jewish community, within the Diaspora, worldwide. The religion, of course, goes back to ancient Israel. How would they have it if not by descent from ancient Jews. Then we have to think about Jewish communities with the Diaspora, worldwide, who go back hundreds and hundreds of years, and who are able to trace their migration to still, older places closer to the Middle East, and then back to Jerusalem itself. There was one Jewish Community in Poland, if I remember correctly, which the Nazis annihilated, that actually, went back well over a 1000 years. Utterly destroyed. All the Jews there, slaughtered! Now honestly, where do you think they originated from if not from Ancient Israel, Judea, itself?! They have been dispersed all over the world for some 2000 years now, but I have no doubt, what-so-ever, that all of them are able to trace their ancient history back to Ancient Israel, and the Ancient Jews, millennia ago.
How much more needs to be added to the narrative here, to convince everybody the Jews today, have more than a legitimate right to this ancient land. The ancient land of THEIR, forefathers. What?! Honestly, what?
Long Live Israel. Peace In Israel. Victory For Israel. ❤🔥😔
Being raised in the Penecostal branch really fucked with my head growing up.
Not getting the right feelings was met with,
"Well are you doing all the things?"
Joining the choir and eventually band, they were all,
"Don't you feel his presence?"
No I didn't. I prayed, studied, and volunteered, but for years I got nothing back. No joyous presence. No filling of the spirit. No feeling of belonging.
I blamed myself for a long time. I thought I just wasn't believing enough. My doubts haunted me. I felt guilty for going through the motions. I felt like a fraud.
I felt something like peace when I discovered the consistency, and tangibility of math and science.
I'm an Atheist, and that has brought me more peace than any religion. I was in a group that claimed this being would be tangible and that never worked. If there is a god out there then they better prove themselves both indisputably real, and worthy of worship.
This channel is helping me so much. The technical explanations of the bible, the clarification of the lies.
Part of what kept me in religion n woo was pure confusion. The insane logic(or lack thereof) drove me mad. As an intelligent person, I practiced truly crazy mental gymnastics to make it make sense. Of course it never did, it never could! But I thought, I was wrong, not the religion. That the devil gave me my thinking brain. I get to be smart again! (Well, I’m on my way back, lol.)
But I love the incredible depth of knowledge this man has. Very impressive, n waaay helpful. Ty
Thats really kind! Thanks so much and im overjoyed to hear the channel is helping.
At the bare minimum, according to the scriptures, prayers to cure cancer should work 100% of the time. Or at least, they should work 100% of the time on people who have YET to be saved.
Which means that if you want to convert an atheist, you should pray to magically cure their cancer. 😀
But what if they don't have cancer? Should I pray that they get it first?
I love your channel, thanks to you my religious trauma and my desconstruction has been less lonely. I tried my best to be the best christian ever (having gender dysphoria) and taking conversion therapy, my mental health has crumbled.
Thank you sir, I appreciate you so much
I've found that spending time with this channel has been very freeing for my mental and emotional self.
This isn't related to the video but I think you'd find it funny. My brother sent me a video from instagram that explains higher powers pretty well. lol
PERSON1: If Cthulhu can be summoned by humans which are so far beneath it, why can't humans be summoned by ants? The answer is, they should be.
PERSON2: Well, if a bunch of ants formed a circle in my house I'd certainly notice. I'd try to figure out where they're all coming from and possibly reap destruction there.
PERSON3: That's why knowing and correctly pronouncing the true name is so important to the ritual. Imagine how impossible it would be to not go take a look at the circle of ants chanting your name.
And they're like, "You can't leave because we drew a line of tiny crystals. Now you have to do us a favor."
And you're like, well let's just see where this goes. "Yup, you got me. What's the favor?"
And usually the favor is like, "Kill this one ants for us" or "give me a pile of sugar" and you're like.... okay? And you do because, why not? It isn't hard for you and boy is this going to be a fucking story to tell. These fucking ants chanting your name and wanting a spoonful of sugar or whatever.
And SOMETIMES you get asked for things you can't really do. One of them, she is like "I love this ant but she won't pay attention to me. Make me important to her." And you're like...ummm? How? So you just kill every ant in the colony except the two of them. TA-DA! Problem solved!
And the first ant is like **horrified whisper** "What have I done?"
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nice ! My new sunday morning service Thank you Brandon Cheers! ☺️
Ha. Love that. My pleasure! Thanks for being here
As usual, you've NAILED it!
Thanks so much!
Great talk. These promises have been a constant irritant for decades because of the ways my bretheren used them like magic spells.
Thanks for the generosity! And yes i agree. Its really all quite sick
I truly love your channel I've never been so free from this stuff I feel so much better again being an ashiest second time and understanding more.
Thats lovely to hear. Thanks so much for being here!
I used to refer to many of these verses you lited for encouragement and edification when I was a Christian.I am glad I got to revue these with you as an atheist.I was gullible enough to believe these words and others like them.I was part of the health/wealth movement of the seventies, which is also been called the confession/possession movement.We were taught to "claim" scriptures like the ones you listed and to have faith i them in spite of what may be going on around us.Don't believe (be in denial of)the symptoms of a sickness and hold on to the promises of healing in the Bible instead.This belief system of belief was like Christian Science on steroids.This belief led to a lot of disappointment and depression for me.I'm so glad to be an atheist and to be finally be using my critical thinking.Thanks for sharing your unique take on the Bible, Brandon.I'm looking forward to your next video.Peace,
Appreciate that very much. Thanks for sharing!
If Brandon ever forms a cult, I wanna join! (haha) Seriously, this is such good stuff! Objectively looking at the Bible is NOT condoned by those who believe it. (Best line in the whole video: 25:56 "This is not only a disgusting promise, it has nothing to do with you." Love it!)
Ha! If appreciate that. If a cult ever happens, something has gone wrong lol. Thanks for the support!
Just like others mentioned, my depression and anxiety was horrible while i was a christian. I constantly thought about death while simultaneously fearing hell. I always wondered why god didn’t seem to bestow me with any blessings, i grew up a loner because of my black and white views, i hated my body while being confused about how god loves me as i am wonderfully and fearfully made, but also says im a horrible sinner that doesn’t even deserve him, but since he’s so gracious i get spared. But its like, i never asked to be born, hell I loved queen’s song bohemian rhapsody just because of the “sometimes i wish ive never been born at all” line. Also i used to mutilate my own body because i was so ashamed of being alive, then ashamed of being such a freak. To this day i struggle with self worth, although after leaving the faith it was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Ironic because i was always taught that id feel that with god, then why is it that away from god I finally feel some semblance of peace? My parents tell me im suffering because i’m not with god whenever i find life hard, but the truth is it’s them that absolutely destroys my mental health. Also, my dad based his fathering on the bible, so you can imagine how emotionally and verbally abusive my childhood was. I was told that i wasn’t needed by my own mortal father, and my heavenly father never gave me a sign that hes even there. Also funny, i have a testimonial as an atheist. When i tried to hang myself on my bedroom door, I prayed for god to send a sign, i NEEDED to know for sure he was real. I wanted, i begged, and as my consciousness was slipping i saw nothing, i heard nothing, just a dark quiet void. The only reason why im here today is because my dog scratched at my door. Sure, i was a coward for not hanging myself from the ceiling, and yes, i was afraid of dying. Who isn’t? Anyway my dog saved me that day and not god. My mom says that was god’s sign, but I disagree because i begged him to give me a sign that i could not doubt nor explain with anything else. But I guess i was testing god so I didn’t deserve it. If my dog wasn’t home that day i would have been dead at the age of 21, not too long after my birthday
It's all so clear when you explain things so well in your unique way. Thanks again, Branden.
Thats very encouraging to hear. Thank you!
Why would a loving & all-powerful GOD who wants everyone to get to Heaven; allow babys to be born that cannot speak, if a requirement to obtain Salvation is confessing some script??
@@chadtyrone Thank Goodness he's not real.
@@adamrspears1981 Douchebag, there's no requirement to speak -- particulary if you can't.
Great video as usual Brandon. Your observations, insights, and commentary are extremely interesting and I wanted to thank you for the content you make. So glad your channel was recommended to me a few weeks ago.
Thats great to hear. Thanks so much. Glad to have you here
You should do a video on Christian’s obsession with purity. I’m curious to see your thoughts on it.
Oh we will for sure be covering purity culture soon!
Brandon: We'll do something very different today.
Also Brandon: It's another list!
Very divine of you, good sir! 😂
Ha. Got me there. Different but the same!
@@MindShift-Brandon This was a good one as all of use have heard most of these verses uses to justify faith and to make excuses for when things didn't work out. . A reminder of why they should not be taken serious without analysis is good. Thank you.
I am at a point in my life now to were all these verses just bounce off my b/s shield but many have not reached that point or the understanding of the weakness of the faith and the bible. A reminder of how we need to justify what we believe is very good.
Another great video Brandon! Really enjoying these secular bible studies.
Thank you much!
and if these promises dont happen they will do anything to blame themselves or satan. God can never be at fault
Exactly!
The ultimate narcissist.
they way you deconstruct and point out inconsistency is nearly impeccable
Thanks! Thats very kind and nice to hear
Yeah, I always wondered why there are so many denominations and so many creeds if there was only one God, one Bible. You’d think Christians would have only one denomination. Kind of like God is teaching them different ways. Thank you, Brandon, I’ve learned so much with each video.
Brandon Thanks.
Your knowledge of and insights into the bible are truly.... frightening. It is frightening to think how much time you must have devoted to its study. In your case I think that this time has not been wasted , as you are using that knowledge purposefully. How many , however, have spent an equal amount of time and are either still under the delusion that it is true, or else have come to realise that they have simply wasted huge amounts of their lives . Think of all that could have been achieved had all of that human effort not been wasted on one, bad book (well, a collection of bad books lumped together. These people could have been doctors, scientists, engineers , musicians .Whilst we're at it they could also have been expert fishermen .,..or carpenters. Had they put the same effort into any of these things. This would be bad enough if they had chosen to do so freely, as adults ( I'm not about scholars who choose to study the Bible....Bart Ehrman hasn't "wasted" his time studying the Bible😃) .In the vast majority of cases ,they did not. They were made to waste the most important developmental years of their lives,a time when their minds were at their most receptive, being force fed this ...lie. What makes it even sadder is that this was done by people who loved them. I am glad that you have found a way to use your knowledge to help others understand that it is better, albeit not easier, to seek truth in this life rather than futilely hoping for "reward" in a non-existent future one.Helping others is the best use any of us can make, of any knowledge we have gained in this world.
It is frightening.....how much time he wasted on a subject so ridiculous and hypocritical. He could have studied any other worldly subject and learned something useful yet he chose the Bible. How sad.
I appreciate this. Thank you. Just trying to find the silver lining of 30 years devoted to this god. Hopefully i can shorten just how long it takes others to get out.
When i was a christian I thought when he said " this generation will not pass away" before all that takes place - I thought he was referring to the generation that saw Israel become a nation again. Obviously its been over 40 years for that too. Then we are told that the Lord is tarrying hoping more will be saved. There is always an excuse for God not keeping promises. We give God many more breaks and excuses than we will ever give another human. If we continually break our promises we are just called a liar.
You are a genius. Logically sound. God has given you immense talent. :)
Lol too kind!
Oh yeah. One of the problems I have with religion is when people tell me that I need to do a certain thing or I'm not going to be saved. But when I point out that other people have told me differently, they say that those people were wrong and they are right. Then I tell them that those other people said the same thing, and they just doubled down.
If every claimant has no way to prove that their method is the correct one, why should I listen to ANY of them?
Yup!! The contradictions in salvation ideas between christians who all pray for wisdom to the same god is proof its not real
You need Holy Spirit and you're set for eternity. We receive Holy Spirit when we believe. Here are all the verses concerning this:
Romans 8:9, Ephesians 1:11-14, Galatians 3:1-5, John 14:16, Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:22
Notice how none of these people or their holy books ever seem to have a simple test you can do to determine whether you're on the right track. Well, actually, the Bible does say that if a prophet says something will happen and it doesn't that he's a false prophet and you shouldn't listen to him, but then when Jesus or Paul say something that doesn't come true we forget all about that.
@@Uryvichk 2 Corinthians 13:5 is the test. Christians have Christ in them, the Noble Holy Spirit in them and should examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. I did and a person who heard from God who had made a prophecy about me that came true said I had Holy Spirit HalleluYah!
Love the work you are doing here, Brandon! I'm currently reading the entirety of Paradise Lost, and I thought that you would really enjoy looking at this epic poem through the perspective of someone who has gone through the painful process of deconversion. When I first read the first book of Paradise Lost, I unintentionally began to view Satan as a misunderstood hero-and I'm not the only one who has felt this way; there are many who resonate with the experiences of Milton's Satan. I hope you get the chance to check it out :)
Thank you very much! Also i have already love it and loveeee it!
I have a real tough time with "He for god, and she for god in him." Ick.
@@sundayoliver3147 I think a lot of current readers, including myself, look back and see the antiquated nature of the early modern period. Definitely an ick. All the more reason to read it today, to understand societies of the past and the importance of progress.
I always enjoy your commentaries. While I was a Christian I never really paid attention to any so-called promises in the Bible. I guess I was never a true Christian.
Another great listen! I look back and see how selective and complicated it was for the Clergy to keep the New Testament sounding coherent, and now I wonder why they went to all of that trouble. Thanks again
I guess that's why people have to go to seminaries!
Odin promised there would be no more frost giants.
You are welcome.
14:00 Yeah, ever read _Of Human Bondage_ by W. Somerset Maugham?
The protagonist prays for his club foot to be healed, and of course it doesn't happen (he's a kid, and really believed).
I did the same as a team for acne. I wanted a clear complexion, what teen doesn't? Didn't happen....sadly, I remained a Christian for another ~ 30 years.
Perhaps this is a strong wedge to use in helping people overcome their presups, reminding them of all the things God dropped the ball on and asking why.
Philippians 4:6,7. I used to stand on this verse to save me from panic attacks 😂.
As a christian, i still appreciate your videos as they give me insights and opinions that I would not otherwise hear from those around me.
Appreciate that
Tell this person to leave unless they're on their way to deconversion
Why?
@@Non-religiou So you want to exclude people the way fundamentalists do? Because they don't meet the requirements you think they should, according to your beliefs?
"But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town." Luke 10:10-12
Charming as Attila.
Congratulations, you are my new favorite RUclips-Atheist. This platform sorely needs atheists like you because all the old ones have either lost interest in the subject, are simply going through the motions of repeating their established rhetoric or simply don't have enough knowledge about religion to talk about it beyond a certain depth. Christian apologetics meanwhile have become more sophisticated, having adjusted and evolved to address the "canon" of atheist arguments which has established itself in the last 16 years.
You have already made some videos refuting Mike Winger and I would like to see more of those, directed either at him or apologists like him because he does a good job refuting many atheist critiques of the Bible I, until recently, have thought slam-dunk arguments against it. At the very least he shows there is enough room for alternate interpretation and perspective that the atheist will have to do a lot more serious study in order to prove the atheist interpretation is the correct one.
If I could make any other requests, I would like you to analyse and deconstruct the works of the 19th century russian author Dostoevsky. Ever since Jordan Peterson mentioned him, it seems to me that he's become a favorite author/intellectual for conservatives to name-drop. If you don't know him, his major works are "Crime and Punishment", "The Idiot", "Notes from Underground", "Demons" and "The Brothers Karamazov". His major theme is that without God both society and the individual self-destructs and that atheist "intellectuals" in particular, after they're done using their precious intellect to prove God does not exist, either become self-interested scumbags or inert nobodies who pathologically rationalize their way out of ever doing or being anything.
These are not exactly ground-breaking arguments, in fact they are the most basic arguments against atheism out there. Yet I haven't seen an atheist directly confronting them yet. Maybe you have in one of your many videos and I simply haven't seen it yet. But if you addressed them in the context of a deconstruction of Dostoevsky you would seriously help out the atheist cause because he represents both the most simple and yet high-level critique of Atheism out there.
Wow. What an incredibly kind and thoughtful comment. Thank you very much. You will be glad to know my old channel was a booktube channel. I have read all of Dostoevsky and love him dearly despite his critiques. I think a video including his philosophy would be a great idea. In the meantime i have one video that addresses some of this. just search mindshift nihilism.
Hmmm, sounds like Dostoevsky and Peterson invoking him are 1000% correct. Prophetic, even---> modern society has inadvertently vindicated Dostoevsky to a Tee...
We definitely waiting on that Jews vs gentiles part 2
"so that a Christian doesnt have to miss a day if inspection." So generous to always be thinking of others ❤❤❤
Imaginary beings can't make or deliver on promises. That was easy.
...No matter how hard you believe they can!
Don't forget that part.
Another brilliant analysis! 👍🏿
Thank you!
God fkd my head up and left me stranded after I dedicated my life to him
Appreciate you Brandon keep up the good work
Thank you very much
I grew up Christian. Started off in an independent, Pentecostal-like church, then went Lutheran, then finally Baptist. I never heard it suggested that the name you used for God would have any effect on your prayers. That's an interesting concept to me. (Also sounds suspiciously polytheistic...)
Yeah kinda like the concept of the Father, son and Holy ghost.
The holy trinity, and the pantheon of all those s'aints didn't clue you in?
You do know that trinity God's were a big deal in Rome and Egypt?
@@eugeneoisten9409 "trinity god's ..big deal in Rome and Egypt"
OK, why should I care? Roman or Egyptian fake gods are no more powerful or useful to me than a Hebrew fake god(s).
Well Roman and Egyptian gods are for less dangerous today than Hebrew gods because few if any believe in them and try to harm others on their behalf or claim they are on their side in war or hate.
A god's power only exist because people believe they have power. Believers invent ways to convince themselves that the say god (s) are real.
@@eugeneoisten9409 - Why are you talking to me like I'm a Christian who believes there is only one god? lol
@TheZeroNeonix
Because the Abrahamic religions all have the same defining attribute of only worshipping...ONE God...🙄
Ergo, to call yourself a Christian, you believe there is ...ONLY ONE God...duh!!!