This isn't the last you've heard from me regarding Samson. In a few videos time, I will be asking the question: *based* *on* *typical* *human* *behaviour* is the story of Samson THE most unbelievable (obviously fictional) story contained in the entire Bible? Would you say yes, or is there another story which would take the crown in your opinion?
I agree with you!! Another story that made me cry when I read it for the first time is when Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi killed their sister’s fiancé, his whole family and everybody living in their village. These Canaanite people had agreed to follow Jacob’s custom to be circumcised and when the men were in pain and physically weak, they were attacked and murdered 😢 I could never understand why Jehovah would condone this cruel, deceiving and murderous plot.
Any story containing talking animals like the snake in the garden or the donkey who said their was an angel in the road. Nothing says mythical quite like animals speaking in human speech. The weirdest part of these stories is that the humans never taken aback by the animal speaking in their native tongue.
Really interesting question. My first thought was obviously Noah, but that's really a science issue, not a behavioral one... Not gonna lie, I always felt the story of King David was insanely unbelievable from a behavioral/personality standpoint. Like, especially when it comes to his son (Abimalech? Maybe?) who r*p3s one of David's wives on top of a building so that as many people as possible could see it? And David was like "yeah it's okay, you're my son and I love you" (summarized, obviously). To me, reading his story through, I was shocked that *this* was the great king david that everyone heralded as one of the best people to ever live. Dude was a murderer, a family destroyer, an ego-maniac, obsessed with his legacy to the point that he was unphased by his son r****g one of his wives, a misogynist (duh), a warlord.... The list goes on and on. I'd say that he might be equally "unbelievable" to Samson in that he is held up as this paragon of virtue and righteousness, but he's a complete, moral monster.
Hi Harrison am a Jehovah’s Witness but since I started watching your videos am beginning to question some the teachings of the church. My mother is not happy with me questioning my belief system of my religion. Thanks again for opening my eyes. I always look up to u Harrison.
@Walter Samuel, questioning what you do not understand is called knowledge and learning. Not questioning what you do not understand is idiotic, dumb, and hippocratic. You are in a good start brother. Do not let anyone tell you to believe but believe to what you believe on your own understanding. Open-mindedness is the only way we find the truth. May the Enlightenment be with you.
Although superman is fiction, DC were protraying a superhero who was selfless and tried to help people and knew that once he caught the bad guy the right thing to do was to hand them over to the authority and not be a viligalate! It gave a positive message to the readers of the comics
As an ex-evangelical, your videos are absolutely incredible! You break down beliefs at their very core, and you do it in such a respectful way that many Christians might listen. I sincerely appreciate all the effort you put into these videos.
as an athiest that grew up in a pretty secular household , looking at your videos from the outside i find it remarkable the effort and great lengths you go through , in an attempt to get these poor people started down the path of free thought , cant imagine how many people of faith you have changed the life of with your videos , keep up the good work and thank you.
I’ve been an atheist my whole life so I love hearing the experiences of ex religious people and I believe they’re much more likely to sway the opinion of theists as they have the experience of being one. I, however, find it difficult sometimes to put myself in the shoes of theists because I’ve never been one and so to me it’s obvious that it’s all fake yk?
Samsons story, is a psychological horror if it was told from the perspective of the Philistines. Imagine someone with the strength to rip someone appart with his bare hands, who also happens to enjoy killing people and has the emotional control of a four year old. This person, for some reason wants to hang out with you, but you also know he could kill you the moment you ran out of his favor. And you have seen that happen to several other people, so you know what he is capable of, so you try and appease him and seem like you are his friend.
The philistines weren’t actually very nice people, you know with threatening to burn a woman and her fathers family alive if she didn’t help them solve the riddle. And as Samson said himself, they wouldn’t have been able to solve the riddle if they “hadn’t plowed with his heifer”. Samson would have won that agreement if it were not for there actions threatening his wife the way they did. If those philistines simply accepted there lose and payed Samson what they owed those 30 men of Ashkelon wouldn’t of died but as the philistines said to his wife, “have you invited us to make us poor?”, they didn’t want to live in poverty because they loved there wealth and were greedy at the chance for even more wealth. Now imagine these philistines threatening to murder there own, Samson’s wife and her family, imagine how then they treated outsiders? Either the same or worse which either way isn’t very good. Ps no where in scripture does it say Samson enjoyed killing people. Secondly if he had the emotional control of a 4 year old then why not kill the 30 men who were with him at the feast? And did not it say after he gave them the garments he left and went back home even though he was “burning with anger”? Yes he did , he could’ve ripped those men apart but he didn’t even though he obviously was angry. So it seems to me that Samson would not just willingly kill anybody, after all are we to assume he never got angry with his parents yet they lived and did he not go back to his fathers house angry and yet he didn’t harm anyone there. After wards he killed more philistines but did they not burn his wife and father in law alive? They were all murderers after all? Then the 1000 philistines he killed with a donkeys jawbone, did they not go after him by there own choice intending to kill him? There choice after Samson said he would be avenged and then stop, which he did and left for Etam. And finally when he killed again was it not because the Philistines took cause against him by getting Delilah to betray him? Was it not them who took away his eyesight? And then because they wanted to watch him entertain them he was bought out at the temple of there god Dagon saying there god had brought them to him when in fact it was Samson’s God who did so, delivering the rulers of the philistines into his hand and 3000 men and women on the roof who were there by there own choice. The God of Samson then avenged him for the lose of his eyes by giving his strength back to bring the temple down on them. Simply put, the Old Testament law wasn’t perfect because if it was there would be no need for what Christ did and the New Testament. God has his will and at the end of the day none of those Samson killed were innocent people. They were judged for there sins and as a result lost there lives, so repent and believe in Jesus Christ whose blood is shed for the remission of sins while you yet may have God’s mercy. For you do not know whether you will have tomorrow.
@@yeshuaisthetruth9636 That is a fallacy of moral equivalence... It doesn't matter in the slightest how bad the philistines were, what is important is that Sampson is an extremely terrible person and is somehow exalted as a just person who God favors... If the Philistines are also bad is irrelevant, because the bible never paints them as good or God does not favor them. The supposed moral book, and the supposed all loving God, supports and paints a serial killer as a moral example. To the point that he is mentioned in the New Testament as one of the biggest examples of a follower of God. Besides, even if we take your fallacy at face value, Sampson was even worse than the Philistines. At least the Philistines committed heinous acts for a reason, but Sampson seemed to enjoy doing it. Sampson killed several innocent people, several that were not even Philistines, so we can't even know if those that he killed were good or bad. And even if we ignore the reason for doing the murders, and just count how many bodies they left behind.... Sampson wins by a long shot. Sampson killed way more people than the Philistines, and the majority were completely innocent people.
@@davidworoniuk183 Hi David - do you have any evidence that he is a paid shill. The only evidence you cite so far is that it would be impossible for him to crank out videos of this magnitude so quickly. But that doesn't prove anything. I worked in corporate training for a while, and we cranked out lots of videos daily which were replete with complicated information. The staff cranking out these videos were just me and one other person. And the technology made available to us maybe made the videos a little prettier, but didn't reduce the time involved in making the videos. I am also curious - are you a Jehovah's Witness? Hope you don't mind me asking. I just wanted to see if you had a religious axe to grind. Thanks, Omar
@@omartorrio1512 he clearly has been promoted by youtube look how many views he has got in such a short amount of time , also the quality of the video editing is very high clearly not just some kid with a camera, they have been professionally produced , he ia more than likley just a actor never been a jehovahs wittnesss in his life , just all part of the anti christian agenda
@@davidworoniuk183 ....You do realize you can be a RUclipsr and be professional, right....? There are infinite examples of independent creators with a high amount of quality to their videos these days that it's incredible really. As for RUclips, they tend to push whatever is popular, so when one video gets a surge it will be pushed more than others. I would be curious to know what made you believe that having high quality, daily videos would make someone a charlatan and a shill.
The truth shall set you free, but first it will piss you off! Thank you for working so hard to make people think! It may take time but the truth you bring to light will help people out of their religious jail.
I really wonder how Christians who actually read the Bible can continue to follow it. It is full of some of the greatest evil acts either committed by God, commanded by God, or done in God's name. There is a reason that "the wrath of God" is a common phrase because he is one mean and merciless character. Christians often dismiss the Old Testament for some reason and point to Jesus as their moral guide, but he is the biggest narcissist of all time, commanding that you worship him or he will send you to Hell to be tortured for eternity. The so-called God of love is actually just an abusive lover who beats their spouse while claiming that they made them do it. God or Jesus by whatever name is not worthy of veneration by any right-thinking person whether you think him real or imaginary. Although if you really think he is real, I guess you should better do what he says because he is one scary mf.
The modern concept of the super-hero is fundamentally different from "heroes" of old. Whereas in the past the hero's actions were motivated by a desire for fame or wealth, or to benefit the tribe and thus achieve stature within it, or to please a god or king, the super-hero does good deeds, and for the sake of goodness alone. Superman isn't motivated by any religious dogma, just the wish to help those in need. The very first issue of Spider-Man gave us the super-hero dictum: "With great power comes great responsibility". That's a notion completely foreign to both Samson and Yahweh.
You are aware that the reason this distinction between then and now as you described is directly because of the all-encompassing influence of Christianity, yes?
@@Tyler_W Then you also have to recognize the difference between Christianity of then and now is the Humanism that's been seeping into Christianity over the centuries. Sure, there have been other not so noble influences like colonial racism and fascism, but when folks want to argue the religion's more egalatarian aspects, what they're using is Humanism.
@@Tyler_W You're wrong, and you completely missed my point. The modern super-hero (including the early archetype of Superman, who was, by the way created by two young Jewish guys from Ohio) is a purely secular-humanist idea. Unlike, as I said, past heroes who did deeds to please some god (including Jesus), that doesn't enter into the consideration of a Spider-Man or Green Lantern. Modern super heroes don't risk their lives to help those in need in fear of hell or in hope for heaven, but do good, as the old song says, for goodness' sake. That's why they have universal appeal to people all over the world.
@@Tyler_W lol, Christianity existed for 2000 years and people acted just like in ancient times, only when peopme started to seriously questioning it some 200 years ago we started to get rid of stuff like tyrants appointed by God (kings and nobility) and slavery. Christianity only held us back.
When I saw the title I knew it was the totally nutty story of Sampson. The guy was a psycho. I always hated the cruelty with the foxes. Even as a child, it taught me the Bible was full of immoral people. Love Christopher Reeve, he was a real super hero. A disabled man, raising money fully knowing he would never live to benefit from the research he paid for.
@@Imaginathor-1k0 He grabbed them by the tails (300 of them🙄) tied them together by tails, one fox facing each way, then set fire to them. So as they ran and panicked, burning, they set fire to his enemies fields of crops.
There's nothing like a "loving" god knowingly creating the most evil being (satan), then allowing that being to "fool" humans, so that countless billions of humans will spend an eternity in hell. All in the name of "free will." Makes perfect sense to me!!
@@therealivydawg yep! god's "will". god's will for millions of children to get sick and die a brutal death from cancer. god's will for millions of children to be sexually abused (I'm guessing so that god will "help" them through it??) What a loving god to have all of them planned out for everyone.
Now we know why the Samson Story was never made into a Bible Drama Movie for the conventions.… It would make many JWs start thinking critically 🤔 Thank you so much for your excellent explanations 💙
hmm…they made it for nehemiah…perhaps they ll do it as a masterpiece when Ramapo is completed:) i m thinking about a good casting…an intoxicated senior member of gb threatening the vile apostates with a match or a gas lighter
not sure if this is relevant, but there was a movie, i believe in 1948, but may be mistaken on the year. Samson and Delilah starred Victor Mature and the incredibly beautifull and even more intelligent Hedy Lamarr.
@@davidnoelfranks1124 Asking great questions is a huge part of thinking critically. JWs will start questioning "Why did Jehovah give Samson supernatural powers?" 👉 "Is the Bible really the word of Jehovah?" And finally 👉 "Is Jehovah's Witnesses the true religion?" The Watchtower & GB didn't want that to happen.
Jws don't spend a lot of time discussing Samson. We can see why. What a truly horrific story. I would love to see a watchtower study article solely about him, extolling all his "virtues"...but it would be R rated. When I was newly JW I gave the bible stories book to a friend for her daughter. She gave it back to me saying that her young daughter was having nightmares from the pictures in the Samson story. Fantastic video Harrison.
JWs don’t spend a lot of time discussing anything that discredits their position and belief system, instead they rant and straw man anyone or anything that doesn’t share their dogmatic belief system
It's what we see throughout abramaic religions, where they mainly focus on some of the bible, discrediting more and more of its material as the years passed; have you read Levitical passages? It's funny that the same people that had read the bible at a certain age and in its whole is the same people that had removed their veil
In Trinidad and Tobago, the JWs have very much ingratiated the organisation and made it "normal". I've had that Bible story book forever and I'm Catholic. No idea where my mom got it, possibly from the nice old Jehovah's Witness old lady who used to come by our gate all the time. I only learned JWs were a cult like. Two years ago? And my mom had no idea and still kinda doesn't believe me. Now I'm in kind of a moral quandary over what to do with the book... I still have it upstairs.
You're totally correct. Unless you've already gotten your mind warped by childhood indoctrination, there's no way you could sincerely believe Jehovah is the nicer guy between him and Satan.
"evil is evil. lessor, greater, middling. makes no difference. the degree is arbitrary. the definitions blurred. if I'm to choose between one evil and another, I'd rather not choose at all." - Geralt of Rivia, as voiced by Doug Cockle, 2013.
I’ve been waiting for this video since 1991 when I was 11 and absolutely could not see how murder was equivalent to serving the true God and punching your ticket to everlasting life. Thank you.
This is a nice love letter to Christopher Reeves's superman. His was the best superman, and inspired us all. Honestly, I left the JWs when I was 17, and I don't remember much about Samson other than his death and the cutting of his hair. I was always confused as to why the JWs looked up to him.
The Story of Samson was a big part of me waking up. When I started doubting, the Elders always said to read the Bible and meditate on it. Reading and meditating on the stories of Moses and the Judges are what led to me seeing Jehovah as a complete and utter monster. I started seeing Satan as the one who was trying to warn us about the Monster that is Jehovah. I'm an Athiest now, but when I still believed in God but saw him as a complete monster and I wanted nothing to do with the New System or Heaven. I would prefer to burn in hell than worship Jehovah. I'm an Athiest now, but yeah.
I have read your comment several times and I am still speechless. In a good way. I am also very angry at jws and that part I say out loud I am also in agreement with what you are saying but still a little scared to say it out loud
You mean, you don't want to worship an all-powerful god whose sole meaning to his creation is to select the most gullible people to praise him and to send the masses of free thinkers to hell? The same God that loves to constantly 'test' and inflict pain on his people to see who is worthy of 'keeping the faith'. Why would you not want to worship the all-truthful, never-lying God who not only plants the same fossil types at the same specific strata layers all over the world, removes evidence of Kangaroo and other Australian marsupial fossils on their way to Australia after the flood, plants evidence of an old universe all over the earth and universe such as ancient rivers and lakes on Mars, but actively covers up evidence of Egyptian armies under the red/reed seas where his book says there should be? The same God who blames YOU and sends you to hell for not having been born into a Christan family with more gullible brain genetics. The same God who sends babies and uncontacted people in the Amazon to hell because they did not accept Christ crucified. Why would anyone not want to spend eternity with such an all-loving God?
@@ambrekalynch7543 It takes time, you need to be patient with your own process. It took me years to get comfortable with my own thoughts and feelings on the JW's. When you are convinced that your thoughts and feelings can be sins and doing anything against the holy spirit is unforgivable it can be hard. There are a lot of mental blocks to get past and that is okay.
@Stirgid Lanathiel Do the jews believe in a collective evil? Last I checked man's fallen nature led to an inclination to breaking the law/sinning and the satan was a sort of prosecuter, that's why in job God allows the satan to torment job.
I think no one is choosed by abrahamic god has a good moral even jesus did something stupid by cursing the tree, angry with tree because he didn't know how biology work. This is sign of a narsistic person with mental disorder than a wise and merciful perfect god. He shoud have known that tree was follow its nature which is created by God himself. And how lovely and wise Jesus who was a God acted like a fanatical rascal destroying the market at temple courtyard. Oh how the lovely judas. Does judas go to hell or heaven ?. Hate or love this guys, judas did the bigger thing to make christian's biggest plan work. Or Jesus who was suppose to be all knowing entity had already known judas who he was choosen by Jesus himself would betray jesus someday. Still he choosed him in order to our God manipulative plan could work (a bloody God sacrifice to save humanity from curse that was created by God itself) and then judas is going to hell forever because he had to follow God's biggest plan.
The last time I read the Bible all the way through, I was a believer. I need to re-read the Bible as an atheist to see if I can figure out why stories like Abraham convinced to kill his own son inspired me so much. Now, it makes me question if I had any sense or morality then and even to this day. In other words, I don't trust my own judgment.
I know that the people talk a lot about "Satan" and "Satanism" but until the three Abrahamic religion exists we don't need "Satanism" for the evil to thrive.
You know I liked Samson as a kid but then again, I was a kid and shame on adults for making me glorify and uphold a morally questionable man. Or the fact I jeered saul for not killing every breathing thing in a massacre against their enemy. Or the fact I was lead to think the biggest mass murderer in literature was an all loving father figure. Nothing made me feel more gaslit than religion honestly.
We're all 'morally questionable'. No man is without fault. There's one perfect person in the entire Bible & that's Jehovah. The only things that was common and brought any significance to those bible characters was their faith in God inspire of their messes & mistakes and God's willingness to forgive them and show mercy and patience towards them and us.
@@kevinhinds9277 honestly your entitled to your beliefs but I disagree with you. Yes everyone is flawed but that doesn't mean you'd lie cheat and needlessly kill, much less you use your final wish as a way to mass murder a lot of people some of which are innocent people. Also I very much disagree with god being perfect. One they show remorse or regret in Genesis for making man, two they drown lots of animals and innocent people for not being the way they like (they could have just made them go from a state of existence to a state of non existence), three they admit to be a jealous god in Exodus and prove this true while tormenting the Israelites for worshiping other deities in the old testament, four allowing slavery to be permissible in the Pentateuch and even Ephesians. Also they did not intend for man to have free will or choice because assuming man prior to the fall had no knowledge of good and evil , they couldn't even choose whether they wanted to follow god or do their own thing. in my humble opinion, God or Jehovah or Yahweh or whatever ya want to call them is the pettiest, most violent celestial child to ever be thought up. The love associated with God comes from Jesus and even then it doesn't change anything.
@@kevinhinds9277 a child dies every 10 seconds in India where the main religion is hindi so a child is sent to hell every 10 seconds based on your beliefs. You really need to research why you believe the things you do. Blind faith creates the most horrid evil on this earth. The Bible is a collection of fallible error, god is a manifestation of the the ego
@@stevenmara1025 There's a reason....both Samson and Hercules are the sun. The 12 trials of Hercules are the twelve months......same dynamic with Jesus and his 12. Samson even means "Man of the sun"....the clue is in the name. So when both fight a lion.......they represent the sun in the constellation of Leo.
Derek, glad to see you lurking on some Ex JW content. Harrison is a talented and meticulous producer. I hope you enjoy his stuff as much as I do. Of course, I love MythVision. Your approach to examining the bible and the historicity of these teachings is really what helped me unwind the JW indoctrination without invoking some religious emotionalism. Your guest list is phenomenal.
As soon as I saw that jawbone in the thumbnail I knew it had to be Samson! He was indeed a stupendously horrible man. Although I admit I get most of my knowledge about the character from Darkmatter2525's retelling of the myth. 😁
after seeing the title and then you asked what we would think about suicide bombers, the very first name from the bible I thought of was sampson, and no surprise that is what this is about. What foolish bias people will have for the acts of people in their holy books, and give them a pass for being servants of their particular version of a god. again, how religion can poison the minds of many. It did mine but not anymore. disgusting.
@@ResearchThis If the god of abraham is a real and only true god, and Jesus was the human incarnation of this god, then Jesus is the ultimate evil character if the NT is accurate, because the proposition he made that those who dont believe him will burn in a fiery furnace forever. That is pure evil to do that knowing that most people will believe whatever their culture brings them up to believe and at no fault of their own. How can anyone justify a god who created someone in cirumstances that would have them believe otherwise, then judge the person for being mislead during their life. This is Jesus' proposition. Again, pure evil.
@@MAJORp121, Just so you know, Christian Scientists wouldn't bat an eye. They do not teach the assignment of a specific gender to God. You may view Him/Her as you wish. 🙃
@@TheTruthHurts I get excited when a new video comes out! Your reasoning is wonderful. Your videos are excellent you keep on reinventing yourself! Bit like Madonna lol 😆 no joking Harrison keep up the excellent work!
Thank you for such a well researched and compelling video. I wasn't raised as a JW, but I became one for about 15 years. I could never bring myself to appreciate Samson's ruthlessness--especially killing the animals. The lady that studied with me would gloss over my questions and give a blanket statement that the people deserved death because they did not worship Jehovah. As it relates to the children, she and the elders likened it to rattlesnakes--baby rattlesnakes (venomous) will turn into adult rattlesnakes. Well, as an animal lover, I still couldn't wrap my brain around this analogy--if Jehovah CREATED dangerous animals and saw that it was good, why torture and kill them? Ughhhh...there are no easy answers to this foolishness!
There is actually a story where Superman arm wrestles Samson. The series is called All Star Superman. In that series Superman is on his death bed and he accomplishes feats that help humans before his passing.
Let us not forget that Issac was 40 when he married Rebecca, who was only 10 at the time (according to the book of Jasher) 🤮🤮🤮 the Bible is pure insanity and I used to have to stop when I was reading it because you have to be insane to justify what you’re reading 🤯 but I was too scared to question it at that time. Thankfully, I woke up!
But it was approved by the God almighty himself... Just keep it basic and skip around to the Bible verse that point out the good and u will be enlightened and become a faithful slave.
Do you believe the book of Jasher you quote, is the book of Jasher referred to in the Old Testament if so what is your proof? To me this only proves one of the reasons for the forgery of pseudo-Jasher to attack the Bible on an issue the Bible is silent on and insinuate an idea that would never be arrived at from reading the context of the surrounding chapters of the Bible. Saying I woke up is what most people claim when they change their beliefs I would say the same thing yet now believe the opposite of you that every word of the Bible was preserved. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Ps 12:6,7 If you prefer to trust the book of Jasher for your revealed truth I would suggest you are sound asleep.
@@exjwukmusicalescape9241 and yes. The book of Jasher is mentioned 3 times in the Bible. I beg you to study the Old Testament because it wasn’t until I did that that I saw all the lies. Christianity is the easiest religion to disprove. The NT is literally a direct contradiction of the OT. You won’t find that out unless you read it.
Just when I think I couldn’t love your content anymore! 1978 Superman was my absolute favourite movie growing up so this really hit home. Thanks Harrison
I'm writing this as I'm listening to you. I was raised in a conservative, fundamentalist Christian household which, in the end isn't a hell of a lot different between your upbringing, as a JW, and mine. We all heard the same Bible stories. When I was a little boy, I had a phonograph and an album of records of Bible stories. One of the records began with a chorus singing "Samson, Mighty Samson!" I think that it went on to say, his mother would never cut his hair. I love your contrast between Superman and Samson. As a little boy, six or seven years old, I lacked the ability to see the story of Samson for what it was really was. You're an articulate guy and I really appreciate your videos.
"If Samson existed and behaved in the manner outlined in scripture, would it be appropriate to label him 'the original superhero'?" Gilgamesh: Hold my trumpet
Bro you’re helping my friend who’s underage avoid baptism when the elders question on him and try to “clear his doubts” he leaves them now doubting their beliefs and unable to question him. He’s under 18 and only one of his parents are jw and they try to bully him into believing because of his mom. Instead of just accepting his request to not participate.
Well done, I have never thought of this story in this way. I heard it as a child in the same manner as yourself however after leaving the faith I never considered it further. I really enjoyed this and will likely reconsider other childhood stories in the same manner. Kudos 👍
I was actually horrified even as a child JW reading these accounts, but I ignored when my parents (who I implicitly trusted) brushed it aside. However, as with anything there comes a time when you can no longer ignore that voice inside your head.
It suddenly occurred to me that the story of Samson only really begins being recorded after he has been banished from the local Jewish communities that he had already outraged.
Sir, this was a great break down of the Samson mythology. I especially enjoyed the comparison between him and Superman. You did a superb job with this video. Please keep doing things like this it is great work that you are doing.
Very very well done! 👍🏼 It’s unsettling to realise that this video was needed to open my eyes ... Samson was a childhood favourite. Please do one on stoning. The Bible is contradictory in itself - someone who was gathering STICKS on the sabbath was stoned by Moses at the direction of Jehovah but later suddenly it’s Sabbath for man and not man for the Sabbath... that truly makes no sense.
jesus just did what every jewish prophet did - preach his own moral ideals and convictions and claim authority of the law, when the people he was condemning or disagreeing with were actually right about the letter of the law. ezekiel did the same thing in condemning child sacrifice, which he had to admit was commanded by moses, but he claimed god only gave their ancestors that command to horrify them because of their disobedience in the wilderness. jeremiah did it with the cult of asherah/the queen of heaven, a perfectly legitimate israelite tradition, as his detractors pointed out, and for whom he had no answer besides 'well yahweh's gonna kill you all now'. etc. for jesus it was divorce (don't do it, no i don't care that the law of moses says it's ok, he was just conceding to your hard hearts), the sabbath (don't kill people who violate it, no i know what the law of moses says but guys, it's just not cool), and internal purity (don't even lust after women, don't get angry or try to take vengeance on those who hurt you, etc.) it's contradictory if you treat it as all one big book with literary unity, but if you read it as a bunch of books that disagree with each other about theology, ethics, history, etc. it makes complete sense
A brutal man yes. A sinner with no doubt. Yet God gave him power to be the first super hero in history to give rise to the concept of a super hero. Superman was built on a lie or fictional story. Sampson was a real man. God still gave him grace as as sinner because he called out to him. This is the moral of the story. Read it for yourself before casting judgement.
A brutal man yes. A sinner with no doubt. Yet God gave him power to be the first super hero in history to give rise to the concept of a super hero. Superman was built on a lie or fictional story. Sampson was a real man. God still gave him grace as as sinner because he called out to him. This is the moral of the story. Read it for yourself before casting judgement.
Brilliantly done my friend 👍 The comparison allows the viewer to see the striking contrast between what's really good and what is actually evil and immoral. Bravo!! ❤️👏👏👏
I was always disappointed that we get so much information about Samson, a man who was in every way a complete ass, but one single sentence about Shamgar, who is claimed to have killed hundreds of men in an invading army,armed only with an ox goad. I want to hear THAT story!
Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not seek its own, is not provoked, reckons not the evil, does not rejoice over the unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, it covers all, believes all, expects all, endures all. Love never fails. How do I ever reconcile this definition and Sampson's life. The same yesterday today and forever....I don't see it. It's very sad to me. 26 years in as a Christian and I just can't walk it out anymore.
Excellent video content and truly valid subject. Excellent concise and accurate presentation yet again. Delivered by a Superhero of truth, as far as I’m concerned.
This was great! It's amazing that this story isn't used more often to show in the insanity of the Bible / god of the Bible. Thanks for putting in all of he heard work to make this. Absolutely wonderful!
The most recent version of Superman is actually an attempt to try to get more readers. Comics have been on the decline in the 2010s and have continued. One of the big issues in making big changes to old characters is that...you're changing what worked and was appealing. If you don't know what most people want you're doomed. As for Samson, it was a story for Jews in a time where there was no state and every city was independent. Jewish men probably had to go to war to maintain control of arable land in their lifetimes at least once if they didn't die the first time. That's who Samson was made for.
You have to love the Bible! Those mentioned as examples to follow were: Drunks, polygamists, murderers, psychopaths, would and did sacrifice their own children to their God, practiced incest... Paaaaartay!!!!
While I understand why Samson didn't want to tell Laila where did he get his pewers from he could just say "I can't tell you". In the long run honesty pays off
Samson was a Nazarite. That is, they use something like ritual magic to become sanctified. It's a vow, sort of like, "So long as I do not cut my hair, I'll be close to God." There are other aspects but this is the important one for the story. When his hair was cut the spell was broken and he lost his power. You only need watch Harry Potter to understand spells being broken.
Samson isn’t supposed to be seen as a hero. Anyone who thinks Samson is a hero or a faithful obedient man of God has no idea what the book of Judges is about
I remembered watching this series on the History Channel called The Bible when I was younger. In that series, one of the story arcs that was displayed was that of Samson's. Like you before, I remembered being in awe of his strength, even regarding him as a hero of sorts. Only through this video, I realized that Samson is not the hero I once thought he was, and it was much darker than I initially perceived it to be. Great video and cheers from a former roman catholic in the Philippines!
I am thoroughly captivated with your channel...what an education you're providing...what real thoughts you're provoking, even for someone who gave up Christianity because of questions that couldn't be answered with acceptable doctrines, many many years ago. You are providing the same arguments I had in my head, but you are thoroughly researching and documenting. You are educating...and you are making a difference. THANK YOU so much for all your effort.
That was an awesome rundown of Samson I never even thought of it that way because I like you was raised a JW. And my mom always read me the book of Bible stories. Or I did as I got older. But another person I'm very interested in learning about is King Solomon because I've always thought him to be the person that was the wisest person on Earth and I have since found out that he was actually pretty evil at the end of his Reign that he was worshipping a god named Molech and they were sacrificing newborn babies and children to this God and they were being burnt alive. So if you could do one on King Solomon I would greatly appreciate it and I'm sure a lot of other people would appreciate knowing what he really was like. Thank you
Man, did I read correctly? The Noah's Ark video has one million views? Congratulations! That is a WELL DESERVED number. Not just the in depth research and intelligent discourse, but the little comparisons and humor give the videos such a human feel. God stopped the sun? I thought Thursday seemed long. Laughed my ass off at that one. Wish you the best!
![Tee Grizzley - Robbery 8 [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/34_vkNV6wrU/mqdefault.jpg)
This isn't the last you've heard from me regarding Samson. In a few videos time, I will be asking the question: *based* *on* *typical* *human* *behaviour* is the story of Samson THE most unbelievable (obviously fictional) story contained in the entire Bible?
Would you say yes, or is there another story which would take the crown in your opinion?
When I read "evil superhero" I assumed this would be about Moses. No shortage of evil superheroes in the bible. :P
I agree with you!!
Another story that made me cry when I read it for the first time is when Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi killed their sister’s fiancé, his whole family and everybody living in their village. These Canaanite people had agreed to follow Jacob’s custom to be circumcised and when the men were in pain and physically weak, they were attacked and murdered 😢
I could never understand why Jehovah would condone this cruel, deceiving and murderous plot.
The story of lot and his daughters is probably one of the more bonkers ones
Any story containing talking animals like the snake in the garden or the donkey who said their was an angel in the road. Nothing says mythical quite like animals speaking in human speech. The weirdest part of these stories is that the humans never taken aback by the animal speaking in their native tongue.
Really interesting question. My first thought was obviously Noah, but that's really a science issue, not a behavioral one...
Not gonna lie, I always felt the story of King David was insanely unbelievable from a behavioral/personality standpoint. Like, especially when it comes to his son (Abimalech? Maybe?) who r*p3s one of David's wives on top of a building so that as many people as possible could see it? And David was like "yeah it's okay, you're my son and I love you" (summarized, obviously).
To me, reading his story through, I was shocked that *this* was the great king david that everyone heralded as one of the best people to ever live. Dude was a murderer, a family destroyer, an ego-maniac, obsessed with his legacy to the point that he was unphased by his son r****g one of his wives, a misogynist (duh), a warlord....
The list goes on and on.
I'd say that he might be equally "unbelievable" to Samson in that he is held up as this paragon of virtue and righteousness, but he's a complete, moral monster.
Hi Harrison am a Jehovah’s Witness but since I started watching your videos am beginning to question some the teachings of the church. My mother is not happy with me questioning my belief system of my religion. Thanks again for opening my eyes. I always look up to u Harrison.
@Walter Samuel, questioning what you do not understand is called knowledge and learning. Not questioning what you do not understand is idiotic, dumb, and hippocratic. You are in a good start brother. Do not let anyone tell you to believe but believe to what you believe on your own understanding. Open-mindedness is the only way we find the truth. May the Enlightenment be with you.
There's a fairly large community of exJWs and sceptics out here. No matter what, don't ever think that you're alone.
if you can't question it, how do you trust it
Question everything and everyone. Ignorant and fearful people tell you not to question religious beliefs.
@@LDP00011 because they do not have the answers when questioned.
"you know why Superman wouldn't do that?"
...
"Because Superman isn't a dick"
Oh, so Robin would, eh? Because he is... 😁
@@mangalvnam2010 Damn, you're joke is going to go over so many people's heads. It's not black or white, it's grey, son.
@@cleanapanna3537 haha nice
Although superman is fiction, DC were protraying a superhero who was selfless and tried to help people and knew that once he caught the bad guy the right thing to do was to hand them over to the authority and not be a viligalate! It gave a positive message to the readers of the comics
@@fredprice7635 thank you, someone who actually understands superman abit, unlike everyone else who says hes generic 🙄
As an ex-evangelical, your videos are absolutely incredible! You break down beliefs at their very core, and you do it in such a respectful way that many Christians might listen. I sincerely appreciate all the effort you put into these videos.
If the blind leadeth the blind they shall BOTH FALL into the ditch.
as an athiest that grew up in a pretty secular household , looking at your videos from the outside i find it remarkable the effort and great lengths you go through , in an attempt to get these poor people started down the path of free thought , cant imagine how many people of faith you have changed the life of with your videos , keep up the good work and thank you.
I truly appreciate your comment. I will keep fighting for truth and rational, free thinking.
@@TheTruthHurts same
@@TheTruthHurts thanks
I’ve been an atheist my whole life so I love hearing the experiences of ex religious people and I believe they’re much more likely to sway the opinion of theists as they have the experience of being one. I, however, find it difficult sometimes to put myself in the shoes of theists because I’ve never been one and so to me it’s obvious that it’s all fake yk?
Stunning take down of the "Hercules" of the bible. Well done. Can't wait until you do King David, but no way you can do him in one video.
I‘ve watched a few of your videos, fancy seeing you here. Harrison‘s videos have opened my eyes to a lot of things.
@@SinnohGreen I have watched every video he's made from day 1. He's got a lot of heart, and courage.
Hi Triar! Hello!
Yes, King David was a horrible guy.
Totally agreed. King David is nuts.
Samsons story, is a psychological horror if it was told from the perspective of the Philistines. Imagine someone with the strength to rip someone appart with his bare hands, who also happens to enjoy killing people and has the emotional control of a four year old. This person, for some reason wants to hang out with you, but you also know he could kill you the moment you ran out of his favor. And you have seen that happen to several other people, so you know what he is capable of, so you try and appease him and seem like you are his friend.
Just like God . If he were real .
@@Insanemembrane93 Yuppp
You talking about Dwayne The Rock Johnson? 😳😂
The philistines weren’t actually very nice people, you know with threatening to burn a woman and her fathers family alive if she didn’t help them solve the riddle.
And as Samson said himself, they wouldn’t have been able to solve the riddle if they “hadn’t plowed with his heifer”. Samson would have won that agreement if it were not for there actions threatening his wife the way they did. If those philistines simply accepted there lose and payed Samson what they owed those 30 men of Ashkelon wouldn’t of died but as the philistines said to his wife, “have you invited us to make us poor?”, they didn’t want to live in poverty because they loved there wealth and were greedy at the chance for even more wealth.
Now imagine these philistines threatening to murder there own, Samson’s wife and her family, imagine how then they treated outsiders? Either the same or worse which either way isn’t very good.
Ps no where in scripture does it say Samson enjoyed killing people. Secondly if he had the emotional control of a 4 year old then why not kill the 30 men who were with him at the feast? And did not it say after he gave them the garments he left and went back home even though he was “burning with anger”? Yes he did , he could’ve ripped those men apart but he didn’t even though he obviously was angry. So it seems to me that Samson would not just willingly kill anybody, after all are we to assume he never got angry with his parents yet they lived and did he not go back to his fathers house angry and yet he didn’t harm anyone there.
After wards he killed more philistines but did they not burn his wife and father in law alive? They were all murderers after all? Then the 1000 philistines he killed with a donkeys jawbone, did they not go after him by there own choice intending to kill him? There choice after Samson said he would be avenged and then stop, which he did and left for Etam.
And finally when he killed again was it not because the Philistines took cause against him by getting Delilah to betray him? Was it not them who took away his eyesight? And then because they wanted to watch him entertain them he was bought out at the temple of there god Dagon saying there god had brought them to him when in fact it was Samson’s God who did so, delivering the rulers of the philistines into his hand and 3000 men and women on the roof who were there by there own choice. The God of Samson then avenged him for the lose of his eyes by giving his strength back to bring the temple down on them.
Simply put, the Old Testament law wasn’t perfect because if it was there would be no need for what Christ did and the New Testament. God has his will and at the end of the day none of those Samson killed were innocent people. They were judged for there sins and as a result lost there lives, so repent and believe in Jesus Christ whose blood is shed for the remission of sins while you yet may have God’s mercy. For you do not know whether you will have tomorrow.
@@yeshuaisthetruth9636 That is a fallacy of moral equivalence... It doesn't matter in the slightest how bad the philistines were, what is important is that Sampson is an extremely terrible person and is somehow exalted as a just person who God favors...
If the Philistines are also bad is irrelevant, because the bible never paints them as good or God does not favor them. The supposed moral book, and the supposed all loving God, supports and paints a serial killer as a moral example. To the point that he is mentioned in the New Testament as one of the biggest examples of a follower of God.
Besides, even if we take your fallacy at face value, Sampson was even worse than the Philistines. At least the Philistines committed heinous acts for a reason, but Sampson seemed to enjoy doing it. Sampson killed several innocent people, several that were not even Philistines, so we can't even know if those that he killed were good or bad. And even if we ignore the reason for doing the murders, and just count how many bodies they left behind.... Sampson wins by a long shot. Sampson killed way more people than the Philistines, and the majority were completely innocent people.
I understand these videos are a lot of work to make. Please know they are so compelling and educational. I appreciate your work!
yt upscale knowledge for truth
Because he is a paid shill clearly no one gets this amount in such a short time the guy is a wrong un
@@davidworoniuk183 Hi David - do you have any evidence that he is a paid shill. The only evidence you cite so far is that it would be impossible for him to crank out videos of this magnitude so quickly. But that doesn't prove anything. I worked in corporate training for a while, and we cranked out lots of videos daily which were replete with complicated information. The staff cranking out these videos were just me and one other person. And the technology made available to us maybe made the videos a little prettier, but didn't reduce the time involved in making the videos. I am also curious - are you a Jehovah's Witness? Hope you don't mind me asking. I just wanted to see if you had a religious axe to grind. Thanks, Omar
@@omartorrio1512 he clearly has been promoted by youtube look how many views he has got in such a short amount of time , also the quality of the video editing is very high clearly not just some kid with a camera, they have been professionally produced , he ia more than likley just a actor never been a jehovahs wittnesss in his life , just all part of the anti christian agenda
@@davidworoniuk183 ....You do realize you can be a RUclipsr and be professional, right....? There are infinite examples of independent creators with a high amount of quality to their videos these days that it's incredible really.
As for RUclips, they tend to push whatever is popular, so when one video gets a surge it will be pushed more than others. I would be curious to know what made you believe that having high quality, daily videos would make someone a charlatan and a shill.
The truth shall set you free, but first it will piss you off! Thank you for working so hard to make people think! It may take time but the truth you bring to light will help people out of their religious jail.
Agreed unless it's a life sentence as a existence for the religious believers to ever educate.
I really wonder how Christians who actually read the Bible can continue to follow it. It is full of some of the greatest evil acts either committed by God, commanded by God, or done in God's name. There is a reason that "the wrath of God" is a common phrase because he is one mean and merciless character. Christians often dismiss the Old Testament for some reason and point to Jesus as their moral guide, but he is the biggest narcissist of all time, commanding that you worship him or he will send you to Hell to be tortured for eternity. The so-called God of love is actually just an abusive lover who beats their spouse while claiming that they made them do it. God or Jesus by whatever name is not worthy of veneration by any right-thinking person whether you think him real or imaginary. Although if you really think he is real, I guess you should better do what he says because he is one scary mf.
@@robertvirnig638 he's a champion of a almighty lord megatron. Autobots repent or parish.
The modern concept of the super-hero is fundamentally different from "heroes" of old. Whereas in the past the hero's actions were motivated by a desire for fame or wealth, or to benefit the tribe and thus achieve stature within it, or to please a god or king, the super-hero does good deeds, and for the sake of goodness alone. Superman isn't motivated by any religious dogma, just the wish to help those in need. The very first issue of Spider-Man gave us the super-hero dictum: "With great power comes great responsibility". That's a notion completely foreign to both Samson and Yahweh.
Milton and Nietzsche both comment on this as the distinction between pagan heroes and Christian heroes.
You are aware that the reason this distinction between then and now as you described is directly because of the all-encompassing influence of Christianity, yes?
@@Tyler_W Then you also have to recognize the difference between Christianity of then and now is the Humanism that's been seeping into Christianity over the centuries. Sure, there have been other not so noble influences like colonial racism and fascism, but when folks want to argue the religion's more egalatarian aspects, what they're using is Humanism.
@@Tyler_W You're wrong, and you completely missed my point. The modern super-hero (including the early archetype of Superman, who was, by the way created by two young Jewish guys from Ohio) is a purely secular-humanist idea. Unlike, as I said, past heroes who did deeds to please some god (including Jesus), that doesn't enter into the consideration of a Spider-Man or Green Lantern. Modern super heroes don't risk their lives to help those in need in fear of hell or in hope for heaven, but do good, as the old song says, for goodness' sake. That's why they have universal appeal to people all over the world.
@@Tyler_W lol, Christianity existed for 2000 years and people acted just like in ancient times, only when peopme started to seriously questioning it some 200 years ago we started to get rid of stuff like tyrants appointed by God (kings and nobility) and slavery. Christianity only held us back.
When I saw the title I knew it was the totally nutty story of Sampson. The guy was a psycho. I always hated the cruelty with the foxes. Even as a child, it taught me the Bible was full of immoral people. Love Christopher Reeve, he was a real super hero. A disabled man, raising money fully knowing he would never live to benefit from the research he paid for.
Well said
Yeah that crazy abuse of the foxes.....yeesh
What did he do to the foxes?
@@Imaginathor-1k0 He grabbed them by the tails (300 of them🙄) tied them together by tails, one fox facing each way, then set fire to them. So as they ran and panicked, burning, they set fire to his enemies fields of crops.
@@annabizaro-doo-dah Awesome idea for warfare! Pure genius!
According to Jewish belief, each Judge was worser than the last. So I guess it makes sense the last major one, Samson, would be the worst of them all.
There's nothing like a "loving" god knowingly creating the most evil being (satan), then allowing that being to "fool" humans, so that countless billions of humans will spend an eternity in hell. All in the name of "free will." Makes perfect sense to me!!
But don't forget nothing happens that doesn't go according to God's will.
Well said mate
@@therealivydawg yep! god's "will". god's will for millions of children to get sick and die a brutal death from cancer. god's will for millions of children to be sexually abused (I'm guessing so that god will "help" them through it??) What a loving god to have all of them planned out for everyone.
The Devil and God are made up, design to instill fear to control masses.
Once you take a look at who's in control and notice the global scale satanic ritual you'll understand.
Now we know why the Samson Story was never made into a Bible Drama Movie for the conventions.…
It would make many JWs start thinking critically 🤔 Thank you so much for your excellent explanations 💙
hmm…they made it for nehemiah…perhaps they ll do it as a masterpiece when Ramapo is completed:) i m thinking about a good casting…an intoxicated senior member of gb threatening the vile apostates with a match or a gas lighter
@@disassociated1731 lol 😂 They should make a movie like that!!!
they should do a movie about bottlegate 🥃
not sure if this is relevant, but there was a movie, i believe in 1948, but may be mistaken on the year. Samson and Delilah starred Victor Mature and the incredibly beautifull and even more intelligent Hedy Lamarr.
@@davidnoelfranks1124 Asking great questions is a huge part of thinking critically. JWs will start questioning "Why did Jehovah give Samson supernatural powers?" 👉 "Is the Bible really the word of Jehovah?" And finally 👉 "Is Jehovah's Witnesses the true religion?" The Watchtower & GB didn't want that to happen.
Finally, another video by Harrisson. I have been waiting so long.
Me too!!!
Me three!
Same
Me four, hoping for more.❤
I appreciate this guy so much
When I was a little kid. I confused the name Satan with the name Samson. I was calling Samson, Satan until my brother corrected me.
It's ok. They're both mythical characters.
That’s hilarious
Jws don't spend a lot of time discussing Samson. We can see why. What a truly horrific story. I would love to see a watchtower study article solely about him, extolling all his "virtues"...but it would be R rated. When I was newly JW I gave the bible stories book to a friend for her daughter. She gave it back to me saying that her young daughter was having nightmares from the pictures in the Samson story.
Fantastic video Harrison.
JWs don’t spend a lot of time discussing anything that discredits their position and belief system, instead they rant and straw man anyone or anything that doesn’t share their dogmatic belief system
Jw spend a lot time praising thier governing body... they also spend lots of time on going over all the rules...they have to live by.
Ha! Basically, the same thing happened to me. It was one of the things that made me go "hmmm."
It's what we see throughout abramaic religions, where they mainly focus on some of the bible, discrediting more and more of its material as the years passed; have you read Levitical passages?
It's funny that the same people that had read the bible at a certain age and in its whole is the same people that had removed their veil
In Trinidad and Tobago, the JWs have very much ingratiated the organisation and made it "normal". I've had that Bible story book forever and I'm Catholic. No idea where my mom got it, possibly from the nice old Jehovah's Witness old lady who used to come by our gate all the time. I only learned JWs were a cult like. Two years ago? And my mom had no idea and still kinda doesn't believe me. Now I'm in kind of a moral quandary over what to do with the book... I still have it upstairs.
I love how Jawe does direct or indirect evil and gets glorified, yet the Devil is blamed for everything while doing WAY much less.
🤯... He's the fall guy for the big guy that actually pulls all the strings..
You're totally correct. Unless you've already gotten your mind warped by childhood indoctrination, there's no way you could sincerely believe Jehovah is the nicer guy between him and Satan.
"evil is evil. lessor, greater, middling. makes no difference. the degree is arbitrary. the definitions blurred. if I'm to choose between one evil and another, I'd rather not choose at all." - Geralt of Rivia, as voiced by Doug Cockle, 2013.
I’ve been waiting for this video since 1991 when I was 11 and absolutely could not see how murder was equivalent to serving the true God and punching your ticket to everlasting life. Thank you.
I doubt he is the true god. A real god wouldn’t do this.
"My book with bible stories" ruined my childhood, too.
This is a nice love letter to Christopher Reeves's superman. His was the best superman, and inspired us all. Honestly, I left the JWs when I was 17, and I don't remember much about Samson other than his death and the cutting of his hair. I was always confused as to why the JWs looked up to him.
The Story of Samson was a big part of me waking up. When I started doubting, the Elders always said to read the Bible and meditate on it. Reading and meditating on the stories of Moses and the Judges are what led to me seeing Jehovah as a complete and utter monster. I started seeing Satan as the one who was trying to warn us about the Monster that is Jehovah. I'm an Athiest now, but when I still believed in God but saw him as a complete monster and I wanted nothing to do with the New System or Heaven. I would prefer to burn in hell than worship Jehovah. I'm an Athiest now, but yeah.
I have read your comment several times and I am still speechless. In a good way. I am also very angry at jws and that part I say out loud I am also in agreement with what you are saying but still a little scared to say it out loud
You mean, you don't want to worship an all-powerful god whose sole meaning to his creation is to select the most gullible people to praise him and to send the masses of free thinkers to hell? The same God that loves to constantly 'test' and inflict pain on his people to see who is worthy of 'keeping the faith'. Why would you not want to worship the all-truthful, never-lying God who not only plants the same fossil types at the same specific strata layers all over the world, removes evidence of Kangaroo and other Australian marsupial fossils on their way to Australia after the flood, plants evidence of an old universe all over the earth and universe such as ancient rivers and lakes on Mars, but actively covers up evidence of Egyptian armies under the red/reed seas where his book says there should be? The same God who blames YOU and sends you to hell for not having been born into a Christan family with more gullible brain genetics. The same God who sends babies and uncontacted people in the Amazon to hell because they did not accept Christ crucified. Why would anyone not want to spend eternity with such an all-loving God?
@@ambrekalynch7543 It takes time, you need to be patient with your own process. It took me years to get comfortable with my own thoughts and feelings on the JW's. When you are convinced that your thoughts and feelings can be sins and doing anything against the holy spirit is unforgivable it can be hard. There are a lot of mental blocks to get past and that is okay.
@@jiffypoo5029 thank you for your kind words I feel a little comforted
@Stirgid Lanathiel Do the jews believe in a collective evil? Last I checked man's fallen nature led to an inclination to breaking the law/sinning and the satan was a sort of prosecuter, that's why in job God allows the satan to torment job.
Samson's story never clicked with me, even during my indoctrinated days.
Same. I never understood why he was favored by God
They really work to turn people into sociopaths
I think no one is choosed by abrahamic god has a good moral even jesus did something stupid by cursing the tree, angry with tree because he didn't know how biology work. This is sign of a narsistic person with mental disorder than a wise and merciful perfect god. He shoud have known that tree was follow its nature which is created by God himself.
And how lovely and wise Jesus who was a God acted like a fanatical rascal destroying the market at temple courtyard.
Oh how the lovely judas. Does judas go to hell or heaven ?.
Hate or love this guys, judas did the bigger thing to make christian's biggest plan work. Or Jesus who was suppose to be all knowing entity had already known judas who he was choosen by Jesus himself would betray jesus someday. Still he choosed him in order to our God manipulative plan could work (a bloody God sacrifice to save humanity from curse that was created by God itself) and then judas is going to hell forever because he had to follow God's biggest plan.
@@arik2216 isn't God actually the only one evil?
The last time I read the Bible all the way through, I was a believer. I need to re-read the Bible as an atheist to see if I can figure out why stories like Abraham convinced to kill his own son inspired me so much. Now, it makes me question if I had any sense or morality then and even to this day. In other words, I don't trust my own judgment.
I know that the people talk a lot about "Satan" and "Satanism" but until the three Abrahamic religion exists we don't need "Satanism" for the evil to thrive.
You know I liked Samson as a kid but then again, I was a kid and shame on adults for making me glorify and uphold a morally questionable man. Or the fact I jeered saul for not killing every breathing thing in a massacre against their enemy. Or the fact I was lead to think the biggest mass murderer in literature was an all loving father figure. Nothing made me feel more gaslit than religion honestly.
Exactly man
We're all 'morally questionable'. No man is without fault. There's one perfect person in the entire Bible & that's Jehovah. The only things that was common and brought any significance to those bible characters was their faith in God inspire of their messes & mistakes and God's willingness to forgive them and show mercy and patience towards them and us.
@@kevinhinds9277 honestly your entitled to your beliefs but I disagree with you. Yes everyone is flawed but that doesn't mean you'd lie cheat and needlessly kill, much less you use your final wish as a way to mass murder a lot of people some of which are innocent people. Also I very much disagree with god being perfect. One they show remorse or regret in Genesis for making man, two they drown lots of animals and innocent people for not being the way they like (they could have just made them go from a state of existence to a state of non existence), three they admit to be a jealous god in Exodus and prove this true while tormenting the Israelites for worshiping other deities in the old testament, four allowing slavery to be permissible in the Pentateuch and even Ephesians. Also they did not intend for man to have free will or choice because assuming man prior to the fall had no knowledge of good and evil , they couldn't even choose whether they wanted to follow god or do their own thing. in my humble opinion, God or Jehovah or Yahweh or whatever ya want to call them is the pettiest, most violent celestial child to ever be thought up. The love associated with God comes from Jesus and even then it doesn't change anything.
@@kevinhinds9277 dude your brainwashed
@@kevinhinds9277 a child dies every 10 seconds in India where the main religion is hindi so a child is sent to hell every 10 seconds based on your beliefs. You really need to research why you believe the things you do. Blind faith creates the most horrid evil on this earth. The Bible is a collection of fallible error, god is a manifestation of the the ego
I just discovered your videos and am binge watching every one I can find. It’s so nice to hear my thoughts spoken aloud.
It took me over an hour to finish watching this. I'll have to quit my job to watch your videos without interruptions.
Resigning seems like the only logical option
@@TheTruthHurts - I gave them my two weeks notice, LOL!
I pointed out to an elder this messed up story from the Bible and he just brushed it off like it didn't really matter.
Sampson is a very interesting figure! I think he and Hercules have similar tales.
The lion story for sure
Hercules and Heracles.
@@stevenmara1025
There's a reason....both Samson and Hercules are the sun.
The 12 trials of Hercules are the twelve months......same dynamic with Jesus and his 12.
Samson even means "Man of the sun"....the clue is in the name.
So when both fight a lion.......they represent the sun in the constellation of Leo.
Derek, glad to see you lurking on some Ex JW content. Harrison is a talented and meticulous producer. I hope you enjoy his stuff as much as I do. Of course, I love MythVision. Your approach to examining the bible and the historicity of these teachings is really what helped me unwind the JW indoctrination without invoking some religious emotionalism. Your guest list is phenomenal.
Samson the original suicide bomber. I was always scared of him killing a lion with his bare hands.
As soon as I saw that jawbone in the thumbnail I knew it had to be Samson! He was indeed a stupendously horrible man.
Although I admit I get most of my knowledge about the character from Darkmatter2525's retelling of the myth. 😁
Nothing can beat Genesis 38 though! 🤣🤣🤣
Darkmatters depiction of the story of Sampson is a keystone dissertation of the subject matter. Lol
I really enjoy content from Darkmatter2525, yet I didn't know he produced videos regarding the story of Samson... Right, let's take a look!
@@TheTruthHurts I hope you'll like it. He's quite the voice artist! 😁
It's pretty much the same .
after seeing the title and then you asked what we would think about suicide bombers, the very first name from the bible I thought of was sampson, and no surprise that is what this is about. What foolish bias people will have for the acts of people in their holy books, and give them a pass for being servants of their particular version of a god. again, how religion can poison the minds of many. It did mine but not anymore. disgusting.
I thought it was going to be God, he's the ultimate evil in the bible.
@@ResearchThis And Samson his evil sidekick
@@ResearchThis If the god of abraham is a real and only true god, and Jesus was the human incarnation of this god, then Jesus is the ultimate evil character if the NT is accurate, because the proposition he made that those who dont believe him will burn in a fiery furnace forever. That is pure evil to do that knowing that most people will believe whatever their culture brings them up to believe and at no fault of their own. How can anyone justify a god who created someone in cirumstances that would have them believe otherwise, then judge the person for being mislead during their life. This is Jesus' proposition. Again, pure evil.
@@brucecook502 you’re right. thx for pointing this out.
go head n bash islam while you’re at it too
As always another very well laid out, researched, and educational. please continue providing us with great material.
I love that you always use Yahweh instead of Jehovah. I wonder how much this bothers Bible fundamentalists.
My favorite is how TherminTrees sometimes refers to him; "The god character." No credence given beyond a story.
@@JohanKylander - I love that!
I like to use female pronouns for God to bother people
@@MAJORp121 - I remember Ellen DeGeneres making a joke about speaking with God, "beautiful black female," she described him.
@@MAJORp121, Just so you know, Christian Scientists wouldn't bat an eye. They do not teach the assignment of a specific gender to God. You may view Him/Her as you wish. 🙃
What a brilliant way of looking at these bible stories! A massive well done Harrison love your material and videos!
Thank you Peter, that's very kind. I'm glad you enjoyed it
@@TheTruthHurts I get excited when a new video comes out! Your reasoning is wonderful. Your videos are excellent you keep on reinventing yourself! Bit like Madonna lol 😆 no joking Harrison keep up the excellent work!
@@TheTruthHurts I love u bro
Thank you for such a well researched and compelling video. I wasn't raised as a JW, but I became one for about 15 years. I could never bring myself to appreciate Samson's ruthlessness--especially killing the animals. The lady that studied with me would gloss over my questions and give a blanket statement that the people deserved death because they did not worship Jehovah. As it relates to the children, she and the elders likened it to rattlesnakes--baby rattlesnakes (venomous) will turn into adult rattlesnakes. Well, as an animal lover, I still couldn't wrap my brain around this analogy--if Jehovah CREATED dangerous animals and saw that it was good, why torture and kill them? Ughhhh...there are no easy answers to this foolishness!
Great breakdown of the Samson story.
His actions were always so confusing to rationalize.
11:35 animal cruelty aside, how did he manage to capture exactly 300 foxes? 😂
I remember being taught this story as a child in Sunday school.
If his feats were super natural, even usian bolt wouldn't burn him in a race
Never mind that how did he tie a torch between two foxes tails.
Well it’s not like he had super powers or anything.
@@blackholesun9068 that part is easy. He waited until they were asleep.
@@JohnnyWolfblood indeed.
There is actually a story where Superman arm wrestles Samson. The series is called All Star Superman. In that series Superman is on his death bed and he accomplishes feats that help humans before his passing.
I also (vividly) remember the story of Samson, in my illustrated Bible for children. After growing up, I can only say: WTF?
Let us not forget that Issac was 40 when he married Rebecca, who was only 10 at the time (according to the book of Jasher) 🤮🤮🤮 the Bible is pure insanity and I used to have to stop when I was reading it because you have to be insane to justify what you’re reading 🤯 but I was too scared to question it at that time. Thankfully, I woke up!
But it was approved by the God almighty himself...
Just keep it basic and skip around to the Bible verse that point out the good and u will be enlightened and become a faithful slave.
@@freeurmind609 pretty much 🙄
Do you believe the book of Jasher you quote, is the book of Jasher referred to in the Old Testament if so what is your proof? To me this only proves one of the reasons for the forgery of pseudo-Jasher to attack the Bible on an issue the Bible is silent on and insinuate an idea that would never be arrived at from reading the context of the surrounding chapters of the Bible. Saying I woke up is what most people claim when they change their beliefs I would say the same thing yet now believe the opposite of you that every word of the Bible was preserved. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Ps 12:6,7 If you prefer to trust the book of Jasher for your revealed truth I would suggest you are sound asleep.
@@exjwukmusicalescape9241 religion is a lie. The Bible is a lie. Wake up. Or stay blind. Your choice.
@@exjwukmusicalescape9241 and yes. The book of Jasher is mentioned 3 times in the Bible. I beg you to study the Old Testament because it wasn’t until I did that that I saw all the lies. Christianity is the easiest religion to disprove. The NT is literally a direct contradiction of the OT. You won’t find that out unless you read it.
Just when I think I couldn’t love your content anymore! 1978 Superman was my absolute favourite movie growing up so this really hit home. Thanks Harrison
I'm writing this as I'm listening to you. I was raised in a conservative, fundamentalist Christian household which, in the end isn't a hell of a lot different between your upbringing, as a JW, and mine. We all heard the same Bible stories. When I was a little boy, I had a phonograph and an album of records of Bible stories. One of the records began with a chorus singing "Samson, Mighty Samson!" I think that it went on to say, his mother would never cut his hair. I love your contrast between Superman and Samson.
As a little boy, six or seven years old, I lacked the ability to see the story of Samson for what it was really was.
You're an articulate guy and I really appreciate your videos.
"If Samson existed and behaved in the manner outlined in scripture, would it be appropriate to label him 'the original superhero'?"
Gilgamesh: Hold my trumpet
You're so eloquent! Thanks for sharing with such clarity. It's clear how thorough you are.
So happy to have you back H! Absolutely amazing video as usual 👍
Thank you so much Mila 🙏🏼😃
Shared the video. Thanks a lot for the great explanation.
Thanks for sharing!
@@TheTruthHurts, You are welcome.
Bro you’re helping my friend who’s underage avoid baptism when the elders question on him and try to “clear his doubts” he leaves them now doubting their beliefs and unable to question him. He’s under 18 and only one of his parents are jw and they try to bully him into believing because of his mom. Instead of just accepting his request to not participate.
Well done, I have never thought of this story in this way. I heard it as a child in the same manner as yourself however after leaving the faith I never considered it further. I really enjoyed this and will likely reconsider other childhood stories in the same manner. Kudos 👍
I was actually horrified even as a child JW reading these accounts, but I ignored when my parents (who I implicitly trusted) brushed it aside. However, as with anything there comes a time when you can no longer ignore that voice inside your head.
Excellent video. You have a great way of clearly and simply delivering your messages.
Thank you Stephen 🙏😊
Thank you for such a clear coverage of Samson. I never understand how he was thought of as a faithful man. He wasn’t someone to imitate.
Thanks for another outstanding video Harrison‼️ You have a gift for comparing / contrasting things that otherwise may not be considered. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
That's very kind of you to say. I'm happy you enjoyed it!
Incredibly thought provoking and informative! Well done, as always!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you thought so
It suddenly occurred to me that the story of Samson only really begins being recorded after he has been banished from the local Jewish communities that he had already outraged.
Sir, this was a great break down of the Samson mythology. I especially enjoyed the comparison between him and Superman.
You did a superb job with this video. Please keep doing things like this it is great work that you are doing.
Thanks Jason! Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Very very well done! 👍🏼
It’s unsettling to realise that this video was needed to open my eyes ... Samson was a childhood favourite.
Please do one on stoning. The Bible is contradictory in itself - someone who was gathering STICKS on the sabbath was stoned by Moses at the direction of Jehovah but later suddenly it’s Sabbath for man and not man for the Sabbath... that truly makes no sense.
jesus just did what every jewish prophet did - preach his own moral ideals and convictions and claim authority of the law, when the people he was condemning or disagreeing with were actually right about the letter of the law. ezekiel did the same thing in condemning child sacrifice, which he had to admit was commanded by moses, but he claimed god only gave their ancestors that command to horrify them because of their disobedience in the wilderness. jeremiah did it with the cult of asherah/the queen of heaven, a perfectly legitimate israelite tradition, as his detractors pointed out, and for whom he had no answer besides 'well yahweh's gonna kill you all now'. etc.
for jesus it was divorce (don't do it, no i don't care that the law of moses says it's ok, he was just conceding to your hard hearts), the sabbath (don't kill people who violate it, no i know what the law of moses says but guys, it's just not cool), and internal purity (don't even lust after women, don't get angry or try to take vengeance on those who hurt you, etc.)
it's contradictory if you treat it as all one big book with literary unity, but if you read it as a bunch of books that disagree with each other about theology, ethics, history, etc. it makes complete sense
A brutal man yes. A sinner with no doubt. Yet God gave him power to be the first super hero in history to give rise to the concept of a super hero. Superman was built on a lie or fictional story. Sampson was a real man. God still gave him grace as as sinner because he called out to him. This is the moral of the story. Read it for yourself before casting judgement.
A brutal man yes. A sinner with no doubt. Yet God gave him power to be the first super hero in history to give rise to the concept of a super hero. Superman was built on a lie or fictional story. Sampson was a real man. God still gave him grace as as sinner because he called out to him. This is the moral of the story. Read it for yourself before casting judgement.
Brilliantly done my friend 👍 The comparison allows the viewer to see the striking contrast between what's really good and what is actually evil and immoral. Bravo!! ❤️👏👏👏
I truly appreciate your in depth analysis of these subjects. It changes perspective for sure.
I recall a fellow Regular Pioneer J-Dub who always compared the Pioneers to Nassarites such as Samson. He saw Samson as an example worth following.
It says a lot about a person if he thinks Samson is the good guy.
The way you rapped this story up about stories of the time. Top notch sir. 👌
I appreciate that, thanks Josh. Glad you liked it!
@@TheTruthHurts thank you for all the hard work you put into your videos.
I was always disappointed that we get so much information about Samson, a man who was in every way a complete ass, but one single sentence about Shamgar, who is claimed to have killed hundreds of men in an invading army,armed only with an ox goad.
I want to hear THAT story!
Super interesting!! Thank you Harrison you do great work
I'm glad you think so Barney😊
Love is patient, is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not seek its own, is not provoked, reckons not the evil, does not rejoice over the unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, it covers all, believes all, expects all, endures all. Love never fails.
How do I ever reconcile this definition and Sampson's life.
The same yesterday today and forever....I don't see it. It's very sad to me. 26 years in as a Christian and I just can't walk it out anymore.
Excellent as always.
Logical and well researched.
Thank you Heidi!
Excellent video content and truly valid subject.
Excellent concise and accurate presentation yet again.
Delivered by a Superhero of truth, as far as I’m concerned.
Thank you so much for the kind words. 😊
I hope you do a video on the book of Job ..what a sick , sadistic, story
This was great! It's amazing that this story isn't used more often to show in the insanity of the Bible / god of the Bible. Thanks for putting in all of he heard work to make this. Absolutely wonderful!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
It's amazing what you can see without those rose tinted glasses.
I always thought Samson to be the biggest jerk in the Bible even early in my childhood
The most recent version of Superman is actually an attempt to try to get more readers. Comics have been on the decline in the 2010s and have continued. One of the big issues in making big changes to old characters is that...you're changing what worked and was appealing. If you don't know what most people want you're doomed.
As for Samson, it was a story for Jews in a time where there was no state and every city was independent. Jewish men probably had to go to war to maintain control of arable land in their lifetimes at least once if they didn't die the first time. That's who Samson was made for.
You are a master teacher on the same level as Socrates and Aristotle.
Please post more videos man. I absolutely love your content as someone seeking truth! Could you do a video on Jesus in the Gospels?
Dark Matter 2525 did a hilarious 3 part animated series highlighting the ridiculousness of the Samson legend.
Sampson killing 1000 soldiers without a scratch..damn
Excellent work! Thank you for this great video!
Thanks Vegan Atheist :)
Really great idea to compare him with Superman - humanity has made some progress at least in some areas.
I have to read the bible again but now without my christian glasses
You absolutely should! It's incredibly interesting. I remember as a Christian, it was tremendously boring.
Samson: an edge lord hero that makes the Punisher look chill.
You have to love the Bible! Those mentioned as examples to follow were:
Drunks, polygamists, murderers, psychopaths, would and did sacrifice their own children to their God, practiced incest... Paaaaartay!!!!
Excuse me, drunks and polygamists are free to do whatever isn't hurting anyone else with other consenting adults.
@@autobotstarscream765 - Partaaaay!!! Woo-Hoo! 🥳 🎉
Let's party like it's 1000bc
💃🎊🎉🎊
Samson: I am going to tear you apart!
Kenshiro: Samson you are already dead!
Nani?!?!........................................
HIDEBU!!!!
Well done on you. You are one whose eyes are open and see the truth.
I honestly wasn’t aware or perhaps I have downplayed Samson’s actions. I love your comparison between Samson and Superman
While I understand why Samson didn't want to tell Laila where did he get his pewers from he could just say "I can't tell you". In the long run honesty pays off
You are powerful. Excellent presentation. Truth hurts indeed!!
I can't believe how excited I got to see a new upload. This is going to be fun. 😸😸
Allow me to use the catch phrase of another of my heroes, Mr Spock, to describe my opinion of this video, "Fascinating"
Flawlessly logical.
I always thought the story of Samson was nothing more than a story. Who can take that seriously? He gets his power from his hair?
Samson was a Nazarite. That is, they use something like ritual magic to become sanctified. It's a vow, sort of like, "So long as I do not cut my hair, I'll be close to God." There are other aspects but this is the important one for the story. When his hair was cut the spell was broken and he lost his power. You only need watch Harry Potter to understand spells being broken.
You're so smart. Thank you for your videos! You deserve success.
Samson isn’t supposed to be seen as a hero. Anyone who thinks Samson is a hero or a faithful obedient man of God has no idea what the book of Judges is about
5:27 you forgot his love of self aggrandizement. No one loved Sampson like Sampson, except maybe his partner in crime Jehovah.
I remembered watching this series on the History Channel called The Bible when I was younger. In that series, one of the story arcs that was displayed was that of Samson's. Like you before, I remembered being in awe of his strength, even regarding him as a hero of sorts. Only through this video, I realized that Samson is not the hero I once thought he was, and it was much darker than I initially perceived it to be. Great video and cheers from a former roman catholic in the Philippines!
Samson foretells the Lord Jesus Christ!
Read John.
ruclips.net/video/Sccul4cZaGM/видео.htmlsi=U1lfRMuwX3I3LsYq
I didn't remember the tying the torches to the tails of foxes part.....and this is the stuff I was subjected to when I was a kid....
I can't even....
I am thoroughly captivated with your channel...what an education you're providing...what real thoughts you're provoking, even for someone who gave up Christianity because of questions that couldn't be answered with acceptable doctrines, many many years ago. You are providing the same arguments I had in my head, but you are thoroughly researching and documenting. You are educating...and you are making a difference. THANK YOU so much for all your effort.
I'm glad we are on the same page. I'm glad you enjoy my content, thank you for your kind comment :)
Not to sound weird but bro, the way you talk and explained everything was very informative and calming
I actually referenced Samson in a horror story, and never thought twice about Samson as the good Guy. Now I want to revisit that tale...
That was an awesome rundown of Samson I never even thought of it that way because I like you was raised a JW. And my mom always read me the book of Bible stories. Or I did as I got older. But another person I'm very interested in learning about is King Solomon because I've always thought him to be the person that was the wisest person on Earth and I have since found out that he was actually pretty evil at the end of his Reign that he was worshipping a god named Molech and they were sacrificing newborn babies and children to this God and they were being burnt alive. So if you could do one on King Solomon I would greatly appreciate it and I'm sure a lot of other people would appreciate knowing what he really was like. Thank you
Man, did I read correctly? The Noah's Ark video has one million views? Congratulations! That is a WELL DESERVED number. Not just the in depth research and intelligent discourse, but the little comparisons and humor give the videos such a human feel. God stopped the sun? I thought Thursday seemed long. Laughed my ass off at that one. Wish you the best!
Superman's greatest power is truly his resistance to gambling.
Man, Samson was a homicidal maniac! He would make a great comic book villain...