I worked for the church that I attended for 35 years. I got a divorce and was immediatley fired. Not one single church " friend" called me> I was shunned. But Im thankful that they lead me to "Deconvert".
Love the rants from you, I often feel the same way. I have to live and work as a doctor in a small bible belt town. While I am often given credit for my work, it burns me up when folks come in and comment that God brought them to me. When it was really their friend referred them. Then God healed them, instead of the fact that they are benefiting from my 10 years of college and a thousand years of scientific progress.
Keep up your good work friend, your an excellent person and you have probably helped more people than I can think, I know this is really late but I appreciate every doctor and scientist in our world
I know I’m 7 years late to this comment, but rest in the fact that you do good to help people. And even if they don’t give you the credit, helping others is a gift in and of itself. You make a difference where some cannot.
I was part of a religous group that would refuse to take people to the hospital, while they did eat extremely healthy and reduce the sick among them that way, still there were pockets of sick and profundities to wonder about. But they held firm and wouldn't take the ill to the hospital. But heres the contradiction: I was healed at 10 years old and gotten a bone marrow transplant. Healed of A plastic anemia. They felt god healed me, yet would refuse to take people to the place where god healed me.
I know what you mean. I am a retired nurse. I can't tell you how many times people told me after a major surgery. Thank God! I always asked them, did you Thank the Doctor. They always told me, No. I never could understand that. Even if they do believe in god, why not Thank the Doctor. I told my relatives that the Doctors appreciate it if you do. Personally. I am an atheist.
Enough said. Atheist never judged me for having interest in magick they respected it I felt safer around them than christians. To come to think of it Atheists and MOST people from unorganized religions don't feel safe around people that belongs to organized religions.
So, again we have a person here who is determining the truth about something based on the behavior of human beings. So, again, let’s think this through. If you had found out that Einstein killed someone, would you stop believing in relativity? No, that would be silly. If a drunk man on the street told you your house was on fire, would you dismiss him because he was drunk? No, that wouldn’t be smart. It’s best to find out the truth for yourself, regardless how someone is behaving.
Thank you for your honesty, Seth. Hearing you voice your struggle is therapeutic for the rest of us. I know this was posted a while ago, but it’s still relevant in 2022.
Creates horrible people that's for sure ( not all but sure could start thinking &asking questions won't take long if they are honestly curious and want to be helped) its not easy but can be done
@@nasticanasta Atheism is normal. In the beginning man made gods,, then the problems started. Religion is an advertising campaign for a product that doesn't exist. Morality is doing what is right regardless of what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told regardless of what is right - and feeling no shame
Twelve years later, in 2013, Seth is still a devoted atheist... and we love him for it... Thank you Seth for your remarkable determination and dedication!
D’ya know, I really enjoyed the belly laugh when you said, “…and I failed!!” 😂 it was such a relief. It’s so cathartic too for the rest of us who share your pain and appreciate the confession. So good to get it outa the system! What a f**king relief!!! I think it’s also the relief of realising we don’t need the approval of the community/family. Yes, it’s painful when those close to us are so into their worldview that they can’t be curious about our lives. It’s a deep rejection. But we can move forward once we face that truth. We can become a key part of a new and honest community. Just as you have done, Seth. And we thank you for who you are and what you’re doing here.
Seth: Thank you for changing my life and improving it one thousand times over. You have made a positive impact on people’s lives that probably cannot be measured. However, rest assured, they are grateful, and it has rippled. They in turn are changing lives and creating positive vibes that reverberate all across the globe. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I listen to the first 40 minutes of this podcast whenever I'm feeling down about my mom giving me shit about my deconversion. Knowing that I'm not alone that you've had to face such difficulties always cheers me up. I hope someday your family will see what a fantastic and positive influence you've had on so many people.
Thank you, Seth, for being honest and sharing your story with us...I am a recovering Mormon, and a lot of what you are sharing is part of my story too! I am also a scientist and evolution is definitely part of my "wheelhouse". the title of your talk " "Worshiping Ignorance" is perfect...I see that every day, all over the evangelical channel, and in my personal realm. These people are ignorant and PROUD of it! Thanks for staying with your path and goals...we need you and your outlook and the discussions really teach the rest of us! MUCH appreciated!
Seth turned my life around and freed me this week. I’ve been spiritual but not religious, just in case. And now, no more, after listening to Seth and a bunch of reference, books, interviews w historians. Done. I’m free.
Don't apologize for losing your cool. If your family refuses to respect your wishes for boundaries and a change of topic they are responsible up to a point. Breaking points don't just come out of nowhere.
I just learned about your podcast and I am impressed by your knowledge and understanding of the world. I am an Afrikan atheist and I am proud of it. I place emphasis on being an Afrikan atheist because it’s not so common to be Atheist in the black community in this country. I practiced organized religion for over twenty years and all the praying I did never changed any difficulties I was experiencing. I cannot believe I wasted all those years believing in myths and fables. I’m thankful for platforms like this and I will continue to support the atheist discipline.
My fiancée, a christian, broke up with me, because I left "the faith". Especially sad, is that we had a son, who was only 16 months old, at the time. I've asked her the question, do facts matter? Her ongoing reply, "I like my church, and that's where I feel comfortable. It resonates with me". At the end of the day, facts are irrelevant to those with "faith". I was once there, too. Thankfully, Seth's podcast has been a "voice in the wilderness", for me, after the breakup with both my fiancée and christianity.
Hey Zeus That’s rough. I hope your kid at least avoids the same indoctrination of his Mom. I think that whether or not facts matter depends on the Christian and the potential conclusion one could draw from accepting each particular fact. I think what’s more accurate often is that religious people care about confirming the merits of believing the supernatural claims they already believe. They don’t want to have to deal with the potential realization of being wrong. And this human confirmation bias problem extends far beyond religious questions. For Christians, the notion of “Satan” seems to exist for Christians to disregard any good evidence against their position. What other useful purpose could Satan have for the Christian narrative? An angel choosing to turn against an all-powerful omnipotent God who knows the future before it happens makes God look weak, stupid, or as if he’s manipulating people by secretly working with Satan. Satan allows Christians to construct a narrative where good events are God and whatever isn’t good is either Satan or God’s lessons. It’s an unfalsifiable construct. In the Christian mind all of the options of events leave no option for a fake “God”. Which means they are in a dogmatic closed-minded framework disinterested in their position having an measurable merits for being true. I try to reason with Christians that if God is really true, then fairly exploring the merits to God being wrong shouldn’t work to do anything other than prove that God is real. This is what scientists do all the time. They try to overturn or amend the current explanations offered as the most accurate models of reality.
I'm on of these Europeans who shake their head and wonder what's going on over there?! If the topic comes up, it's usually the same conversation most of the time: "Oh no, I don't believe in God, but don't worry, I'm not one of THOSE atheists who thinks you're stupid for believing." "Nah, I might believe in God, but don't worry, I'm not one of THOSE church-crazy, cherry-picking believers." "Yeah, that's good. Gotta admit, I enjoyed Sunday school, it was just the thing to do and an excuse to hang out with friends on the weekend. It wasn't like they hammered God's words into us. But then I discovered I rather slept in." "I hear you, getting up this early on Sunday after a hard week at work or school really is a pain in the ass. Hey let's order pizza and buy beer." "Pizza, yes, but I don't like beer." "WHAT! HOW DARE YOU YOU HEATHEN!" You think I'm kidding? Dudes, I'm from Germany, nobody gives a damn why you go or not go to church/Sunday school, if you stop going, if you go on Christmas because the atmosphere is nice or because you really believe in Jesus, if you believe in general or not as long as you aren't annoying about it. But oh, mention you don't like beer and hell breaks loose!
Lasmiranda Dennsiewillja here in America I shake my head. I’m increasingly embarrassed to be an American because of all the lies being perpetrated by the right wing assholes about America being a Christian nation when in fact it was founded as a secular nation. It’s really sad when the happiest countries are the Scandinavian countries and not the so called greatest nation on earth, which we aren’t any longer.
I agree! The best place on earth to be an atheist is Europe. I am from Estonia and there it was more of by default you are not religious until you say you are. Nobody barely talks about it. Here in Finland where I live now, dent to be a little bit more christian covered than Estonia but still atheists is very normal thing here and I have many friends and I now a lot of people who does not believe anything such close to religion and its normal. Nobody just dont say anything. And its not even a big topic here. I love Europe ❤️
Glad you set some boundaries. Think you're being a bit rough on yourself. If somebody treated your child the way Theist treat atheists, I would hope you wouldn't stand for it. You're as precious as any human. You have the right to not be treated with such disregard. Anger, in your case, because you are a compassionate gentle person, is a healthy sign that something is amiss. Everyone that is angry or calls out people on their poor behavior is not a dick. Remember that.
I am listening to this just now. Coming from a Catholic background, you and I know exactly why they remained silent when you 'came out'. The church prepares everyone for apostates among the congregation. What probably went through their head was what went through MY own head when I was still a believer. "another one has fallen. I must redouble my faith." That's it.
I know. He's a really smart kid, and his mom teaches him to think for himself. Our mom didn't teach us to be self-sufficient as kids (expected women to just get married, stay home, clean house, & take care of kids) plus we were in an abusive household, so it was a long, hard, and painful process for us from ignorance to enlightenment. My sister's making sure her kids know early how to be self-sufficient, especially in how they think, so they won't be vulnerable like we were.
Fantastic. It’s so great to see somebody with your talents and background earning a living by telling the truth rather than earning a living by willfully and Knowingly selling lies fabrications and distortions.
The worst abuse, I think, is that which isn't as noticeable, because nobody knows to intervene. With me, I was taught that there was an all-good god who helped us...but no matter HOW much I prayed as a kid for my family to get along, nothing changed (got worse actually). I was also told if I told anyone outside, all the kids would be taken away, and it'd be my fault. I ended up with so much guilt, thinking God WANTED me to suffer, since he "talked" to my mother but didn't listen to me.
Thank you Seth. Your story of deconversion is illuminating. You highlight religionists lack of curiosity, failure of argument, and dismissal of reality in a clear and sensible method. Religion makes claims to "the truth", morality, and decency which they are entirely incorrect to do, and The Thinking Atheist makes that clear.
drfoxcourt The only difference between an atheist and a Christian is the "creator"! The Christian believes that this world was created by an intelligent God who has existed eternally and created this world for a specific purpose. While the atheist believes this world was created by an inanimate "singularity" which has existed eternally and created this world without a purpose and without the power of thought! You tell me who the 'idiot' truly is!!
Please Complete All Fields """"""""" No. The atheist accepts that WE DON'T KNOW how the universe, and life was created""""""""" The 'answer' has already been given to us! This world exists!! There can be no doubt about this absolute 'fact'! We also know for a 'fact' that at one time in the past, there was no world and there was no life. That means there HAD to be an 'origin'. There is ONLY two possible 'origins'. 1. Whatever created this world was 'intelligent'. 2. Whatever created this world was 'inanimate'. There is no "third possibility"! That makes the 'answer' an "either/or" type answer. Your claim of "I don't know' becomes 'invalid'! The bible bears witness of an 'intelligent' creator. It is an "eye witness account"! The atheist chooses to "accept" the theories of men as 'evidence'! An "eye witness" account is to be considered 'true' until PROVEN to be false. Whereas the "theories of man" are to be considered 'false' until PROVEN to be true! THEREFORE: Your position of "I don't know" becomes an admission of "willful ignorance". Unless you can explain how it is feasible for an 'inanimate' object to create this world that we all live on, that we all can see for ourselves, without any 'purpose' and without the power of 'thought'. If you can do that, your position will be respected.
Please Complete All Fields I should have known my remark would 'sail' right over head. I sometimes forget just how 'stupid' you 'idiot' atheists really are!! Let me make it simple for your little mind to grasp: The only difference between a Christian and an 'idiot' atheist is the "creator"! The Christian believes that this world was created by an 'intelligent' God who existed 'ETERNALLY' and created this world for a specific 'purpose'. While the 'idiot' atheist believes this world was created by an 'inanimate' "singularity" which existed 'ETERNALLY' and created this world without a 'purpose' and without the power of thought!!! Your last reply says it all!!!
@@jimhappnin1425 You have that wrong sir. An atheist sees no evidence of a god, creator or otherwise. full stop. No other issue defines the person as an atheist. Furthermore, you show your own ignorance of "big bang" cosmology when you hint that time goes eternally back from the singularity. You need to do some studying.
What Seth says at 42:50 really hit home with me. I'm constantly being told, "You think too much, you just need to 'Let go and Let God.'" It makes me sad, because one of those friends - a friend who I converted, sadly - is a fantastic person whose company I enjoy. We had a horrible moment when two members of her family died and she started grilling me about my non-belief. "So you think my loved ones are just...gone?" I said nothing - the truth was, at that moment, too heartless to speak out loud.
I don't think the truth is heartless at all. What is wrong with, "Yes it is very sad that they are gone but you have your memories of them that live on."
Seth. I know exactly what you went through. No family member, save one, genuinely asked me to explain myself. If I had cancer in my ass with 2 weeks to live the phone would be off the hook, but because I apostatized and am going to hell, not one call or conversation, except for my one sister who was outside of the fold for over 20 yrs. The stupid posts come but zero conversation. So be it. Thank you for everything you do.
I've been a atheist for 10 years. I haven't came out to my family yet. The only people that know are my grandma, brother and sister. My grandma raised the family under the Catholic faith and my sister is Baptist. They respect me and don't try to push God into my life. I went to my sister's reborn ceremony at a Baptist church and I absolutely couldn't stand it and wanted to start debating the whole thing, but I didn't because it would not be right to start a argument in a church.
My grandaughter is 18 months old and I intend to do everything in my power to prevent her being indoctrinated into this nonsense. Unlike christians, I hope to achieve this by using reasoned argument and a common sense approach.
I'm always amazed at how people you hardly know will ask what church you go to. As if it's their right to know. I kind of side step the question and say I'm not religious and don't attend a church. They give me a rather confused look. I've also had people ask me what church I go to and I said I was raised Catholic and they immediately attacked me on how much they hate Catholics! How Christian is that?!
@@BluesGirlBabe if I thought they knew what that meant I might, instead I just say "church is not my thing". Most just say something like "well our door is always open" and leave it at that.
Oh sure! Not going to argue that one bit! Scientists keep talking about biological materials in comets. Who knows, earth may have been hit by comets or went through comet trails in its infancy. Blam, life seeded!
Yeah and if DNA was similar to other life forms so we could better eat... I suppose we were meant to eat chimpanzees. This may not work on a creationist, they deny the amount of DNA we share with them. Here's a video by Paulogia addressing the issue: ruclips.net/video/W76CTxvRoRA/видео.html
An abusive relationship is an abusive relationship. You didn't fail you finally pushed back on your abusers. "If you don't believe in heaven, why bother ?" answer: I don't have time to answer that, I have a bunch of things to do today.
I’m not even half way through and I’m enjoying the crap outa this. Seth, this is awesome. It has everything, so far. Drama, comedy, horror... and the narration is on point. 10/10 ...5 stars.
Sometimes it is hard to be kind to people who are disrespectful, yet think they are not. Being calm is not always the way to be, sometimes you have to get mad. It is natural, and very human, to grow angry when those around you are being so hateful and mean, although they say all they want to do is help. It would be wonderful if those religious people could learn to love for loves sake, and not hate in the name of love.
My favorite is probably the one Gospel that plagiarizes the last words from a common account of Hercules story. It's like they went, "Hercules is cool. Lets make a jewish version of that."
On one hand I'm sad for you having (having had) it that difficult, but on the other I have a deep respect for your sanity and integrity. I personaly I'm happy to never have such problems, despite living in predominantly christian country. Aslo great listening!
Literally meant to be that I heard this today. My mom treats me this way & let me have it this morning. It makes me sad that I can’t even have a normal conversation with my own mother because of her religious beliefs. She thinks something is wrong with me. Super toxic.
When I first started making videos on RUclips I was your typical angry atheist & angry teen. I have calmed down a great deal since then & thanks in no small way to your videos & ones like them. The patience & calm you have is something I espier to have myself. & hell you have it worse than I as those in my life have never tried to make me believe something. Keep up the good work, the patent atheist is far better than the angry atheist.
Could listen to this man 24/7. I really could! What an incredibly voice as well! He should narrate hundreds of audio books he would make a fortune! Please inform me more about the man and voice io these podcasts please!!
Seth, this has been one of your best shows! I know you fear shows where you rant, but it's nice to hear you get off your chest some of the same things that the rest of us are feeling.
Please, please dont feel bad for using us as your bartenders! Everything youre feeling, I can relate to and I appreciate your content so so much. You are a valuable individual and I genuinely enjoy your rants!
One of my friends had an argument with me that lasted days and one after the other was refuted, finally I just said please, let's agree to disagree, these arguments only made me disagree further, then he whispered... ' don't be close minded ' :) BOOM.
Ah Seth, you have finally reached the frustration level so many of us have already experienced. Being nice is relative to how much BS gets tossed at you b/c at a certain point one just gets enough of it and has to strike back with a bit of forcefulness. Like most of us, I never am the one to bring up the subject of religion but if I am confronted and challenged with BS I just have to dish out some reality.
Your mum may have been a genius. I had an old Korean woman tell me that millions of Koreans believe in Jesus. I said, A billion plus Muslims believe in Allah... No response.
Oh hey, the Free OK speech about the "Now on something something FM..." with all the common theist arguments was amazing. How you equated an overplayed song with tired arguments. Brilliant! It was soo good. I watched it on RUclips. You did great, man! You covered all the bases there for sure. I've heard all of those many times...
***** Awh, it's ok, Seth. We understand. We've all been there...frustrated beyond belief (quite literally!) at how absurd things can get dealing with the programming of religion, of strangers and of the one's we love. And I try not to be that "angry atheist" too. But it can be HARD to hold your tongue, to be patient, to stay calm. It's tough. But we're here for you too, like you're here for us! Keep on keeping on, man! You're not a failure. You're doing great work! :)
I wish my family would ask me why, but they honestly don't want to know. Thankfully they accept me for who I am regardless of what I (don't) believe. Thank you Seth, for everything you do, and I accept you MORE because your not perfect... we all know how well "perfect" beings turn out.
I feel ya man, I have exactly the same pattern with my parents and extended family. Not only the emotional appeals, scare tactics and baseless claims but also the health scams, conspiracy theories and bogus warnings. Realize that a lot of what you are experiencing is the evolution of religious ideas: religious minds simply try appeals and responses at random. Those that stick continue to propogate; the others die off. Once you realize this, you can respond much more effectively.
What I find very sad is the fact that so many people believe in some sort of a deity to a point where their earthly life is miserable in the hopes that their heavenly life will be wonderful. Most of the time this alienates others around them for the sake of something that if you use critical thinking you know is not true.
My mother who claims to be Christian only read parts of the bible that gives her warm fuzzies. She's never read the entire thing and she told me she doesn't want to because she just likes to call on God to feel good. Well that just blew my mind because I'm thinking how can you profess that you believe if you haven't even read the entire text that you propose to believe in. My dad also does the selective reading of the text.
I kinda like it when you are angry. I do normally like your calm and even temper, but it is also good to see that like everyone else, you are just as capable of anger.
Half of Americans believe... Don't care that's an argumentum ad populum and is a logical fallacy. Prove your God and prove creationism is true and I will believe.
Many years ago, I was the most 'religious' child in a large family. The rest were "I believe in God, and have a bible, but y'know, me and God, we have an 'understanding'," meaning "God just happens to see things the way I do". I used to lead the Thanksgiving dinner prayer. Since then, I've read and thought, and have had to insist to my family that I am atheist, and won't be doing any prayers. But neither will they, because their "faith" is nominal. They stick with it, but without understanding why. It's just 'wrong' not to. So, I don't push my view on them, and they don't ask why I hold my view. But they expect me to close my eyes in prayer and respect their view. I still can't tell the difference between blessed and non-blessed food.
...and THIS is why I do not tell my mom I'm atheist. She got mad (honestly mad) when my 7 year old nephew said Christmas wasn't Jesus's birthday. She got into an ARGUMENT with a 7 year old and demanded my sister tell her WHERE he heard that. My sister's answer? A special on THE HISTORY CHANNEL. My mom said, "Well, they're WRONG. Christmas is Jesus's birthday. Don't listen to these people. They're telling lies." *Total facepalm*
I was taken in yesterday , too. Spent the whole day arguing with someone who spelled black hole , " black whole", but fancied themselves more knowledgable on cosmology than cosmologists. Pointed out their fallacious reasoning all day until they were pinned and, as always moved the goalpost by trying to narrow the claim to something altogether inconsequential and pointless. When the goalpost move was called out, they reverted to the pigeon strategy. Knocking over pieces, pooping on the board and strutting around like they won. So frustrating. Lying for Jesus.
I've enjoyed before, but am now officially a fan!!! I need help &/or direction. How do I best drop the bomb on my southern fundamental bible believing Gaaawds own words truth family? I know it's going to hurt my mother very deeply, but I can no longer in good conscience (yes w/out Gods guidance) fake it because it feels awful spouting garbage I no longer believe. Help! Anyone!!
Thrall079 quite recently actually. The Supreme Court ruling kind of forced the situation because I just couldn't stand the stupid hate speech another second. Just like I've heard others say, no one asked me why or tried to understand. My grandma was the real shocker. She actually started calling me a "fag". I'm not, in fact her lectures usually dealt with me seeing too many ladies & settling down with none. LOL I actually couldn't contain my laughter when my sweet mousy grandma started calling me a "fag" or "1 of them demonic gays" haaahahahaaa! Gotta love wild & wonderful West Virginia
My cousin kept proselytizing me from his government email account at his job. I asked him for at least 8 months to cease with the fire and brimstone, hell talk. He did not stop. So the last email I got from him I told him that the next time I get this type of email from him I would contact his email administrator and report him for waste, fraud, and abuse. That was the most effective thing I had tried. He no longer emails me! Problem solved.
The god of the gap argument is my favourite. It amazes me that religious folk can actually hold onto their beliefs, even when so much of it is proven wrong. They just sweep facts under the table, and carry on believing.
56:43 I would like to see a fictional villain who would do similar atrocities as attributed to Yahweh in the Bible. There would be no mention of Abrahamic religions at all, it could take place in a fictional world like Star Wars of Lord of the Rings. Just to test how many people would recognize the atrocities and to see how those who realize or were told that these were inspired by Yahweh would react.
@@bensteinundknochen9404 Darth Vader literally destroyed a planet and everyone considers him evil. I guess when a god does something similar, he gets worshipped. At least Darth never told us he loved us.
I am pretty sure that even the worst fictional villain would be gaping in horror at the atrocities the God of the Bible ordered his followers to do & would think that it was going too far😂
I was just looking through my subs box, wishing there was something nice and long to listen to, refreshed, and now here's this, hot off the press. It's a miracle!
It's high time for the god of Abraham to go the way of Apollo, Zeus, Thor, and Odin, and vanish into the shadows of superstition and ignorance from whence they came. Enough is enough, already.
When you keep getting answers that tell you to rely on faith and emotion instead of facts and the tangible, there is a problem. We do this with no other aspect of life. We work for money, clean our property, maintain hygiene and athletic regimens, have healthy reciprocal relationships with actual humans, but are supposed to wait on the imaginary to save us from danger and adversity. Has it ever occurred to anyone that religion could be the foundation for stalking? A hint of attention or the thought of love from afar can make an unhealthy mind snap, yet we are told to wait on God, pray for deliverance, and hope for a sign of grace. The parallel is chilling.
a UFO isn't a little green man. A UFO is an I identified flying object.... lolz if I see something in the sky and I can't determine what it is, it's a UFO to me. xD
Yea, anyone who demonstrates their having it doesn't know they have a Dunning Krueger psycosis, so they only deny it. You can't argue with ignorance. Every dumb person thinks they're smarter than they are.
I'd be interested in an experiment that proved that people overestimate intelligence based on income. For example, I'd like to see if the stupid rich guy is perceived as more intelligent than he is due to his wealth and influence alone.
Video says the channel is just about to hit 90K subscribers. Looking in elevenish years later, the channel is just about to hit three hundred and sixty thousand subscribers. Keep it up, Seth. If you'll pardon the word.. People believe in what you're doing. (Yes yes, I use 'believe' in the sense of 'support and/or agree with'. Shh.)
11 years ago during the recording of this podcast, I was questioning my religion. 2 years later I liberated myself from that bullshit completely. I had little resistance coming out to my family. My dad still wants me to fund the catholic church since I no longer attend church. I wish you were as lucky as me Seth. To all other theists, I hope you could keep your family after coming out to them as an atheist, gay non binary or trans, not everyone.
yassin art there is plenty of Muslims who left religion, who finally woke up, there is a few on RUclips. Here is a good book by a Muslim author, short and sweet. www.amazon.com/gp/product/150277528X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I also recommend The God Delusion, you can also find it on Amazon.
Catholic family, here. I stopped at 9 yrs old. It was all too illogical. Thankfully, my mother always told us she didn't care what we believed, as long as we were happy and safe. Being an odd child, nothing I have done has surprised anyone.
I've had to ask my family to stop sending me verses, articles, and the like. Seems that's the only communication they are willing to utilize. One-way conversations are NOT constructive. So, basically I never hear from my family anymore. I am sorry you (or anyone) are experiencing this on any level!
Good episode again! I grew up in a secular family, so i can't imagine being an atheist among pushy religious people. These shows are eye openers, even for me.
@1:00:48 I was a christian for 56 years. I had to own up to the fact that I was wrong, and to be honest, I was rather relieved to let it go. If you are wondering, I'll be 57 next month, and I've only been an atheist for 2 months now.
My christianity was a tad shorter, but being honest, I was already atheist during the last couple of years I was still creating bible study guides and praying for help and forgiveness. When my mom died, I realized I didn’t have to go through the motions any more. There was no family obligation to continue the pretense. Like you say, it was a relief. Oddly, there’s not three days go by that I’m not reading from the bible. But these days it’s to clarify a response to someone I’m in conversation with about christianity, or to put in context a verse that’s being thrust on me in condemnation. (Those verses are usually wildly out of context). Congrats on your lighter burden, and cheers to leading a fulfilling, rational life.
I’m going to the Unholy Trinity conference in Tulsa in February 2020 and I cannot be more excited about it! The caller that said he’s happy to hear there is more than one atheist in Oklahoma, come visit us in Tulsa, we have quite a few here, me included!
I worked for the church that I attended for 35 years. I got a divorce and was immediatley fired. Not one single church " friend" called me> I was shunned. But Im thankful that they lead me to "Deconvert".
No hate like "christian" luv
Love the rants from you, I often feel the same way. I have to live and work as a doctor in a small bible belt town. While I am often given credit for my work, it burns me up when folks come in and comment that God brought them to me. When it was really their friend referred them. Then God healed them, instead of the fact that they are benefiting from my 10 years of college and a thousand years of scientific progress.
Keep up your good work friend, your an excellent person and you have probably helped more people than I can think, I know this is really late but I appreciate every doctor and scientist in our world
I know I’m 7 years late to this comment, but rest in the fact that you do good to help people. And even if they don’t give you the credit, helping others is a gift in and of itself. You make a difference where some cannot.
I was part of a religous group that would refuse to take people to the hospital, while they did eat extremely healthy and reduce the sick among them that way, still there were pockets of sick and profundities to wonder about. But they held firm and wouldn't take the ill to the hospital.
But heres the contradiction: I was healed at 10 years old and gotten a bone marrow transplant. Healed of A plastic anemia. They felt god healed me, yet would refuse to take people to the place where god healed me.
I appreciate you and respect your education. 🤓
I know what you mean. I am a retired nurse. I can't tell you how many times people told me after a major surgery. Thank God! I always asked them, did you Thank the Doctor. They always told me, No. I never could understand that. Even if they do believe in god, why not Thank the Doctor. I told my relatives that the Doctors appreciate it if you do.
Personally. I am an atheist.
I left the faith because I cannot be part of a group that hates people who are different from them and won’t accept progress and science.
Mirror
Enough said. Atheist never judged me for having interest in magick they respected it I felt safer around them than christians. To come to think of it Atheists and MOST people from unorganized religions don't feel safe around people that belongs to organized religions.
If they don’t accept such and such, they fry in fire for eternity!
Tell me about it
So, again we have a person here who is determining the truth about something based on the behavior of human beings. So, again, let’s think this through. If you had found out that Einstein killed someone, would you stop believing in relativity? No, that would be silly. If a drunk man on the street told you your house was on fire, would you dismiss him because he was drunk? No, that wouldn’t be smart. It’s best to find out the truth for yourself, regardless how someone is behaving.
Thank you for your honesty, Seth. Hearing you voice your struggle is therapeutic for the rest of us. I know this was posted a while ago, but it’s still relevant in 2022.
Religion doesn't respect boundaries. Don't apologize for being pissed at their blatant rudeness and disrespect.
Mirror
Creates horrible people that's for sure ( not all but sure could start thinking &asking questions won't take long if they are honestly curious and want to be helped) its not easy but can be done
Atheism doesn't respect boundaries. Stop making excuses for your religion..yea atheism is a religion
@@nasticanasta Atheism is normal. In the beginning man made gods,, then the problems started. Religion is an advertising campaign for a product that doesn't exist. Morality is doing what is right regardless of what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told regardless of what is right - and feeling no shame
@@nasticanasta Atheism is so not a religion. Look up the word "religion". Atheism is non of that. Is not collecting stamps a hobby?
Twelve years later, in 2013, Seth is still a devoted atheist... and we love him for it... Thank you Seth for your remarkable determination and dedication!
Religion sounds like the worst kind of Stockholm Syndrome.
I wonder how many know what that means.
You mean the condition that Jesus had. Yes, I agree :)
Sorry , no
D’ya know, I really enjoyed the belly laugh when you said, “…and I failed!!” 😂 it was such a relief. It’s so cathartic too for the rest of us who share your pain and appreciate the confession. So good to get it outa the system! What a f**king relief!!! I think it’s also the relief of realising we don’t need the approval of the community/family. Yes, it’s painful when those close to us are so into their worldview that they can’t be curious about our lives. It’s a deep rejection. But we can move forward once we face that truth. We can become a key part of a new and honest community.
Just as you have done, Seth. And we thank you for who you are and what you’re doing here.
You haven't failed. You don't owe anyone an apology for having feelings whether it is to us or to your family.
Seth: Thank you for changing my life and improving it one thousand times over. You have made a positive impact on people’s lives that probably cannot be measured. However, rest assured, they are grateful, and it has rippled. They in turn are changing lives and creating positive vibes that reverberate all across the globe. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I listen to the first 40 minutes of this podcast whenever I'm feeling down about my mom giving me shit about my deconversion. Knowing that I'm not alone that you've had to face such difficulties always cheers me up. I hope someday your family will see what a fantastic and positive influence you've had on so many people.
Thank you, Seth, for being honest and sharing your story with us...I am a recovering Mormon, and a lot of what you are sharing is part of my story too! I am also a scientist and evolution is definitely part of my "wheelhouse".
the title of your talk "
"Worshiping Ignorance" is perfect...I see that every day, all over the evangelical channel, and in my personal realm. These people are ignorant and PROUD of it! Thanks for staying with your path and goals...we need you and your outlook and the discussions really teach the rest of us! MUCH appreciated!
Seth turned my life around and freed me this week. I’ve been spiritual but not religious, just in case. And now, no more, after listening to Seth and a bunch of reference, books, interviews w historians. Done. I’m free.
Welcome new Heathen!!
Don't apologize for losing your cool. If your family refuses to respect your wishes for boundaries and a change of topic they are responsible up to a point. Breaking points don't just come out of nowhere.
I just learned about your podcast and I am impressed by your knowledge and understanding of the world. I am an Afrikan atheist and I am proud of it. I place emphasis on being an Afrikan atheist because it’s not so common to be Atheist in the black community in this country. I practiced organized religion for over twenty years and all the praying I did never changed any difficulties I was experiencing. I cannot believe I wasted all those years believing in myths and fables. I’m thankful for platforms like this and I will continue to support the atheist discipline.
Good for you....
My story is the same....
I wish you peace because it's so hard to walk alone in a community who thinks you're crazy...
As an educator, I appreciate your skepticism and tenacious willingness to confront prevailing error.
My fiancée, a christian, broke up with me, because I left "the faith". Especially sad, is that we had a son, who was only 16 months old, at the time.
I've asked her the question, do facts matter? Her ongoing reply, "I like my church, and that's where I feel comfortable. It resonates with me".
At the end of the day, facts are irrelevant to those with "faith". I was once there, too. Thankfully, Seth's podcast has been a "voice in the wilderness", for me, after the breakup with both my fiancée and christianity.
David Allen Happened to me too SMH and they are not supposed to judge but yet they do.
clearly doesn't care what she believes is true. Which is never good
Funny that you had a child with her out of wedlock and she thinks she’s a good little Christian.
@@americanmuscle3090 Right? They pick and choose so nicely don't they? That child is now going to suffer the consequences of her decision.
Hey Zeus That’s rough. I hope your kid at least avoids the same indoctrination of his Mom.
I think that whether or not facts matter depends on the Christian and the potential conclusion one could draw from accepting each particular fact.
I think what’s more accurate often is that religious people care about confirming the merits of believing the supernatural claims they already believe. They don’t want to have to deal with the potential realization of being wrong. And this human confirmation bias problem extends far beyond religious questions.
For Christians, the notion of “Satan” seems to exist for Christians to disregard any good evidence against their position. What other useful purpose could Satan have for the Christian narrative? An angel choosing to turn against an all-powerful omnipotent God who knows the future before it happens makes God look weak, stupid, or as if he’s manipulating people by secretly working with Satan.
Satan allows Christians to construct a narrative where good events are God and whatever isn’t good is either Satan or God’s lessons. It’s an unfalsifiable construct. In the Christian mind all of the options of events leave no option for a fake “God”. Which means they are in a dogmatic closed-minded framework disinterested in their position having an measurable merits for being true.
I try to reason with Christians that if God is really true, then fairly exploring the merits to God being wrong shouldn’t work to do anything other than prove that God is real.
This is what scientists do all the time. They try to overturn or amend the current explanations offered as the most accurate models of reality.
I'm on of these Europeans who shake their head and wonder what's going on over there?!
If the topic comes up, it's usually the same conversation most of the time:
"Oh no, I don't believe in God, but don't worry, I'm not one of THOSE atheists who thinks you're stupid for believing."
"Nah, I might believe in God, but don't worry, I'm not one of THOSE church-crazy, cherry-picking believers."
"Yeah, that's good. Gotta admit, I enjoyed Sunday school, it was just the thing to do and an excuse to hang out with friends on the weekend. It wasn't like they hammered God's words into us. But then I discovered I rather slept in."
"I hear you, getting up this early on Sunday after a hard week at work or school really is a pain in the ass. Hey let's order pizza and buy beer."
"Pizza, yes, but I don't like beer."
"WHAT! HOW DARE YOU YOU HEATHEN!"
You think I'm kidding? Dudes, I'm from Germany, nobody gives a damn why you go or not go to church/Sunday school, if you stop going, if you go on Christmas because the atmosphere is nice or because you really believe in Jesus, if you believe in general or not as long as you aren't annoying about it. But oh, mention you don't like beer and hell breaks loose!
Lasmiranda Dennsiewillja here in America I shake my head. I’m increasingly embarrassed to be an American because of all the lies being perpetrated by the right wing assholes about America being a Christian nation when in fact it was founded as a secular nation. It’s really sad when the happiest countries are the Scandinavian countries and not the so called greatest nation on earth, which we aren’t any longer.
I'm American and I'm shaking my head at my countrymen too. SOOOOOOOOOO glad I live in California!
ughh,bear is awful
I agree! The best place on earth to be an atheist is Europe. I am from Estonia and there it was more of by default you are not religious until you say you are. Nobody barely talks about it. Here in Finland where I live now, dent to be a little bit more christian covered than Estonia but still atheists is very normal thing here and I have many friends and I now a lot of people who does not believe anything such close to religion and its normal. Nobody just dont say anything. And its not even a big topic here. I love Europe ❤️
Germany and Australia have a lot in common!
This is one of the most powerful messages I've ever heard! My thoughts here have been put under the light of a brand new day.
Glad you set some boundaries. Think you're being a bit rough on yourself. If somebody treated your child the way Theist treat atheists, I would hope you wouldn't stand for it. You're as precious as any human. You have the right to not be treated with such disregard. Anger, in your case, because you are a compassionate gentle person, is a healthy sign that something is amiss. Everyone that is angry or calls out people on their poor behavior is not a dick. Remember that.
I agree
I am listening to this just now. Coming from a Catholic background, you and I know exactly why they remained silent when you 'came out'. The church prepares everyone for apostates among the congregation. What probably went through their head was what went through MY own head when I was still a believer. "another one has fallen. I must redouble my faith." That's it.
I know. He's a really smart kid, and his mom teaches him to think for himself. Our mom didn't teach us to be self-sufficient as kids (expected women to just get married, stay home, clean house, & take care of kids) plus we were in an abusive household, so it was a long, hard, and painful process for us from ignorance to enlightenment. My sister's making sure her kids know early how to be self-sufficient, especially in how they think, so they won't be vulnerable like we were.
Fantastic.
It’s so great to see somebody with your talents and background earning a living by telling the truth rather than earning a living by willfully and Knowingly selling lies fabrications and distortions.
"Religion began when the first scoundrel met the first fool." -- Voltaire
The worst abuse, I think, is that which isn't as noticeable, because nobody knows to intervene. With me, I was taught that there was an all-good god who helped us...but no matter HOW much I prayed as a kid for my family to get along, nothing changed (got worse actually). I was also told if I told anyone outside, all the kids would be taken away, and it'd be my fault. I ended up with so much guilt, thinking God WANTED me to suffer, since he "talked" to my mother but didn't listen to me.
Thank you Seth. Your story of deconversion is illuminating. You highlight religionists lack of curiosity, failure of argument, and dismissal of reality in a clear and sensible method. Religion makes claims to "the truth", morality, and decency which they are entirely incorrect to do, and The Thinking Atheist makes that clear.
drfoxcourt The only difference between an atheist and a Christian is the "creator"! The Christian believes that this world was created by an intelligent God who has existed eternally and created this world for a specific purpose. While the atheist believes this world was created by an inanimate "singularity" which has existed eternally and created this world without a purpose and without the power of thought! You tell me who the 'idiot' truly is!!
Please Complete All Fields """"""""" No. The atheist accepts that WE DON'T KNOW how the universe, and life was created""""""""" The 'answer' has already been given to us! This world exists!! There can be no doubt about this absolute 'fact'! We also know for a 'fact' that at one time in the past, there was no world and there was no life. That means there HAD to be an 'origin'. There is ONLY two possible 'origins'. 1. Whatever created this world was 'intelligent'. 2. Whatever created this world was 'inanimate'. There is no "third possibility"! That makes the 'answer' an "either/or" type answer. Your claim of "I don't know' becomes 'invalid'! The bible bears witness of an 'intelligent' creator. It is an "eye witness account"! The atheist chooses to "accept" the theories of men as 'evidence'! An "eye witness" account is to be considered 'true' until PROVEN to be false. Whereas the "theories of man" are to be considered 'false' until PROVEN to be true! THEREFORE: Your position of "I don't know" becomes an admission of "willful ignorance". Unless you can explain how it is feasible for an 'inanimate' object to create this world that we all live on, that we all can see for ourselves, without any 'purpose' and without the power of 'thought'. If you can do that, your position will be respected.
Please Complete All Fields I should have known my remark would 'sail' right over head. I sometimes forget just how 'stupid' you 'idiot' atheists really are!! Let me make it simple for your little mind to grasp: The only difference between a Christian and an 'idiot' atheist is the "creator"! The Christian believes that this world was created by an 'intelligent' God who existed 'ETERNALLY' and created this world for a specific 'purpose'. While the 'idiot' atheist believes this world was created by an 'inanimate' "singularity" which existed 'ETERNALLY' and created this world without a 'purpose' and without the power of thought!!! Your last reply says it all!!!
@@jimhappnin1425 You have that wrong sir. An atheist sees no evidence of a god, creator or otherwise. full stop. No other issue defines the person as an atheist. Furthermore, you show your own ignorance of "big bang" cosmology when you hint that time goes eternally back from the singularity. You need to do some studying.
Love your work Seth. Thank you for everything you do.
Yay Seth! You are releasing the video on my birthday! Thanks for the gift!!!
What Seth says at 42:50 really hit home with me. I'm constantly being told, "You think too much, you just need to 'Let go and Let God.'" It makes me sad, because one of those friends - a friend who I converted, sadly - is a fantastic person whose company I enjoy. We had a horrible moment when two members of her family died and she started grilling me about my non-belief. "So you think my loved ones are just...gone?" I said nothing - the truth was, at that moment, too heartless to speak out loud.
I don't think the truth is heartless at all. What is wrong with, "Yes it is very sad that they are gone but you have your memories of them that live on."
Seth. I know exactly what you went through. No family member, save one, genuinely asked me to explain myself. If I had cancer in my ass with 2 weeks to live the phone would be off the hook, but because I apostatized and am going to hell, not one call or conversation, except for my one sister who was outside of the fold for over 20 yrs. The stupid posts come but zero conversation. So be it. Thank you for everything you do.
Sorry you are going thru this❤
As so many others have said, thank you for your work.
I've been a atheist for 10 years. I haven't came out to my family yet. The only people that know are my grandma, brother and sister. My grandma raised the family under the Catholic faith and my sister is Baptist. They respect me and don't try to push God into my life. I went to my sister's reborn ceremony at a Baptist church and I absolutely couldn't stand it and wanted to start debating the whole thing, but I didn't because it would not be right to start a argument in a church.
My grandaughter is 18 months old and I intend to do everything in my power to prevent her being indoctrinated into this nonsense. Unlike christians, I hope to achieve this by using reasoned argument and a common sense approach.
You will win..... Kids definitely respond to common sense....
Power to you, sir. Most admirable. 😊
The internet KILLS religion. Glad we have the resource.
I'm always amazed at how people you hardly know will ask what church you go to. As if it's their right to know. I kind of side step the question and say I'm not religious and don't attend a church. They give me a rather confused look. I've also had people ask me what church I go to and I said I was raised Catholic and they immediately attacked me on how much they hate Catholics! How Christian is that?!
crystalheart9 lol people are so weird
crystalheart9 I've experienced the exact same thing!
I hope you say, "I am an atheist."
@@BluesGirlBabe if I thought they knew what that meant I might, instead I just say "church is not my thing". Most just say something like "well our door is always open" and leave it at that.
@@joecoolioness6399 That is what I say, I don't want to follow any particular church. I like to pray in my own way and that seems to satisfy them.
We share so much of the same DNA with everything .... almost as though ... we came from the same planet!!
But there is also a theory that says the material need to seed life may have come from elsewhere. Maybe outside our galaxy even. ^_^
Oh sure! Not going to argue that one bit!
Scientists keep talking about biological materials in comets. Who knows, earth may have been hit by comets or went through comet trails in its infancy. Blam, life seeded!
Its not a Theory jet, its still a Hypothesis.
Yeah and if DNA was similar to other life forms so we could better eat... I suppose we were meant to eat chimpanzees. This may not work on a creationist, they deny the amount of DNA we share with them. Here's a video by Paulogia addressing the issue: ruclips.net/video/W76CTxvRoRA/видео.html
Or it's almost as though we share a common ancestor. Maybe that's why our DNA matches.
An abusive relationship is an abusive relationship. You didn't fail you finally pushed back on your abusers.
"If you don't believe in heaven, why bother ?" answer: I don't have time to answer that, I have a bunch of things to do today.
Just add "a bunch of things to do today in REAL LIFE!"
I’m not even half way through and I’m enjoying the crap outa this.
Seth, this is awesome.
It has everything, so far.
Drama, comedy, horror...
and the narration is on point.
10/10 ...5 stars.
Seth & Matt are awesome!
Sometimes it is hard to be kind to people who are disrespectful, yet think they are not. Being calm is not always the way to be, sometimes you have to get mad. It is natural, and very human, to grow angry when those around you are being so hateful and mean, although they say all they want to do is help. It would be wonderful if those religious people could learn to love for loves sake, and not hate in the name of love.
Religious people hate. A true follower of Jesus cannot possibly hate anyone.
My favorite is probably the one Gospel that plagiarizes the last words from a common account of Hercules story.
It's like they went, "Hercules is cool. Lets make a jewish version of that."
On one hand I'm sad for you having (having had) it that difficult, but on the other I have a deep respect for your sanity and integrity. I personaly I'm happy to never have such problems, despite living in predominantly christian country. Aslo great listening!
A great and very familiar story. Thank you Seth.
Literally meant to be that I heard this today. My mom treats me this way & let me have it this morning. It makes me sad that I can’t even have a normal conversation with my own mother because of her religious beliefs. She thinks something is wrong with me. Super toxic.
Which begs the question: Meant to be by whom?
When I first started making videos on RUclips I was your typical angry atheist & angry teen.
I have calmed down a great deal since then & thanks in no small way to your videos & ones like them. The patience & calm you have is something I espier to have myself. & hell you have it worse than I as those in my life have never tried to make me believe something. Keep up the good work, the patent atheist is far better than the angry atheist.
Could listen to this man 24/7. I really could! What an incredibly voice as well! He should narrate hundreds of audio books he would make a fortune! Please inform me more about the man and voice io these podcasts please!!
Refreshing. I feel like a friend stopped by and we had a great discussion.
Seth's laughter is contagious lol
I really hope he uses the religious person voice when he and Natalie are being intimate.
@@seanjones2456 Also his whisper voice.
Frustrated, insane laugh- we all get it.
I myself still don’t know how I haven’t strangled a believer yet because of their constant harassment.
True. About the only other person I can think of with a laugh as contagious as his, would be Lisa Kudrow.
Seth, this has been one of your best shows! I know you fear shows where you rant, but it's nice to hear you get off your chest some of the same things that the rest of us are feeling.
Really good podcast. Listening while I finish up my portfolio.
Please, please dont feel bad for using us as your bartenders! Everything youre feeling, I can relate to and I appreciate your content so so much. You are a valuable individual and I genuinely enjoy your rants!
Seth is awesome and sooo right!!👍
Even if there was 100% absolute irrefutable proof provided that God doesn't exist there would be religious people that wouldn't accept it.
One of my friends had an argument with me that lasted days and one after the other was refuted, finally I just said please, let's agree to disagree, these arguments only made me disagree further, then he whispered... ' don't be close minded ' :) BOOM.
😂
Ah Seth, you have finally reached the frustration level so many of us have already experienced. Being nice is relative to how much BS gets tossed at you b/c at a certain point one just gets enough of it and has to strike back with a bit of forcefulness. Like most of us, I never am the one to bring up the subject of religion but if I am confronted and challenged with BS I just have to dish out some reality.
My dear old mum had the best answer to arguments from popularity: "Well, a million lemmings can't be wrong, can they?"
Matt Brooker a million Nazis where.
What about the Jonestown massacre?
My answer to arguments from popularity is this: Millions of Germans voted for the Nazi Party in 1933; does that make the Nazis' ideology valid?
Your mum may have been a genius. I had an old Korean woman tell me that millions of Koreans believe in Jesus. I said, A billion plus Muslims believe in Allah... No response.
For those who think matt brooker is supporting popular opinion with his mother's quote, lemmings commit suicide en mass annually.
Oh hey, the Free OK speech about the "Now on something something FM..." with all the common theist arguments was amazing. How you equated an overplayed song with tired arguments. Brilliant! It was soo good. I watched it on RUclips. You did great, man! You covered all the bases there for sure. I've heard all of those many times...
I couldn't agree more with everything said! ❤❤❤
Listening to these podcasts make my day ~ Thanks
You've got an awesome voice! But the message is even more awesome.
I live in NYC and I'm an Atheist and I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! Keep up the GREAT work Seth!!!! Love the show!!!!
listening from india here
***** Awh, it's ok, Seth. We understand. We've all been there...frustrated beyond belief (quite literally!) at how absurd things can get dealing with the programming of religion, of strangers and of the one's we love. And I try not to be that "angry atheist" too. But it can be HARD to hold your tongue, to be patient, to stay calm. It's tough. But we're here for you too, like you're here for us! Keep on keeping on, man! You're not a failure. You're doing great work! :)
I wish my family would ask me why, but they honestly don't want to know. Thankfully they accept me for who I am regardless of what I (don't) believe. Thank you Seth, for everything you do, and I accept you MORE because your not perfect... we all know how well "perfect" beings turn out.
I feel ya man, I have exactly the same pattern with my parents and extended family. Not only the emotional appeals, scare tactics and baseless claims but also the health scams, conspiracy theories and bogus warnings. Realize that a lot of what you are experiencing is the evolution of religious ideas: religious minds simply try appeals and responses at random. Those that stick continue to propogate; the others die off. Once you realize this, you can respond much more effectively.
Why do people worship ignorance? Because they didn't do their homework at school, and that's a convenient excuse.
What I find very sad is the fact that so many people believe in some sort of a deity to a point where their earthly life is miserable in the hopes that their heavenly life will be wonderful. Most of the time this alienates others around them for the sake of something that if you use critical thinking you know is not true.
I'm not an atheist, but I definitely believe in science and evolution. I love your rants.
Came across this on Christmas Eve. Peace and Love Seth and Friends.
My mother who claims to be Christian only read parts of the bible that gives her warm fuzzies. She's never read the entire thing and she told me she doesn't want to because she just likes to call on God to feel good. Well that just blew my mind because I'm thinking how can you profess that you believe if you haven't even read the entire text that you propose to believe in. My dad also does the selective reading of the text.
That describes 99.99% of christians.
I kinda like it when you are angry. I do normally like your calm and even temper, but it is also good to see that like everyone else, you are just as capable of anger.
Half of Americans believe...
Don't care that's an argumentum ad populum and is a logical fallacy. Prove your God and prove creationism is true and I will believe.
You have 11 of those 20 years covered and the number of people checking the none box on those surveys keeps going up. 😮
UK now 80% non religious. 45 churches in the area I live about to close. Cannot come quick enough I live next to one
Many years ago, I was the most 'religious' child in a large family. The rest were "I believe in God, and have a bible, but y'know, me and God, we have an 'understanding'," meaning "God just happens to see things the way I do". I used to lead the Thanksgiving dinner prayer. Since then, I've read and thought, and have had to insist to my family that I am atheist, and won't be doing any prayers. But neither will they, because their "faith" is nominal. They stick with it, but without understanding why. It's just 'wrong' not to.
So, I don't push my view on them, and they don't ask why I hold my view. But they expect me to close my eyes in prayer and respect their view. I still can't tell the difference between blessed and non-blessed food.
😂 similar experience
...and THIS is why I do not tell my mom I'm atheist. She got mad (honestly mad) when my 7 year old nephew said Christmas wasn't Jesus's birthday. She got into an ARGUMENT with a 7 year old and demanded my sister tell her WHERE he heard that. My sister's answer? A special on THE HISTORY CHANNEL. My mom said, "Well, they're WRONG. Christmas is Jesus's birthday. Don't listen to these people. They're telling lies." *Total facepalm*
😢💔
I was taken in yesterday , too. Spent the whole day arguing with someone who spelled black hole , " black whole", but fancied themselves more knowledgable on cosmology than cosmologists. Pointed out their fallacious reasoning all day until they were pinned and, as always moved the goalpost by trying to narrow the claim to something altogether inconsequential and pointless. When the goalpost move was called out, they reverted to the pigeon strategy. Knocking over pieces, pooping on the board and strutting around like they won. So frustrating. Lying for Jesus.
I've enjoyed before, but am now officially a fan!!! I need help &/or direction. How do I best drop the bomb on my southern fundamental bible believing Gaaawds own words truth family? I know it's going to hurt my mother very deeply, but I can no longer in good conscience (yes w/out Gods guidance) fake it because it feels awful spouting garbage I no longer believe. Help! Anyone!!
Ronald Kretzer, II I'd do it over the phone, best not be near them incase they get violent.
Sin Burner That would probably be the smart thing to do because sadly that is a possibility .
Ronald Kretzer, II Have you told them yet?
Thrall079 quite recently actually. The Supreme Court ruling kind of forced the situation because I just couldn't stand the stupid hate speech another second. Just like I've heard others say, no one asked me why or tried to understand. My grandma was the real shocker. She actually started calling me a "fag". I'm not, in fact her lectures usually dealt with me seeing too many ladies & settling down with none. LOL I actually couldn't contain my laughter when my sweet mousy grandma started calling me a "fag" or "1 of them demonic gays" haaahahahaaa! Gotta love wild & wonderful West Virginia
My family is from west Virginia and penocostle. I have had to come out as gay and an atheist. Most will never except me . It's definitely not easy.
My cousin kept proselytizing me from his government email account at his job. I asked him for at least 8 months to cease with the fire and brimstone, hell talk. He did not stop. So the last email I got from him I told him that the next time I get this type of email from him I would contact his email administrator and report him for waste, fraud, and abuse.
That was the most effective thing I had tried. He no longer emails me! Problem solved.
Ugh, the Joshua thing. it reminds me of Marching Through Georgia. A cheery song about what was essentially genocide. Humans....wtf.
The god of the gap argument is my favourite. It amazes me that religious folk can actually hold onto their beliefs, even when so much of it is proven wrong. They just sweep facts under the table, and carry on believing.
56:43 I would like to see a fictional villain who would do similar atrocities as attributed to Yahweh in the Bible. There would be no mention of Abrahamic religions at all, it could take place in a fictional world like Star Wars of Lord of the Rings. Just to test how many people would recognize the atrocities and to see how those who realize or were told that these were inspired by Yahweh would react.
I would pay to see that. And by "that" I mean their reactions.
@@bensteinundknochen9404 Darth Vader literally destroyed a planet and everyone considers him evil. I guess when a god does something similar, he gets worshipped. At least Darth never told us he loved us.
MsDjessa agree , that be funny
I am pretty sure that even the worst fictional villain would be gaping in horror at the atrocities the God of the Bible ordered his followers to do & would think that it was going too far😂
There comes a point at which the ignorance becomes sufficiently willful that the professed adherent's sincerity must be questioned.
listening to this in 2016- evolution strong as ever!!! still a pantheist, but a non creator pantheist
I was just looking through my subs box, wishing there was something nice and long to listen to, refreshed, and now here's this, hot off the press. It's a miracle!
It's high time for the god of Abraham to go the way of Apollo, Zeus, Thor, and Odin, and vanish into the shadows of superstition and ignorance from whence they came. Enough is enough, already.
It sounds like Seth's family members are too frightened of hell to ever accept disbelief in God.
17:20 "Let it GO!" ROFL
When you keep getting answers that tell you to rely on faith and emotion instead of facts and the tangible, there is a problem. We do this with no other aspect of life. We work for money, clean our property, maintain hygiene and athletic regimens, have healthy reciprocal relationships with actual humans, but are supposed to wait on the imaginary to save us from danger and adversity. Has it ever occurred to anyone that religion could be the foundation for stalking? A hint of attention or the thought of love from afar can make an unhealthy mind snap, yet we are told to wait on God, pray for deliverance, and hope for a sign of grace. The parallel is chilling.
a UFO isn't a little green man. A UFO is an I identified flying object.... lolz if I see something in the sky and I can't determine what it is, it's a UFO to me. xD
Unidentified flying object*
Exactly! I have seen a UFO. But I have no good reason to believe it was anything other than a regular aircraft
You didn't fail, you spoke and stood up for your truth. I totally get it
The Dunning-Krueger effect is a bitch...
Yea, anyone who demonstrates their having it doesn't know they have a Dunning Krueger psycosis, so they only deny it. You can't argue with ignorance. Every dumb person thinks they're smarter than they are.
Andre Danielz Yes, it is a hopeless situation.
I'd be interested in an experiment that proved that people overestimate intelligence based on income. For example, I'd like to see if the stupid rich guy is perceived as more intelligent than he is due to his wealth and influence alone.
Chris Nilsson How ELSE would you explain so many people's perception that Donald Trump is NOT the blithering idiot that he actually is?
Video says the channel is just about to hit 90K subscribers. Looking in elevenish years later, the channel is just about to hit three hundred and sixty thousand subscribers. Keep it up, Seth. If you'll pardon the word.. People believe in what you're doing.
(Yes yes, I use 'believe' in the sense of 'support and/or agree with'. Shh.)
Gods are so limited by human thinking it is pathetic.
I agree, and yet the gods are supposed to be limitless in all of their powers..
11 years ago during the recording of this podcast, I was questioning my religion. 2 years later I liberated myself from that bullshit completely. I had little resistance coming out to my family. My dad still wants me to fund the catholic church since I no longer attend church. I wish you were as lucky as me Seth. To all other theists, I hope you could keep your family after coming out to them as an atheist, gay non binary or trans, not everyone.
I want some about Islam my family is Muslims I want some good argument
yassin art there is plenty of Muslims who left religion, who finally woke up, there is a few on RUclips.
Here is a good book by a Muslim author, short and sweet.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/150277528X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also recommend The God Delusion, you can also find it on Amazon.
Catholic family, here. I stopped at 9 yrs old. It was all too illogical. Thankfully, my mother always told us she didn't care what we believed, as long as we were happy and safe. Being an odd child, nothing I have done has surprised anyone.
❤
I've had to ask my family to stop sending me verses, articles, and the like. Seems that's the only communication they are willing to utilize. One-way conversations are NOT constructive. So, basically I never hear from my family anymore. I am sorry you (or anyone) are experiencing this on any level!
Just realized this is 11yrs ago 😂
Good episode again!
I grew up in a secular family, so i can't imagine being an atheist among pushy religious people. These shows are eye openers, even for me.
Rayman me too but I like listening to Seth & Matt D. They are awesome
@1:00:48 I was a christian for 56 years. I had to own up to the fact that I was wrong, and to be honest, I was rather relieved to let it go. If you are wondering, I'll be 57 next month, and I've only been an atheist for 2 months now.
Good for you to break out of the chains. I am one of the lucky ones - coming 62 and have never believed so I have lived my life freely.
My christianity was a tad shorter, but being honest, I was already atheist during the last couple of years I was still creating bible study guides and praying for help and forgiveness.
When my mom died, I realized I didn’t have to go through the motions any more. There was no family obligation to continue the pretense.
Like you say, it was a relief.
Oddly, there’s not three days go by that I’m not reading from the bible. But these days it’s to clarify a response to someone I’m in conversation with about christianity, or to put in context a verse that’s being thrust on me in condemnation. (Those verses are usually wildly out of context).
Congrats on your lighter burden, and cheers to leading a fulfilling, rational life.
I’m going to the Unholy Trinity conference in Tulsa in February 2020 and I cannot be more excited about it! The caller that said he’s happy to hear there is more than one atheist in Oklahoma, come visit us in Tulsa, we have quite a few here, me included!