Dear Mr. Andrews; As a gay man having been raised Catholic and having to suppress my own nature for many years, I have found comfort and solace within the Atheist community. Growing up, it was, well, hell keeping everything inside for fear of being carted away by the Devil if I continued to have feelings for other men. The actual church I was baptized in was one of those ghastly, gothic monolithic structures with looming statues and dark shadows occasionally made amber by the flickering glow of prayer candles. As a young, impressionable child, I had a phobia of crucifixes for fear of them coming to life to scare me into submission. I recall not being able to sleep on Holy Thursday night and hide under the covers because I has a cross above my bed as the brutal agony of Jesus' destruction filled my mind. This was something out of a horror movie, and yet having to endure the Stations of the Cross and the entire Easter season (along with all the other insane rituals [kneel, sit, stand, kneel, bow your head, kneel, stand, sit!!!]) were , as was drummed into me, perfectly natural events of my Catholic upbringing. I am now 54. I actually came out in the 80's, but I had no idea how much religious baggage I had stored up and locked away in my psyche from earlier years under this Catholic mind control. About a year ago, I was on the Amazon Kindle site, and I happened across your book "De-Converted." I decided to download it. Oh, Mr. Andrews, reading your book was like a breath of fresh air on a vibrant Spring day! I felt like I was coming home. Your book --- your realized journey from a follower to an Atheist --- is a true, sincere act of love and a priceless gift you have given to yourself and the rest of the world. Everything, at last, made sense, and I found your words so freeing. It was OK to set myself free of all the religions garbage and not be judged for it. It actually paralleled exactly my coming out as gay. I admittedly came out twice! How great is that???!!! From your inspiring, heartfelt biography, I became a devoted "The Thinking Atheist" podcast follower. I adore your way with words and, dare I say, sexy voice. You, along with the other pioneers (Dawkins, Hitchens, Barker, Harris, etc) have brought Atheism into the forefront and made it no longer something to revile and admonish. You made it right to stand up against these religious institutions who, subtly as well as overtly, use bigotry, superstition and fear to control so many who do not understand they they alone are in charge of their own lives. Mr. Andrews, I cannot thank you enough for setting me on this course. I, at last, have that horrid religious weight off my shoulders and can celebrate myself for who I am and not be wholly dependent on some loathsome god who is fast to condemn and furious with punishment. Those days are over. I am Gay. I am an Atheist. I have the best of both worlds! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Glenn J.
I'm so floored by your words. Just made my day (my month, actually). Thanks for the encouragement, and remember that your life belongs to you, and not to those who would limit you. All my best. -Seth
Glenn4romance Yeah.I`m a Southern Californian supporter of the Occupy movement,an anarchist,market socialist,existentialist,moral hedonist,utilitarian,a strong anti-theist,a feminist,an LGBT rights advocate and a High-Functioning Aspie so in general I`m Glenn Beck`s worst fucking nightmare.
+Glenn4romance Such a good thing for you. I never had any inclination toward the supernatural nor to the gay life, but if you are good with gay and good without god, then I think you'll be better than fine. I grew up in Hawaii and there seems to be a somewhat more easygoing attitude among a large number of people who accept and embrace gay friends and acquaintances here. There is a long cultural tradition in Pacific Island cultures. Look up the Samoan word "fafafine". So, all's well here, and you go for the gold ring. Aloha.
I was raised in a normal home, my mother and father both had good careers and there was no god or religion in our family. I was raised with good morals that are common since. killing is wrong treat others as you would have them treat you. None of my friends were religious, and no one in my family was religious. I was curious so I did read the bible and it scared the shit out of me. And also made me feel sorry for the children that are indoctrinated by the church and their parents. They are not given the wright to grow up to make up their own minds to become who they wish to be. And told at a very young age that if you do not believe and have faith in your god he will send you to hell where you will burn forever. How sick is that to be telling and unknowing innocent child. I really feel sorry for all the innocent kids that never even have a chance to be just a normal loving person living their life their own way.
My upbringing was similar except my mom was just a simple housewife (more like an estate manager-even in the most modest of households, as I would find out later in life.) I know of only one fight my parents ever had and this was revealed to me after my father died. My dad would jokingly say things like, “God would know you’re lying” if he suspected any attempt at deceit from me. He made me think deeply from my own heart and mind, my own conscience, my Jiminy Cricket. No god; just the little green guy or rather just me. Morality, compassion, justice; they’re all a part of any balanced human mind. Dogs display these traits. Higher the animal, keener the sense. “Religion poisons everything.” Christopher Hitchens, my hero, “Everything?” Really? At page 162. I begin to understand. If not everything, at least everything that matters in the advancement of health and wellbeing of humanity. Religion (sorry Buddhists, if you’re not a religion, you’re a cult with your own skeletons) does truly poison EVERYTHING. Its 2019. Information and knowledge on demand. “Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence, it will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines.”--Bertrand Russell The earth is not flat. The sun does not revolve around the earth. (The church finally made it’s disgustingly belated apologies to Galileo.) There is no veritable historical evidence of the biblical Jesus. I find 3, perhaps 4 snippets of mere clues. I’d expect volumes, literally; tons, physically. Or perhaps he wasn’t so important. Or he isn’t real. So there is no god. "How well we know what a profitable superstition this fable of Christ has been for us and our predecessors."--Pope Leo X Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici. Pope (1513-1521)
Christians actually have the nerve to say that they get their "purpose" in life from the same God that tells them they are worthless... Go figure this paradox.
I was caught off guard by how nervous your Satan dedication "prayer" made me. It's annoying that I still have that fear somewhere inside my head. Thanks for bringing that to my awareness. We are not children in need of the boogy man. Here is to defiant curiosity!
I know what you mean. I was happy that I didn't feel nervous at all. I just didn't want him to go along with what that guy said and "kneel" because it's so dumb. But Seth turned it into something great - a perfect demonstration of how NOTHING IS THERE! No devils, no angels, just human desire and will, along with the natural order.
Dear Seth I'm a Canadian atheist that was raised in a strict catholic home. I just wanted to tell you how much I admire you and all that you do to help people like me to feel good about who I am, to question, explore and experience all that the "real" world has to offer. I firmly believe that if faith and religions were gone we could actually create a real Eden inclusive to all. Thank You!!!!
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs. neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html or
Wow… so encouraging and brilliant! I've been an atheist for close to 15yrs. I discovered Sam Harris in 2006-ish, and began to listen to him, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins in lectures and debates available on RUclips. I also discovered and became a fan of Matt Dillihunty from The Atheist Experience out of Austin TX. Just discovered Seth Andrews last week, (for me) a refreshing voice in the free-thinking community that I look forward to hearing more from.
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs. neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html or
@@headlights4395 - I have NO IDEA why you replied to my 5yr old comment with what you did… I honestly don't even know what you are intending to convey… but today, 5 yrs later after having made my comment, I can tell you unless there's a mythology you need to cling to to get through this life, I can think of no reason why anyone would accept the notion that an existent deity could need humans to tell other humans that he/she/it exists… that's EXACTLY what would be necessary though if the deity were myth… this is SO FUNDAMENTAL.
This guy helped to change my life for the better in so many ways. Seth, you are a special person... the kind that many can relate to. Thanks for your knowledge & insight.
to all the atheists: as long as 2,600 years ago (now 2018) the buddha already said: "whether or not god exists is irrelevant 2 your life.". buddha - 2,600 years ago (now 2018). you can consult this video: ruclips.net/video/QOQiZbAPtW4/видео.html if a christian claims that there's no morality without god, then you should reply by referrin' 2 buddhism as follows: buddhism has no god but it has morality. dont be embarassed, buddhism is atheist, just like you.the buddha's teachin' is completely free of the concept of god. if he had believed that god exists, then he wouldnt dare 2 say so & 2 teach so. thus he was a complete atheist. 1 of the most admired facts about him is that he could found a religion without resortin' 2 the concept of god 2 frighten people in2 believin' in him. if science & religion can be united, then there's only 1 religion that can do it, & that's buddhism. the co-operation between buddhism & science has already been goin' on, for the last 30 years or so (now 2018). in youtube just search "buddhism science".some people say that buddhism is simply non-theist (neither accept nor deny the existence of god, just ignore this existence question). well, actually it's atheist, as shown above that the buddha was an atheist. his teachin' is compatible with the atheist thought, much of it is even similar 2 the atheist thought. buddhism is a huge vast body of wisdom, so if you want 2 go directly 2 where you can see this compatibility & similarity, you can google "secular buddhism" in search or youtube. thus i invite you 2 embrace buddhism, or at least 2 form a coalition with it, 2 confront the barbarism of christianism. this superstitious christianism is barbaric bcoz it's based on the barbaric cult of sacrificin' humans & animals 2 the gods. if you feel uncomfortable 2 refer 2 buddhism as a religion, you can refer 2 it as a philosophy; many academic westerners refer 2 it as such. havin' buddhism as your religion or philosophy or ally in your intellectual battle against the barbarism of christianism will strengthen your position, bcoz, as every1 knows, christianism fears buddhism too, in addition 2 the fact that it fears science. some scholars even claim that it fears buddhism more than it fears science.
Riya, I'm pretty into Buddhism. Buddhism has been invaluable in my own internal journey out of the brainwashing of Christianity. It's helped me accept that I'm the one in charge of my own life. I'd encourage anyone with an interest to look into Buddhism. But the answer to the religiosity of today is NOT to trade one religion for another, REGARDLESS of whether the new religion is atheistic or not. As long as we're looking to a religion to guide our culture, we will be held back. Yes, even an atheistic religion. As long as we have religion, we will happily use it to oppress each other. Yes, even an atheistic religion. Religion is not the answer. We must defeat the oppression of Christianity through encouraging people to think for themselves. Buddhism was the answer for me personally. It is NOT the answer for liberation from Christianity.
to all the atheists: as long as 2,600 years ago (now 2018) the buddha already said: "whether or not god exists is irrelevant 2 your life.". buddha - 2,600 years ago (now 2018). you can consult this video: ruclips.net/video/QOQiZbAPtW4/видео.html if a christian claims that there's no morality without god, then you should reply by referrin' 2 buddhism as follows: buddhism has no god but it has morality. dont be embarassed, buddhism is atheist, just like you.the buddha's teachin' is completely free of the concept of god. if he had believed that god exists, then he wouldnt dare 2 say so & 2 teach so. thus he was a complete atheist. 1 of the most admired facts about him is that he could found a religion without resortin' 2 the concept of god 2 frighten people in2 believin' in him. if science & religion can be united, then there's only 1 religion that can do it, & that's buddhism. the co-operation between buddhism & science has already been goin' on, for the last 30 years or so (now 2018). in youtube just search "buddhism science".some people say that buddhism is simply non-theist (neither accept nor deny the existence of god, just ignore this existence question). well, actually it's atheist, as shown above that the buddha was an atheist. his teachin' is compatible with the atheist thought, much of it is even similar 2 the atheist thought. buddhism is a huge vast body of wisdom, so if you want 2 go directly 2 where you can see this compatibility & similarity, you can google "secular buddhism" in search or youtube. thus i invite you 2 embrace buddhism, or at least 2 form a coalition with it, 2 confront the barbarism of christianism. this superstitious christianism is barbaric bcoz it's based on the barbaric cult of sacrificin' humans & animals 2 the gods. if you feel uncomfortable 2 refer 2 buddhism as a religion, you can refer 2 it as a philosophy; many academic westerners refer 2 it as such. havin' buddhism as your religion or philosophy or ally in your intellectual battle against the barbarism of christianism will strengthen your position, bcoz, as every1 knows, christianism fears buddhism too, in addition 2 the fact that it fears science. some scholars even claim that it fears buddhism more than it fears science.
Perseus Wong I just happened to be scrolling the comments and my eyes fell on your comment on the exact instant that Seth was speaking the line you quoted. My first thought was, "Huh! That's some good writing! It even sound like Seth in my head." Then I realized it had come out of my speakers. Still cool! Thanks!
I recently left the church business after staying for far too long. I had doubts and even mocked most of what I was regurgitating to people. I stayed out of fear of the unknown. You have made my transition out of the dark very easy...better yet...entertaining. Thank you, Seth.
I've been watching one video after another featuring Seth Andrews speaking. This one has me reflecting on my own life. I've been an atheist since my senior year of high school half a century ago, and my brother seemed to share my "conversion," but he has since become a Catholic church-goer with his wife. I'm the only member of my surviving family who has remained an atheist. It's a lonely life in this country, but I'm glad to find these videos.
"My days of bowing down are over," SA states at c. 46.00. Well put. After the hell i went through at the hands of my church when i became a single parent due to a terrible family tragedy, I brought my four kids up as free thinkers. Not one of them are "bowing down", either.
Such a wonderful and inspiring talk. You are right: the world desperately needs more rational, secular story-tellers and encouragers. Thank you, Seth. 👍 ❤️
It's comforting and reaffirming to me when I hear other people say things that I have already thought about, but wandered if I was just crazy? Go Seth!
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs. neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
At Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, I believe it is still called Natural Philosophy. Quantum Mechanics even solved the riddle of the stability of the benzene ring, with its three unsaturated double bonds.
This talk you gave in this vid is so inspirational - as an person from the Uk - which is constitutionally Christian. You really need to come to the UK and help create more aethiests. We need more aethiests in the Uk more than any where else - please come to the Uk - aeithiests here really need your talks here.
"While others laugh at you for being different, you can laugh at them for being all the same." This fellow has a way with words, don't he? That one sentence hit it out of the park and shattered the windshield of a church bus.
He moronicly contradicts himself with that one sentence. Right before that sentence, he says how no one is the same. "Noone has ever been the same as you, and no one ever will be the same as you" each of us uniquely ourselves. Then he says "you can laugh at them for being the same " I guess he hit it out of the park foul and shattered the windshield of an atheists Toyota Prius
Thank you, Seth! Once again, you are spot-on with this "I'll pray for you" crap. I, unfortunately, have cancer. I have undergone high-dose chemo. I was so ill as a consequence of this treatment that I could hardly function. Recently, I was in a store que when the cashier told me her friend was told she had cancer. My advice went something like this.......Please, Do not tell your friend that you will "pray for her"! Instead, go to her. Help her. Clean her home. Walk her pet. Fix her a few meals she can microwave. Do her dishes and laundry. Mow the lawn. Drive her to and set with her during a treatment (they can take hours). DO REAL things to help her, in real life! "I'm praying for you" won't help her in the lease. Doing REAL things for her will engrain you in her heart more than prayer. Thank you, again, Seth!
Props to whoever filmed this... It looks and sounds great... I'd also like to echo the desire to see the closing letter be made into a video of its own for ease of sharing with friends who don't have the attention span for the whole talk... Great job Seth, per usual...
Hello Seth. It is 8 years later from when this video went up, and I found it this evening. Thank you for this talk. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sad the text of that letter is no longer available. booo. What you shared here just made my day. Goodnight from Montreal.
If religion were eradicated in 10 years the world would not change..... but imagine where would focus our energy .... where the species could go..... I am glad i live in an age where i can question belief, but saddened that so many choose not to
84% of the world believes in god(s.) IMAGINE (love the lyrics, reservations about the writer,) if all that time, money and energy went towards the advancement of health and wellbeing for humanity. “What a wonderful world it would be.”
Sadly, Ken Ham didn't fall apart at that end question, he actually responded with basically "I won't change my mind because I know God created everything.". That's just sad.
Hey Seth. You spoke of all the amazing people you've been able to meet and said you sit at the kiddie table and are not "that guy". I beg to differ. You defined your role and were spot on, you have been sorely needed and rank up there with all those you mentioned from my view.. The closing letter was nothing short of brilliant and reminded me to toss some coin your way again to offset all the tithes I wasted all those years. Like I always say, compared to tithing you're a hell of a deal! Rawk on!
Thanks Seth, i have enjoyed listening to this! I live in Europe, different situation, christianity going down very fast now... You all atheists and freethinkers in the USA, keep up the good work!
Dear Mr Andrews, You said @ 29:35 "...they see my apostacy as their failure." I have lived in unspoken dread of that idea: MY APOSTACY And there you just said it out loud. It's like singing "glad to be gay" instead of living in the closet. For me, coming out as an atheist has actually been a long dark road, the gay thing was only one small step in that road. Realising one can live by pride, as a virtue (not as the corruption (hubris) which Christianity teaches us to despise), as a celebration of the existence of the self, self respect, self worth... realising that I have been complicit in depriving myself of this joy has been revelatory! My church are still happily benefitting from the work of my hands, but I have no recognition, no reward. And I let that pass because I too believed (hence I make myself complicit) that what i created was never my own. I've spent decades believing, even since leaving the church, that I am of little worth. They had been reinforcing that, their teaching, something I continued to live by, that takes some weeding out. I am going to go back and whitewash that mural I painted, reclaim the canvases still on display. I am so angry I could even sow salt on that vegetable garden I created, not simply out of spite, but to impress upon them how their petty homophobia effects me; they salted my garden, took my produce, rejected me. Wrong me, shall I not avenge? The guy who has now plonked his shed on my allotment is a fat bastard who taught his kids to keep away from me because I'm "dirty" - I had been a celibate member of that church for seven years and I was still being called dirty! I shall rejoice in being an apostate from that mind set. Thanks for the idea.
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs. neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html or homoeroticpoems.blogspot.com/2018/06/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
@@headlights4395~Thanks for the Jung link and thanks for the reply itself, as it's reminding me where I was at 5 yrs ago. About that time I got a message from Jordan Peterson and checked out his Maps of Meaning, all about Jungian archetypes.
I am a lesbian atheist from a small town of Seiling, Ok...maybe you've passed through here before maybe not (you're not missing out on anything), to listen to you and the topics you speak about ESPECIALLY that piece at the end of this video, really helped me. It's not that I have never met an atheist before (although in this town, i am unaware of one), it's the way you are considerate, clever, and how passionate you speak about these things. If only more people in my community could see things in a different perspective. But hey, i like being weird and abnormal. Keep up the good work my friend.
Right. The religious ask how the big bang came to be out of nothing. Atheists ask how did an all-knowing, all-powerful god come out of nothing as well. Who or what created god? If they say god did not need a cause, then we can say that neither did the universe.
The proof that Steady State Creation does not account for the expanding universe (Fred Hoyle's hypothesis, shared by Gold and Bondi) was first that samples of the Universe from very very long ago are denser than recent ones. This is consistent with the idea that the mass of the whole (well, at least the visible mass) is *_constant_* . _Therefore _*_at the very beginning_*_ it was the same_ , Very decidedly that is NOT Nothing. The Big Bang has at least two of the qualities of the fictitious God. It is everywhere, and all things are created by it. But it does not care what we do, nor with whom, when we are naked. Nor does it listen to requests. It does, however, reward those who seek to know it better. Both spiritually and materially.
Wow. The words I needed to hear for years now have been here all along. I can't express how grateful I am to hear someone say it, and so eloquently. It's like a burden has lifted. Thank you so much.
This was so great. The part that struck me to the core was the comparison between an abusive relationship and people's relationship to the god-figure. Even in the midst of bold-face evidence of either his indifference or actual disdain (if you believe in his omnipotence and omniscience), the true believers turn to the very person who inflicted the misery in the first place, or at least chose not to intervene. No matter how much misery he dishes out, you love him and you just can't leave. That's just so sad.
I don't remember saying what I apparently felt I should say I glanced over it and shit sound legit some sad shit. I was smoking a lot of Chicago weed back then too so u know niggaz b trippin I mean dudes b trippn mthrfkrs b trippn I mean buy its all good in the fkn hood now I'm chilln smokin indiana weed again spinning like a merry-go-round
Oh god. Battlefield of the Mind for Teens. I read that not too long ago (when I was still religious) and it terrified me. It worsened my already terrible anxiety and depression.
Thanks Seth! So much of this rings true for me. Feeling like a red tulip in a field of white in my time and zip code is a familiar feeling. As is the lonely feeling of being a sole voice of reason , feeling free to examine and discard and change beliefs as I learn better. I've lost and let go of friends over that. I had to decide that I had slightly more self-worth than to go back to a church where I'm told that I was inherently broken because of whom I am attracted, because I challenge the party line. It's an extremely lonely place to be. It would be so much easier as someone who craves connection to give up who I am and what makes me unique to fit in and get along. I can not overstate what this means to me, Seth, to find a community where my natural inclination to question is actively encouraged and curiosity is supported. It means the world to me to feel free to be kind when I can and strong when I must.
@@sorryifoldcomment8596 thanks for that, I've been out of Catholicism for 20 years, and out of Unitarian Universalism for 1 and change. There's no chance of me going back, remembering why I left in the first place. But neither do I really feel I have a place among atheists!
You do not have to give up who you are and what makes you unique to fit in and get along. You may think that you freed yourself from religious thinking and believing, but you still believe that "their god" is the only God for you to believe or not believe in. Instead of going outside the box to follow your own God, you stay inside the box to not follow theirs. By their God you base your beliefs or the lack thereof. You think if they are wrong about God, then there is no God. Like if one believes in evolution then they cannot believe in God and if one believes in God then they cannot believe in evolution. follow your own heart. Not the heart of others.
I know this video has been out for around 5+ years, but your stuff is almost always excellent, especially the hour long stuff. The long videos allow more freedom to work in the best material. Good job Seth, I'm really proud to sponsor you on Patreon.
Just discovered this kindred spirit!! What a breath of fresh air. He's filling our need for Hitchens. At least my personal need! Freedom to all from religious oppression, means no more religion!!
I grew up in a Christian home, anyone else feel like they've been lied to the whole time you were forced to go to church? As I am older, I look back and I feel a little angry about being lied to. My parents didn't mean to, I know that what they believe is true to them. I can't stand being in the same room with my mom because I am always told that I'm being prayed for. I always say, I don't believe in that anymore and I always hear You're are going to hell then... Everytime.. lol
You *were* lied to! It's unacceptable. If people want to have religion and believe in lies, fine...but give your kid a chance. It's not okay to lie to children. I find it deeply upsetting how much of our children's lives are being robbed and fed to religion...all such a waste of time. All of that time you could have been spent being educated and taught reality, encouraging you to ask questions and do their own research. It's not just that religion tells lies, no, it also tells kids to stop thinking. That's the real problem and what really angers me. I am so sorry. You have every right to be upset. Don't ever let anyone invalidate your feelings. (Definitely don't ever let someone try to say you are only atheist out of negative feelings, either, which is another case of invalidating your feelings.) I am angry for you. Angry for all people who waste their entire life away, all for an afterlife that doesn't exist. It's honestly so so so deeply depressing. You aren't going to go to hell. You'll go to the same place as every person who wasted their life trying to avoid it. Just, sad.
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs. neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
@@sorryifoldcomment8596 Thats the problem with any religion. Its built on fear. The fear of hell. Thats why parents try to force their belief in to their own kids. "-Is my son really saved or is he going to hell?" I was raised in a christian home but my parents never forced me in to anything. I believe in God but I think God is bigger then any religion on Earth.
I know this video is 10 years old at this point, but it still rings true. I am so forever thankful that Hitch sparked this fire in you. He would be so, so happy to know that he influenced such a powerful voice in this community. Thank you so much for what you do, thank you for always making me feel seen and worthy. The end of this video had me tearing up, good stuff Seth ❤
One thing about the school that was hit. In an area that gets hit with tornadoes and the schools don't have shelters. Christian state looking out for the children. The Gov. lied and said that all schools would have shelters within a year. Never happened, it is too expensive to save children.
to all the atheists: as long as 2,600 years ago (now 2018) the buddha already said: "whether or not god exists is irrelevant 2 your life.". buddha - 2,600 years ago (now 2018). you can consult this video: ruclips.net/video/QOQiZbAPtW4/видео.html if a christian claims that there's no morality without god, then you should reply by referrin' 2 buddhism as follows: buddhism has no god but it has morality. dont be embarassed, buddhism is atheist, just like you.the buddha's teachin' is completely free of the concept of god. if he had believed that god exists, then he wouldnt dare 2 say so & 2 teach so. thus he was a complete atheist. 1 of the most admired facts about him is that he could found a religion without resortin' 2 the concept of god 2 frighten people in2 believin' in him. if science & religion can be united, then there's only 1 religion that can do it, & that's buddhism. the co-operation between buddhism & science has already been goin' on, for the last 30 years or so (now 2018). in youtube just search "buddhism science".some people say that buddhism is simply non-theist (neither accept nor deny the existence of god, just ignore this existence question). well, actually it's atheist, as shown above that the buddha was an atheist. his teachin' is compatible with the atheist thought, much of it is even similar 2 the atheist thought. buddhism is a huge vast body of wisdom, so if you want 2 go directly 2 where you can see this compatibility & similarity, you can google "secular buddhism" in search or youtube. thus i invite you 2 embrace buddhism, or at least 2 form a coalition with it, 2 confront the barbarism of christianism. this superstitious christianism is barbaric bcoz it's based on the barbaric cult of sacrificin' humans & animals 2 the gods. if you feel uncomfortable 2 refer 2 buddhism as a religion, you can refer 2 it as a philosophy; many academic westerners refer 2 it as such. havin' buddhism as your religion or philosophy or ally in your intellectual battle against the barbarism of christianism will strengthen your position, bcoz, as every1 knows, christianism fears buddhism too, in addition 2 the fact that it fears science. some scholars even claim that it fears buddhism more than it fears science.
@@soriya011 What's with this droppin' the g and tryin' to sound like yer some kinda hairy Folksy Gooroo Mister Natural Holey Man who likes talkin' kinda like a rube 'cause he thinks it gives him some kinda "folk wisdom" sound. Sound is SO important when you're a goo-roo, yessrreebob. Namaste, y'all.
I mean, while ya can't be bothered none to use a word instead o' the number 2 and ya don't care none nevermind 'bout no grammar, you're very careful to put that apostrophe after each one of your Folksy Hairy Holey Man gerunds. You want to be very careful to get your casual folksy talk Just Right. Right? No fools like ones that manufacture their own foolish ego form.
Joyce Meyer forgot this verse (lol): Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,“...I just have to laugh anymore. Wonderful presentation here. And I love all those Christian reactions lumped up together. I have heard many of them myself.
as an ex Irish Catholic I believed everything until I got the nerve to question,I was told good catholics don't question ,but that did not stop me,when I got rid of the shackles of the church my life was enhanced,no guilt or fear ,I think religion is the biggest con job ever,its great to hear the likes of set,although hitchens is my favourite,as the saying goes,a good christian is a guilty one,how stupid.
congratulations for having the courage and honesty to question the "faith". Check out George Carlin's, "But he loves you" . It's just a short, but very popular, stand-up comedy George did. (You Tube) Let me know what you think. You probably already saw it. LMFAO!
Dear David Keoch, I think you'll like a story about Brendan Behan's schooldays. His Catholic Nun schoolteacher was IMHO justifiably damning Henry VIII for his despoiling of the churches and monasteries, enriching himself, Brendan raises a hand, and asks "where did the churches and monasteries get the money Henry took from them?"
As awful as my protestant church was I don't think I ever heard "don't question" out loud, just implied. (even though it's explicitly stated in the bible more than once. Gotta hide the controversial stuff long enough to get you through catechism!)
Seth said "Makes you fear for the species, doesn't it?" at 26:30. Yes, but it also encourages me. So many have thrown off the blinders, the kind of thinking that says some magic being has full control of my life and all I can do is kowtow to some man or woman he has chosen in hopes of avoiding penalties unspeakable. Yet he does this out of love? Remember how recently there was even a choice: you either worshipped at Rome, or a state religion church, or you were burned as a witch? We have grown. We are finally outgrowing the bronze age mythology that replaced the pantheons of stone age thought. We ever invent better ways of learning about our world. And if we can ever wrest political power from the priest's hands we may survive yet.
I've been listening to TTA for over 2 years now and I always pictured Seth as a man in his sixties, I was totally shocked when I finally looked him up on Google and saw just how young he is :D I could listen to your voice all day Seth and I love the pod cast...never stop, Keep up the awesome work mate.
THe greatest fear of human beings is the fear of having to assume sole responsibility for what we think and what we do. It is far easier emotionally to assign the assumption of responsibility to someone else, whether that someone exists or not.
“I have concluded through careful empirical analysis and much thought that somebody is looking out for me, keeping track of what I think about things, forgiving me when I do less than I ought. Giving me strength to shoot for more than I think I’m capable of. I believe they know everything that I do and think, and they still love me, and I’ve concluded, after careful consideration, that this person keeping score is me.” Dammit, I wish I was the one who came up with those brilliant words, but I have to give that credit to Adam Savage ;-)
Hi Seth, I have read and watched Hitchens, Dawkins, Sam Harris, PZ Myers, DarkMatter, 43Alley, Cris Rad, Ed Current, etc., and I watch The Atheist Experience Every Sunday. But I just discovered you this week. Great stuff, I feel that I found a soul mate. Honestly, you seem to clone my thoughts. Wish I had found you earlier. Please keep up the great work!
38:03 Well, at this point one could start arguing for gnosticism: the horrors which you describe; the animosity towards humanity; these could all be the symptoms of an evil god......
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs. neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html or
seth andrews raised an interesting point: science - and i would add philosophy- debunk religions over and over again- and yet religions, like the mythological hydra- spring into life again and again. i'm afraid that fellow atheists forgot to answer the question: why is that so? answer: because religion offers humanity a version- be it ever so faulty - of comfort in the face of life's suffering and eventual mortality. human beings have a legitimate need for mutual support, and a sense of purpose and meaning. civilizations would'nt hjave existed without them. if atheists want to change the world for the better they should seek to create a system of ethics that empowers people to be tolerant, patient respectful and mindful of each other without religion. it can be done.
spiderlime : Google secular humanism. Humanists are working on the answers to these questions and there are humanist groups in many cities that offer discussion and friendship.
Thank you, Mr. Andrews. Completely unexpectedly, I found tears in my eyes and the breath wooshed out of me at your last sentence. That doesn't sound pleasant, and why would I thank you for it? Because, I know I will feel much lighter and free-er (spelling? grammar?) when this cathartic reaction passes. Again, thank you, for this talk, for that sentence.
“Reasoning and confusion go together”. They DO go together. And that’s because they are both part of learning. In fact, if you feel confused, that’s ok. It’s just your brain trying to find the pattern. That’s what you went through when you first encountered language as a baby. And when you stop feeling confused, you’re done learning. Especially if you run away from it.
Dear Mr. Andrews;
As a gay man having been raised Catholic and having to suppress my own nature for many years, I have found comfort and solace within the Atheist community. Growing up, it was, well, hell keeping everything inside for fear of being carted away by the Devil if I continued to have feelings for other men.
The actual church I was baptized in was one of those ghastly, gothic monolithic structures with looming statues and dark shadows occasionally made amber by the flickering glow of prayer candles. As a young, impressionable child, I had a phobia of crucifixes for fear of them coming to life to scare me into submission. I recall not being able to sleep on Holy Thursday night and hide under the covers because I has a cross above my bed as the brutal agony of Jesus' destruction filled my mind. This was something out of a horror movie, and yet having to endure the Stations of the Cross and the entire Easter season (along with all the other insane rituals [kneel, sit, stand, kneel, bow your head, kneel, stand, sit!!!]) were , as was drummed into me, perfectly natural events of my Catholic upbringing.
I am now 54. I actually came out in the 80's, but I had no idea how much religious baggage I had stored up and locked away in my psyche from earlier years under this Catholic mind control.
About a year ago, I was on the Amazon Kindle site, and I happened across your book "De-Converted." I decided to download it. Oh, Mr. Andrews, reading your book was like a breath of fresh air on a vibrant Spring day! I felt like I was coming home. Your book --- your realized journey from a follower to an Atheist --- is a true, sincere act of love and a priceless gift you have given to yourself and the rest of the world.
Everything, at last, made sense, and I found your words so freeing. It was OK to set myself free of all the religions garbage and not be judged for it. It actually paralleled exactly my coming out as gay. I admittedly came out twice! How great is that???!!!
From your inspiring, heartfelt biography, I became a devoted "The Thinking Atheist" podcast follower. I adore your way with words and, dare I say, sexy voice. You, along with the other pioneers (Dawkins, Hitchens, Barker, Harris, etc) have brought Atheism into the forefront and made it no longer something to revile and admonish. You made it right to stand up against these religious institutions who, subtly as well as overtly, use bigotry, superstition and fear to control so many who do not understand they they alone are in charge of their own lives.
Mr. Andrews, I cannot thank you enough for setting me on this course. I, at last, have that horrid religious weight off my shoulders and can celebrate myself for who I am and not be wholly dependent on some loathsome god who is fast to condemn and furious with punishment. Those days are over.
I am Gay. I am an Atheist. I have the best of both worlds!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Glenn J.
I'm so floored by your words. Just made my day (my month, actually). Thanks for the encouragement, and remember that your life belongs to you, and not to those who would limit you. All my best. -Seth
Glenn4romance Yeah.I`m a Southern Californian supporter of the Occupy movement,an anarchist,market socialist,existentialist,moral hedonist,utilitarian,a strong anti-theist,a feminist,an LGBT rights advocate and a High-Functioning Aspie so in general I`m Glenn Beck`s worst fucking nightmare.
+Glenn4romance Such a good thing for you. I never had any inclination toward the supernatural nor to the gay life, but if you are good with gay and good without god, then I think you'll be better than fine. I grew up in Hawaii and there seems to be a somewhat more easygoing attitude among a large number of people who accept and embrace gay friends and acquaintances here. There is a long cultural tradition in Pacific Island cultures. Look up the Samoan word "fafafine".
So, all's well here, and you go for the gold ring. Aloha.
+Glenn4romance Never cease being proud of who you are. Each one knows his own worth and others can't tell you what yours is or isn't.
are you insane? u sound it
I was raised in a normal home, my mother and father both had good careers and there was no god or religion in our family. I was raised with good morals that are common since. killing is wrong treat others as you would have them treat you. None of my friends were religious, and no one in my family was religious. I was curious so I did read the bible and it scared the shit out of me. And also made me feel sorry for the children that are indoctrinated by the church and their parents. They are not given the wright to grow up to make up their own minds to become who they wish to be. And told at a very young age that if you do not believe and have faith in your god he will send you to hell where you will burn forever. How sick is that to be telling and unknowing innocent child. I really feel sorry for all the innocent kids that never even have a chance to be just a normal loving person living their life their own way.
My upbringing was similar except my mom was just a simple housewife (more like an estate manager-even in the most modest of households, as I would find out later in life.)
I know of only one fight my parents ever had and this was revealed to me after my father died. My dad would jokingly say things like, “God would know you’re lying” if he suspected any attempt at deceit from me. He made me think deeply from my own heart and mind, my own conscience, my Jiminy Cricket.
No god; just the little green guy or rather just me.
Morality, compassion, justice; they’re all a part of any balanced human mind. Dogs display these traits. Higher the animal, keener the sense.
“Religion poisons everything.”
Christopher Hitchens, my hero, “Everything?” Really?
At page 162. I begin to understand.
If not everything, at least everything that matters in the advancement of health and wellbeing of humanity.
Religion (sorry Buddhists, if you’re not a religion, you’re a cult with your own skeletons) does truly poison EVERYTHING.
Its 2019. Information and knowledge on demand.
“Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence, it will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines.”--Bertrand Russell
The earth is not flat.
The sun does not revolve around the earth. (The church finally made it’s disgustingly belated apologies to Galileo.)
There is no veritable historical evidence of the biblical Jesus.
I find 3, perhaps 4 snippets of mere clues. I’d expect volumes, literally; tons, physically.
Or perhaps he wasn’t so important.
Or he isn’t real.
So there is no god.
"How well we know what a profitable superstition this fable of Christ has been for us and our predecessors."--Pope Leo X Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici. Pope (1513-1521)
Amen brother.
1000x better than any sermon I've ever sat through. Seth, you are an inspiration
Yes but did this raise your hope?
atur chomicz
Sure did! Why wouldn't it?
Seth Andrews is one of the best communicators.. concise and clear. Well done, and thanks!
Christians actually have the nerve to say that they get their "purpose" in life from the same God that tells them they are worthless...
Go figure this paradox.
Perfectly said.
+Jimmy David Your purpose is your own, what you make it. Anybody who tries to tell you what it is, is selling something!
***** "It is what it is." is pet peeve of mine. I cringe every time I see or hear it! What's in a name? I call it "Shit Stain." lol
***** I am not satisfied with that! There must be more to existence or the infinite.
*****
All power has been given to us dumbass!
I was caught off guard by how nervous your Satan dedication "prayer" made me. It's annoying that I still have that fear somewhere inside my head. Thanks for bringing that to my awareness. We are not children in need of the boogy man. Here is to defiant curiosity!
Isn't the boogie-man a guy from the 1970s who likes to dance a lot?
I hear you, it's very annoying to me too.
aurora78 same here
@@enki354 same for me. Not just annoying but embarrassing. I'm a grown ass adult. How does this shit still torture me?
I know what you mean. I was happy that I didn't feel nervous at all. I just didn't want him to go along with what that guy said and "kneel" because it's so dumb. But Seth turned it into something great - a perfect demonstration of how NOTHING IS THERE! No devils, no angels, just human desire and will, along with the natural order.
Dear Seth
I'm a Canadian atheist that was raised in a strict catholic home.
I just wanted to tell you how much I admire you and all that you do to help people like me to feel good about who I am, to question, explore and experience all that the "real" world has to offer.
I firmly believe that if faith and religions were gone we could actually create a real Eden inclusive to all.
Thank You!!!!
Spot on!
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs.
neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
or
You come from Canada so you are really close to living in the garden of Eden already !!!! 🙂
Wow… so encouraging and brilliant!
I've been an atheist for close to 15yrs. I discovered Sam Harris in 2006-ish, and began to listen to him, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins in lectures and debates available on RUclips. I also discovered and became a fan of Matt Dillihunty from The Atheist Experience out of Austin TX.
Just discovered Seth Andrews last week, (for me) a refreshing voice in the free-thinking community that I look forward to hearing more from.
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs.
neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
or
@@headlights4395 - I have NO IDEA why you replied to my 5yr old comment with what you did… I honestly don't even know what you are intending to convey… but today, 5 yrs later after having made my comment, I can tell you unless there's a mythology you need to cling to to get through this life, I can think of no reason why anyone would accept the notion that an existent deity could need humans to tell other humans that he/she/it exists… that's EXACTLY what would be necessary though if the deity were myth… this is SO FUNDAMENTAL.
This guy helped to change my life for the better in so many ways. Seth, you are a special person... the kind that many can relate to. Thanks for your knowledge & insight.
Seth's voice has been described as "audible chocolate" by his listeners.
to all the atheists:
as long as 2,600 years ago (now 2018) the buddha already said:
"whether or not god exists is irrelevant 2 your life.".
buddha - 2,600 years ago (now 2018).
you can consult this video:
ruclips.net/video/QOQiZbAPtW4/видео.html
if a christian claims that there's no morality without god, then you should reply by referrin' 2 buddhism as follows: buddhism has no god but it has morality. dont be embarassed, buddhism is atheist, just like you.the buddha's teachin' is completely free of the concept of god. if he had believed that god exists, then he wouldnt dare 2 say so & 2 teach so. thus he was a complete atheist. 1 of the most admired facts about him is that he could found a religion without resortin' 2 the concept of god 2 frighten people in2 believin' in him.
if science & religion can be united, then there's only 1 religion that can do it, & that's buddhism. the co-operation between buddhism & science has already been goin' on, for the last 30 years or so (now 2018). in youtube just search "buddhism science".some people say that buddhism is simply non-theist (neither accept nor deny the existence of god, just ignore this existence question). well, actually it's atheist, as shown above that the buddha was an atheist. his teachin' is compatible with the atheist thought, much of it is even similar 2 the atheist thought. buddhism is a huge vast body of wisdom, so if you want 2 go directly 2 where you can see this compatibility & similarity, you can google "secular buddhism" in search or youtube.
thus i invite you 2 embrace buddhism, or at least 2 form a coalition with it, 2 confront the barbarism of christianism. this superstitious christianism is barbaric bcoz it's based on the barbaric cult of sacrificin' humans & animals 2 the gods. if you feel uncomfortable 2 refer 2 buddhism as a religion, you can refer 2 it as a philosophy; many academic westerners refer 2 it as such.
havin' buddhism as your religion or philosophy or ally in your intellectual battle against the barbarism of christianism will strengthen your position, bcoz, as every1 knows, christianism fears buddhism too, in addition 2 the fact that it fears science. some scholars even claim that it fears buddhism more than it fears science.
Him and Patrick Steward boy I wish I could sound as good as them!
Riya,
I'm pretty into Buddhism. Buddhism has been invaluable in my own internal journey out of the brainwashing of Christianity. It's helped me accept that I'm the one in charge of my own life. I'd encourage anyone with an interest to look into Buddhism.
But the answer to the religiosity of today is NOT to trade one religion for another, REGARDLESS of whether the new religion is atheistic or not. As long as we're looking to a religion to guide our culture, we will be held back. Yes, even an atheistic religion. As long as we have religion, we will happily use it to oppress each other. Yes, even an atheistic religion. Religion is not the answer.
We must defeat the oppression of Christianity through encouraging people to think for themselves. Buddhism was the answer for me personally. It is NOT the answer for liberation from Christianity.
I wish he would drop the preacher-like patois and just speak like a normal person
Hell yeah. "Audible chocolate" is a great description.
That letter was EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you, Seth. You'll never know how much you regularly help me through all this.
"Satan is the monster in the closet, and we're not kids anymore." - Seth Andrews
Dear Mr. Andrews, you are the voice of reason. Many thanks for all your lectures.
I love Seth Andrews. I hope he runs for President in 2020! Go Seth!
Right now an admitted atheist couldn't get elected dog catcher.
to all the atheists:
as long as 2,600 years ago (now 2018) the buddha already said:
"whether or not god exists is irrelevant 2 your life.".
buddha - 2,600 years ago (now 2018).
you can consult this video:
ruclips.net/video/QOQiZbAPtW4/видео.html
if a christian claims that there's no morality without god, then you should reply by referrin' 2 buddhism as follows: buddhism has no god but it has morality. dont be embarassed, buddhism is atheist, just like you.the buddha's teachin' is completely free of the concept of god. if he had believed that god exists, then he wouldnt dare 2 say so & 2 teach so. thus he was a complete atheist. 1 of the most admired facts about him is that he could found a religion without resortin' 2 the concept of god 2 frighten people in2 believin' in him.
if science & religion can be united, then there's only 1 religion that can do it, & that's buddhism. the co-operation between buddhism & science has already been goin' on, for the last 30 years or so (now 2018). in youtube just search "buddhism science".some people say that buddhism is simply non-theist (neither accept nor deny the existence of god, just ignore this existence question). well, actually it's atheist, as shown above that the buddha was an atheist. his teachin' is compatible with the atheist thought, much of it is even similar 2 the atheist thought. buddhism is a huge vast body of wisdom, so if you want 2 go directly 2 where you can see this compatibility & similarity, you can google "secular buddhism" in search or youtube.
thus i invite you 2 embrace buddhism, or at least 2 form a coalition with it, 2 confront the barbarism of christianism. this superstitious christianism is barbaric bcoz it's based on the barbaric cult of sacrificin' humans & animals 2 the gods. if you feel uncomfortable 2 refer 2 buddhism as a religion, you can refer 2 it as a philosophy; many academic westerners refer 2 it as such.
havin' buddhism as your religion or philosophy or ally in your intellectual battle against the barbarism of christianism will strengthen your position, bcoz, as every1 knows, christianism fears buddhism too, in addition 2 the fact that it fears science. some scholars even claim that it fears buddhism more than it fears science.
A smooth, sexy voice of reason, for sure.
@@Rfc1394 true
58:44 "I believe this is a prison designed to look like a mansion." Most insightful quote ever.
Perseus Wong I just happened to be scrolling the comments and my eyes fell on your comment on the exact instant that Seth was speaking the line you quoted. My first thought was, "Huh! That's some good writing! It even sound like Seth in my head." Then I realized it had come out of my speakers. Still cool! Thanks!
Info...Edge,
Ya sure it wasn’t god, are ya?
@@jamestown4867 i think its the flying spagetti monster.
Outstanding. Simply outstanding. Moving, intelligent, passionate, damning and inspiring. One of the best atheistic lectures you will ever see.
🎉❤totally agree
Critical thinking is the highest calling of the human mind, and that is why those capable of critical thinking are the highest form of human beings.
I recently left the church business after staying for far too long. I had doubts and even mocked most of what I was regurgitating to people. I stayed out of fear of the unknown.
You have made my transition out of the dark very easy...better yet...entertaining. Thank you, Seth.
I've been watching one video after another featuring Seth Andrews speaking. This one has me reflecting on my own life. I've been an atheist since my senior year of high school half a century ago, and my brother seemed to share my "conversion," but he has since become a Catholic church-goer with his wife. I'm the only member of my surviving family who has remained an atheist. It's a lonely life in this country, but I'm glad to find these videos.
"My days of bowing down are over," SA states at c. 46.00. Well put. After the hell i went through at the hands of my church when i became a single parent due to a terrible family tragedy, I brought my four kids up as free thinkers. Not one of them are "bowing down", either.
+larry wright Excellent!
Really sorry every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that sounds like no choice
Such a wonderful and inspiring talk.
You are right: the world desperately needs more rational, secular story-tellers and encouragers.
Thank you, Seth. 👍 ❤️
It's comforting and reaffirming to me when I hear other people say things that I have already thought about, but wandered if I was just crazy? Go Seth!
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs.
neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
Seth,
You're just so eloquent and classy. Wish we all had your talent of conveying how we feel. Thank you for posting!
--Amanda
I believe in a higher power. Its study is called Physics.
At Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, I believe it is still called Natural Philosophy. Quantum Mechanics even solved the riddle of the stability of the benzene ring, with its three unsaturated double bonds.
@@albertrogers8537 Man, those unsaturated double bonds really rock.
Kneeling before physics proves physics .
BULLSHIT
Physics does not prove evolution and in fact nothing proves evolution
This talk you gave in this vid is so inspirational - as an person from the Uk - which is constitutionally Christian. You really need to come to the UK and help create more aethiests. We need more aethiests in the Uk more than any where else - please come to the Uk - aeithiests here really need your talks here.
"While others laugh at you for being different, you can laugh at them for being all the same." This fellow has a way with words, don't he? That one sentence hit it out of the park and shattered the windshield of a church bus.
i don't laugh at ( mock ) them - i prefer to *pity* them :)
He moronicly contradicts himself with that one sentence. Right before that sentence, he says how no one is the same. "Noone has ever been the same as you, and no one ever will be the same as you" each of us uniquely ourselves. Then he says "you can laugh at them for being the same " I guess he hit it out of the park foul and shattered the windshield of an atheists Toyota Prius
Thank you, Seth! Once again, you are spot-on with this "I'll pray for you" crap. I, unfortunately, have cancer. I have undergone high-dose chemo. I was so ill as a consequence of this treatment that I could hardly function. Recently, I was in a store que when the cashier told me her friend was told she had cancer. My advice went something like this.......Please, Do not tell your friend that you will "pray for her"! Instead, go to her. Help her. Clean her home. Walk her pet. Fix her a few meals she can microwave. Do her dishes and laundry. Mow the lawn. Drive her to and set with her during a treatment (they can take hours). DO REAL things to help her, in real life! "I'm praying for you" won't help her in the lease. Doing REAL things for her will engrain you in her heart more than prayer. Thank you, again, Seth!
Props to whoever filmed this... It looks and sounds great... I'd also like to echo the desire to see the closing letter be made into a video of its own for ease of sharing with friends who don't have the attention span for the whole talk... Great job Seth, per usual...
Hello Seth. It is 8 years later from when this video went up, and I found it this evening. Thank you for this talk. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sad the text of that letter is no longer available. booo. What you shared here just made my day. Goodnight from Montreal.
This is my favorite talk from you Seth. Absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing this.
If religion were eradicated in 10 years the world would not change..... but imagine where would focus our energy .... where the species could go..... I am glad i live in an age where i can question belief, but saddened that so many choose not to
84% of the world believes in god(s.)
IMAGINE (love the lyrics, reservations about the writer,) if all that time, money and energy went towards the advancement of health and wellbeing for humanity.
“What a wonderful world it would be.”
Sadly, Ken Ham didn't fall apart at that end question, he actually responded with basically "I won't change my mind because I know God created everything.". That's just sad.
Maybe, but look how long it took Ham to even spew that little nugget of crap.
Lust for money, power, love, I can understand.
Blind faith - those are the really scary ones.
Hey Seth.
You spoke of all the amazing people you've been able to meet and said you sit at the kiddie table and are not "that guy". I beg to differ. You defined your role and were spot on, you have been sorely needed and rank up there with all those you mentioned from my view.. The closing letter was nothing short of brilliant and reminded me to toss some coin your way again to offset all the tithes I wasted all those years. Like I always say, compared to tithing you're a hell of a deal! Rawk on!
what a great listen. I loved the part at the end Seth, great close out. Keep up the encouragement and freedom of thought movement.
Thanks Seth, i have enjoyed listening to this! I live in Europe, different situation, christianity going down very fast now...
You all atheists and freethinkers in the USA, keep up the good work!
Dear Mr Andrews, You said @ 29:35 "...they see my apostacy as their failure."
I have lived in unspoken dread of that idea: MY APOSTACY
And there you just said it out loud.
It's like singing "glad to be gay" instead of living in the closet.
For me, coming out as an atheist has actually been a long dark road, the gay thing was only one small step in that road.
Realising one can live by pride, as a virtue (not as the corruption (hubris) which Christianity teaches us to despise), as a celebration of the existence of the self, self respect, self worth... realising that I have been complicit in depriving myself of this joy has been revelatory!
My church are still happily benefitting from the work of my hands, but I have no recognition, no reward. And I let that pass because I too believed (hence I make myself complicit) that what i created was never my own.
I've spent decades believing, even since leaving the church, that I am of little worth. They had been reinforcing that, their teaching, something I continued to live by, that takes some weeding out.
I am going to go back and whitewash that mural I painted, reclaim the canvases still on display. I am so angry I could even sow salt on that vegetable garden I created, not simply out of spite, but to impress upon them how their petty homophobia effects me; they salted my garden, took my produce, rejected me.
Wrong me, shall I not avenge?
The guy who has now plonked his shed on my allotment is a fat bastard who taught his kids to keep away from me because I'm "dirty" - I had been a celibate member of that church for seven years and I was still being called dirty!
I shall rejoice in being an apostate from that mind set. Thanks for the idea.
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs.
neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
or homoeroticpoems.blogspot.com/2018/06/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
@@headlights4395~Thanks for the Jung link and thanks for the reply itself, as it's reminding me where I was at 5 yrs ago. About that time I got a message from Jordan Peterson and checked out his Maps of Meaning, all about Jungian archetypes.
Yes. Seth Andrews, is a natural D.J. ; gifted and also experienced...This is very apparent in his discourse.
I really enjoyed this...thank you for all the work you are doing...our community needs you, of this you can be sure.
I am a lesbian atheist from a small town of Seiling, Ok...maybe you've passed through here before maybe not (you're not missing out on anything), to listen to you and the topics you speak about ESPECIALLY that piece at the end of this video, really helped me. It's not that I have never met an atheist before (although in this town, i am unaware of one), it's the way you are considerate, clever, and how passionate you speak about these things. If only more people in my community could see things in a different perspective. But hey, i like being weird and abnormal. Keep up the good work my friend.
Don't worry oh Queen of Seiling for there is no god there to fuck you up. Enjoy
Thank you for this talk. Was awesome to be able to watch.
You truly inspire me and not the church or any relegion - these are the true facts of life wether anyone agreed or not ......Bravo my friend
Q - How did something come from nothing?
A - I'm not sure how your god came to be.
Lord Knightyme I am going to answer that question with "42" from now on. haha
Right. The religious ask how the big bang came to be out of nothing. Atheists ask how did an all-knowing, all-powerful god come out of nothing as well. Who or what created god? If they say god did not need a cause, then we can say that neither did the universe.
No, that's how nothing comes from nothing.
The proof that Steady State Creation does not account for the expanding universe (Fred Hoyle's hypothesis, shared by Gold and Bondi) was first that samples of the Universe from very very long ago are denser than recent ones. This is consistent with the idea that the mass of the whole (well, at least the visible mass) is *_constant_* .
_Therefore _*_at the very beginning_*_ it was the same_ , Very decidedly that is NOT Nothing.
The Big Bang has at least two of the qualities of the fictitious God. It is everywhere, and all things are created by it.
But it does not care what we do, nor with whom, when we are naked. Nor does it listen to requests.
It does, however, reward those who seek to know it better. Both spiritually and materially.
@@OneTrueScotsman Magic wurds!
Wow. The words I needed to hear for years now have been here all along. I can't express how grateful I am to hear someone say it, and so eloquently. It's like a burden has lifted. Thank you so much.
This was so great. The part that struck me to the core was the comparison between an abusive relationship and people's relationship to the god-figure. Even in the midst of bold-face evidence of either his indifference or actual disdain (if you believe in his omnipotence and omniscience), the true believers turn to the very person who inflicted the misery in the first place, or at least chose not to intervene. No matter how much misery he dishes out, you love him and you just can't leave. That's just so sad.
That is so not sad.
@@partysugar519yes it is
I don't remember saying what I apparently felt I should say I glanced over it and shit sound legit some sad shit. I was smoking a lot of Chicago weed back then too so u know niggaz b trippin I mean dudes b trippn mthrfkrs b trippn I mean buy its all good in the fkn hood now I'm chilln smokin indiana weed again spinning like a merry-go-round
Oh god. Battlefield of the Mind for Teens. I read that not too long ago (when I was still religious) and it terrified me. It worsened my already terrible anxiety and depression.
I am speechless. The end brought me to tears
In many moments in all your videos, I can say I have the same, verbatim, experiences. I can't wait to share this with my siblings
Thanks Seth!
So much of this rings true for me. Feeling like a red tulip in a field of white in my time and zip code is a familiar feeling. As is the lonely feeling of being a sole voice of reason , feeling free to examine and discard and change beliefs as I learn better. I've lost and let go of friends over that. I had to decide that I had slightly more self-worth than to go back to a church where I'm told that I was inherently broken because of whom I am attracted, because I challenge the party line. It's an extremely lonely place to be. It would be so much easier as someone who craves connection to give up who I am and what makes me unique to fit in and get along.
I can not overstate what this means to me, Seth, to find a community where my natural inclination to question is actively encouraged and curiosity is supported. It means the world to me to feel free to be kind when I can and strong when I must.
I am so sorry you are stuck there. I hope you make it out. You aren't broken
@@sorryifoldcomment8596 thanks for that, I've been out of Catholicism for 20 years, and out of Unitarian Universalism for 1 and change. There's no chance of me going back, remembering why I left in the first place. But neither do I really feel I have a place among atheists!
You do not have to give up who you are and what makes you unique to fit in and get along. You may think that you freed yourself from religious thinking and believing, but you still believe that "their god" is the only God for you to believe or not believe in. Instead of going outside the box to follow your own God, you stay inside the box to not follow theirs. By their God you base your beliefs or the lack thereof. You think if they are wrong about God, then there is no God. Like if one believes in evolution then they cannot believe in God and if one believes in God then they cannot believe in evolution. follow your own heart. Not the heart of others.
I know this video has been out for around 5+ years, but your stuff is almost always excellent, especially the hour long stuff. The long videos allow more freedom to work in the best material. Good job Seth, I'm really proud to sponsor you on Patreon.
Another great presentation Seth. Thanks for posting.
Seth is such an amazing and compassionate communicator! His work is opening my eyes to the "real"the truth
Seth, you inspire and calm weary travelers on the road of truth. Thank you!
Excellent audio & video editing! Certainly one of the best videos of this Seth Andrews speech.
thank you so much, again and again. you have a place at the table, seth.
53:00 onward is, without a doubt, *the most inspiration thing I've ever seen in my entire life.*
"Pages From The World's Most Widely Distributed Book Found In Tornado Debris. People Who Don't Understand Probability Rejoice The Miracle"
The International Cheese Eater exactly...well at least 99% exactly....
+The International Cheese Eater
www.scribendi.com/advice/capitalization.en.html
He's not just God of the Gaps, and God of the End Zone, but also God of Long Odds.
This was one of the best I've ever heard from Seth. Thank you!!!
Really good talk Seth.
One of the best videos on the channel.
Another wonderful talk. Thank you so much Mr Andrews. ❤
This is one of THE BEST videos I've ever seen
Just discovered this kindred spirit!! What a breath of fresh air. He's filling our need for Hitchens. At least my personal need!
Freedom to all from religious oppression, means no more religion!!
This guy is such a wonderful and inspiring speaker, and funny too. I've been binge watching his speeches all day.
I sincerely love hearing these speeches.
Loved every minute of this video..thanks for the humor too. I hope the sheep that follow the bible will discover the green of freedom
Thanks to people like Seth a new completely different american generation is rising!
"Fear-pimps" is the best description of those gospel-bellowing screamers I've ever heard!
Amazing show Seth, thanks for your time
Z Thompson Ummmm.... Is that a rodent hair? 😲
Wow. Great presentation! Thanks for what you do, so well.
I grew up in a Christian home, anyone else feel like they've been lied to the whole time you were forced to go to church? As I am older, I look back and I feel a little angry about being lied to. My parents didn't mean to, I know that what they believe is true to them.
I can't stand being in the same room with my mom because I am always told that I'm being prayed for. I always say, I don't believe in that anymore and I always hear You're are going to hell then... Everytime.. lol
You *were* lied to! It's unacceptable. If people want to have religion and believe in lies, fine...but give your kid a chance. It's not okay to lie to children. I find it deeply upsetting how much of our children's lives are being robbed and fed to religion...all such a waste of time. All of that time you could have been spent being educated and taught reality, encouraging you to ask questions and do their own research. It's not just that religion tells lies, no, it also tells kids to stop thinking. That's the real problem and what really angers me.
I am so sorry. You have every right to be upset. Don't ever let anyone invalidate your feelings. (Definitely don't ever let someone try to say you are only atheist out of negative feelings, either, which is another case of invalidating your feelings.)
I am angry for you. Angry for all people who waste their entire life away, all for an afterlife that doesn't exist. It's honestly so so so deeply depressing. You aren't going to go to hell. You'll go to the same place as every person who wasted their life trying to avoid it. Just, sad.
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs.
neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
@@sorryifoldcomment8596 Thats the problem with any religion. Its built on fear. The fear of hell. Thats why parents try to force their belief in to their own kids.
"-Is my son really saved or is he going to hell?"
I was raised in a christian home but my parents never forced me in to anything. I believe in God but I think God is bigger then any religion on Earth.
I know this video is 10 years old at this point, but it still rings true. I am so forever thankful that Hitch sparked this fire in you. He would be so, so happy to know that he influenced such a powerful voice in this community. Thank you so much for what you do, thank you for always making me feel seen and worthy. The end of this video had me tearing up, good stuff Seth ❤
One thing about the school that was hit. In an area that gets hit with tornadoes and the schools don't have shelters. Christian state looking out for the children. The Gov. lied and said that all schools would have shelters within a year. Never happened, it is too expensive to save children.
to all the atheists:
as long as 2,600 years ago (now 2018) the buddha already said:
"whether or not god exists is irrelevant 2 your life.".
buddha - 2,600 years ago (now 2018).
you can consult this video:
ruclips.net/video/QOQiZbAPtW4/видео.html
if a christian claims that there's no morality without god, then you should reply by referrin' 2 buddhism as follows: buddhism has no god but it has morality. dont be embarassed, buddhism is atheist, just like you.the buddha's teachin' is completely free of the concept of god. if he had believed that god exists, then he wouldnt dare 2 say so & 2 teach so. thus he was a complete atheist. 1 of the most admired facts about him is that he could found a religion without resortin' 2 the concept of god 2 frighten people in2 believin' in him.
if science & religion can be united, then there's only 1 religion that can do it, & that's buddhism. the co-operation between buddhism & science has already been goin' on, for the last 30 years or so (now 2018). in youtube just search "buddhism science".some people say that buddhism is simply non-theist (neither accept nor deny the existence of god, just ignore this existence question). well, actually it's atheist, as shown above that the buddha was an atheist. his teachin' is compatible with the atheist thought, much of it is even similar 2 the atheist thought. buddhism is a huge vast body of wisdom, so if you want 2 go directly 2 where you can see this compatibility & similarity, you can google "secular buddhism" in search or youtube.
thus i invite you 2 embrace buddhism, or at least 2 form a coalition with it, 2 confront the barbarism of christianism. this superstitious christianism is barbaric bcoz it's based on the barbaric cult of sacrificin' humans & animals 2 the gods. if you feel uncomfortable 2 refer 2 buddhism as a religion, you can refer 2 it as a philosophy; many academic westerners refer 2 it as such.
havin' buddhism as your religion or philosophy or ally in your intellectual battle against the barbarism of christianism will strengthen your position, bcoz, as every1 knows, christianism fears buddhism too, in addition 2 the fact that it fears science. some scholars even claim that it fears buddhism more than it fears science.
@@soriya011 What's with this droppin' the g and tryin' to sound like yer some kinda hairy Folksy Gooroo Mister Natural Holey Man who likes talkin' kinda like a rube 'cause he thinks it gives him some kinda "folk wisdom" sound. Sound is SO important when you're a goo-roo, yessrreebob. Namaste, y'all.
I mean, while ya can't be bothered none to use a word instead o' the number 2 and ya don't care none nevermind 'bout no grammar, you're very careful to put that apostrophe after each one of your Folksy Hairy Holey Man gerunds. You want to be very careful to get your casual folksy talk Just Right. Right?
No fools like ones that manufacture their own foolish ego form.
That letter at the end was excellent, Seth. You have such a masterful way with words!
I just love your eloquent work Seth
Wow, I loved this. Thank you so much. I laughed so much during this. Priceless.
Thank you for this.
One of my favorite shows so far. Guess I'm better late than never. Thank you for sharing man.
Hilarious and amazing. Your ability to stir up emotion is enviable.
The last line was a bomb!!! Thank you Seth! I just wanna thank u so much!
Thanks Seth, needed that.
Joyce Meyer forgot this verse (lol): Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord,“...I just have to laugh anymore. Wonderful presentation here. And I love all those Christian reactions lumped up together. I have heard many of them myself.
as an ex Irish Catholic I believed everything until I got the nerve to question,I was told good catholics don't question ,but that did not stop me,when I got rid of the shackles of the church my life was enhanced,no guilt or fear ,I think religion is the biggest con job ever,its great to hear the likes of set,although hitchens is my favourite,as the saying goes,a good christian is a guilty one,how stupid.
congratulations for having the courage and honesty to question the "faith". Check out George Carlin's, "But he loves you" . It's just a short, but very popular, stand-up comedy George did. (You Tube) Let me know what you think. You probably already saw it. LMFAO!
David Keogh
Congratulations on your relationship with reality!
Dear David Keoch, I think you'll like a story about Brendan Behan's schooldays. His Catholic Nun schoolteacher was IMHO justifiably damning Henry VIII for his despoiling of the churches and monasteries, enriching himself,
Brendan raises a hand, and asks "where did the churches and monasteries get the money Henry took from them?"
As awful as my protestant church was I don't think I ever heard "don't question" out loud, just implied. (even though it's explicitly stated in the bible more than once. Gotta hide the controversial stuff long enough to get you through catechism!)
Seth said "Makes you fear for the species, doesn't it?" at 26:30. Yes, but it also encourages me. So many have thrown off the blinders, the kind of thinking that says some magic being has full control of my life and all I can do is kowtow to some man or woman he has chosen in hopes of avoiding penalties unspeakable. Yet he does this out of love? Remember how recently there was even a choice: you either worshipped at Rome, or a state religion church, or you were burned as a witch? We have grown. We are finally outgrowing the bronze age mythology that replaced the pantheons of stone age thought. We ever invent better ways of learning about our world. And if we can ever wrest political power from the priest's hands we may survive yet.
you are so right,many people have had their lives destroyed by such ignorance,i know i was almost one of them.thank you sir.
I've been listening to TTA for over 2 years now and I always pictured Seth as a man in his sixties, I was totally shocked when I finally looked him up on Google and saw just how young he is :D I could listen to your voice all day Seth and I love the pod cast...never stop, Keep up the awesome work mate.
Great seminar Seth! Loved it! :D
THe greatest fear of human beings is the fear of having to assume sole responsibility for what we think and what we do. It is far easier emotionally to assign the assumption of responsibility to someone else, whether that someone exists or not.
no one is free we are all locked away by our own fears and worries of failure
-Kovi
“I have concluded through careful empirical analysis and much thought that somebody is looking out for me, keeping track of what I think about things, forgiving me when I do less than I ought. Giving me strength to shoot for more than I think I’m capable of. I believe they know everything that I do and think, and they still love me, and I’ve concluded, after careful consideration, that this person keeping score is me.”
Dammit, I wish I was the one who came up with those brilliant words, but I have to give that credit to Adam Savage ;-)
The Ultimate Question: What Is Love
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
*****
No more
Wanna dance? No? Ok!!
damn you, now that sound is stuck in my head!
Hi Seth,
I have read and watched Hitchens, Dawkins, Sam Harris, PZ Myers, DarkMatter, 43Alley, Cris Rad, Ed Current, etc., and I watch The Atheist Experience Every Sunday. But I just discovered you this week. Great stuff, I feel that I found a soul mate. Honestly, you seem to clone my thoughts. Wish I had found you earlier.
Please keep up the great work!
Asking "Why is something out of nothing?" is like asking "What is the color of Jealousy?".
Green. Still doesn't legitimize the first question, though.
That *was* a great ending. It's a good thing you're on our side, Seth.
38:03 Well, at this point one could start arguing for gnosticism: the horrors which you describe; the animosity towards humanity; these could all be the symptoms of an evil god......
If you have problems for religious/cultural reasons, this can set you free: “On Human Suffering and the Concept of God” - the psychological origin of religious beliefs.
neomodernistpoetry.blogspot.com/2018/11/on-human-suffering-and-concept-of-god.html
or
You are a natural orator and presenter. You are a great encourager.
I needed to hear this, living in the Bible-belt. It's depressing.
I hope you make it out soon
Do you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?
Thanks, Seth. Great talk!
seth andrews raised an interesting point: science - and i would add philosophy- debunk religions over and over again- and yet religions, like the mythological hydra- spring into life again and again. i'm afraid that fellow atheists forgot to answer the question: why is that so? answer: because religion offers humanity a version- be it ever so faulty - of comfort in the face of life's suffering and eventual mortality. human beings have a legitimate need for mutual support, and a sense of purpose and meaning. civilizations would'nt hjave existed without them. if atheists want to change the world for the better they should seek to create a system of ethics that empowers people to be tolerant, patient respectful and mindful of each other without religion. it can be done.
spiderlime : Google secular humanism. Humanists are working on the answers to these questions and there are humanist groups in many cities that offer discussion and friendship.
Thank you, Mr. Andrews. Completely unexpectedly, I found tears in my eyes and the breath wooshed out of me at your last sentence. That doesn't sound pleasant, and why would I thank you for it? Because, I know I will feel much lighter and free-er (spelling? grammar?) when this cathartic reaction passes. Again, thank you, for this talk, for that sentence.
42:55 Ricky Gervais is my hero!
Love Seth's presentation, as always. Never boring.
or my favorite....."You don't believe because you (love or want to continue) your sin."
“Reasoning and confusion go together”. They DO go together. And that’s because they are both part of learning.
In fact, if you feel confused, that’s ok. It’s just your brain trying to find the pattern. That’s what you went through when you first encountered language as a baby.
And when you stop feeling confused, you’re done learning. Especially if you run away from it.