(PS - So according to your idea of how morality came about, there's no such thing as a father who cheats on his wife or abandons his children, simply because his ability to "co-operate" with the woman he impregnated makes him a paragon of virtue?! Absolute nonsense...)
At least there is EVIDENCE for consciousness and conscience in the higher animals. All I see presented in favor of ANY gods existing are baseless assertion and appeals to ignorance and incredulity. The Christian God of the Bible is clearly made in Man's image, not us in His. The chance of such an absurdity truly existing is ZERO.
The conscience is nothing more than the result of the working of our brains. Homo sapiens isn't the only animal with a conscience. Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes and many others are aware of right from wrong and are conscious of their own existence. Hell, one of my cats knows his reflection is himself, though the rest don't get it.
There are innumerable Bible parables which teach us how to behave with morality to our fellow men. Since the Bible is the word of God, morality itself must also therefore be divinely inherited by God's people, which is why we are all born with a soul and with that soul, a conscience. Morality, being God-given, is not "out there" for us to "define". It, like God, simply "is". The only problem is that people, corrupted by SOCIETY, lose their moral integrity because social evils tempt it astray.
@brevicaudate I would watch the video. Scott asked where the questioner got his moral values and went on to suggest that it was the same place as Scott got his. The bible promotes a god who has no moral values and tells us that genocide, race hate, slavery, beating children, killing homosexuals and human sacrifice is all ok. Given that you probably don't agree with these things where do you get your morals from? I would guess, like TBS said, it isn't from your bible.
@croxleylad - You're simply using the same hackneyed caricature of God that Richard Dawkins et al are so fond of espousing. The problem with your position is, you approach the Bible with scepticism and doubt, and so nothing you read in there will make sense to you. I suspect you're also a literalist, which blinds you from more subtle truths. The Bible is not a code of morality; it is a documented record of humanity's fall from grace, to remind us of our sin and lead us to redemption.
@brevicaudate I simply asked where you got your morals from. I don't need a lecture about the collection of myths, fables, cautionary tales and historic propaganda you call the bible.
Can we stay on topic and answer the question Scott asked. Please tell us where you get your morals from. If you get them from the bible then how do you decide what is meant to be a moral law and what is not?
@croxleylad - I thought I should correct your error in referring to the Bible as a book where Christians "get their morality from". Who has ever suggested that? Have you actually read the Bible, by the way? You might learn something from it. Where do I get my morals from? As I said, they are endowed upon mankind by God, and were reflected through Jesus, who died for us. But unlike Jesus, we are fallible, and have the capacity to ignore our conscience. The key is to listen to God for direction.
@croxleylad - Equally I might ask you: Do you consider yourself a moral person? If so, where do you get your morals from, if not through your conscience? And since the answer can only be, your conscience, who gave you that conscience? Where did it come from, if not through the inheritance of your creator God? Can the presence of a conscience be explained by the material universe? I think not...
@brevicaudate Let me try and understand what you are saying - you think that a god puts morals in your head, that your god gives your a conscience? So nothing to do with the bible? And you think the only possible way we could have concious thought and judgement is through some sort of creator god?
Once I understand exactly and precisely what you believe I'll tell you where and why I disagree or agree.
@croxleylad - Yeah, pretty much. All his videos say the same thing: God doesn't exist, and here's a logical equation to prove it, X Y Z. My point was intended to show that since this particular gem happened to mention morality, the fact that people are corrupted by sin is by no means "evidence" that God doesn't exist, but rather that he does, since without the temptation of sin, mankind could not make a choice between this world and His world. Turn away from sin, and toward God.
@brevicaudate If the "Bible is the word of God" how do you explain all the base and immoral activity, the hideous behaviour of a vengeful and immoral god for example. If this really is some self authored, even ghosted, piece of Promotional Material written by an all knowing god it fails. It's only success is that people don't read it. It is no coincidence that studies have revealed most Christians know less about the bible than most atheists.
@croxleylad - Okay. First, where is the evidence that most Christians know less about the content of the Bible than atheists? I asked you if you had read the Bible and you ignored the question, so I can only assume you have not. I would also suspect this is true for most of your fellow kin, since very rarely do atheists quote Bible passages in their arguments against it being the word of God. Second, it's important that you understand that the Bible was not authored BY GOD; it is not
"self-authored". If you really were aware of the Bible, you would know it was written by successive prophets and apostles ranging from all walks of life - even kings. Were they ALL deluded? And what would they have been deluded by? You might say "popular opinion the time", but how did that consensus first emerge, if not by some decisive act of divinity? Third, I'm not denying that atheists, like believers, have a conscience; I'm suggesting it is universal (because God is not an
elitist), and that it is liable to FREE WILL. This is the gift we have inherited, not through "natural selection" or biological evolution, but through His benevolence, whereby we can make choices which either pursue His truth or deny it. Hence, your denial of God's existence is PROOF only of his benevolence. Finally, I asked you where your conscience comes from, if not from God. You might say "the same place as everyone else", but what is the origin? Where is that "place"?
1. Search for Pew Forum’s religious knowledge survey.
2. I have read substantial parts of the bible - how else would I know how crazy it is?
3. Why would an atheist quote a rediculous collection of primitive myth, ancient propoganda and bizarre threat?
4. I must appologise for misunderstanding who you think wrote what you told me you believe is "The Word of God". If there was a god you would have thought these questions about who wrote what and what the hell it...
I am well aware it was written, heavily edited and re-written over a 700 year period and was mainly politically inspired.
5. As Scott explained in his video - morality is a beneficial behaviour - as a social animal we need to co-operate and those people are more likley to be bale to raise children.
Please watch the video befiore commenting further, and confirm you have done so - otherwise this is just spam.
@croxleylad - It's obvious that the reason you are so intent on questioning the relationship between God, the Bible and morality is because you want answers, not because you are seriously committed to your worldview. If you were, you wouldn't need to challenge myself or anyone else who believes in God. This is the case with most atheists - those who have been reformed in the way of God will confirm it. You are searching for a fundamental truth which your present understanding of life
cannot give you. Only through accepting God as your Lord and Saviour, and acknowledging the sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, can you be free from the suffering and torment you will otherwise endure while on earth. You need to transcend these restrictive material conceptions of reality and develop a higher state of spiritual oneness with God. For Jesus said, "I am the truth, the way and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me".
@croxleylad - I'm dealing with your questions directly, to dispel the confusion and open your eyes. Isn't that preferable to sidelining you in favour of a third party?
I find it humorous that American scientists are thinking of not using the word "theory" anymore because we are too stupid to know that a Scientific Theory...is NOT a theory. Oi
It seems very rare that anyone brings up the dark ages as an argument against religion. If it wasn't for religion, we as humans would be most of five hundred years more advanced than we are. Not to mention seven hundred years of the inquisition, as well as many other religious atrocities (I'm not sure of how much overlap there is in these). Who knows where we'd be.
Right off the bat you got that pesky "belief" word stuck in your throat.
"Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true". I believe many religious people, have hijacked the word to mean "faith without substantiated evidence". All you have to do is notify them that you mean the former & not the latter. I'm a little bit let down that you allowed yourself to trip over that.
I find it difficult to give credence to peoples' comments when they can't even spell correctly, nevermind the argument at hand. If you want anyone to take you seriously, please show that you have the education of a third grader in your ability to master the language.
So, just like you don't celebrate Christmas for its Pagan origins, as an atheist I, along with so many others do not celebrate Christmas for its Christian based reasons. Like I said, it is an excuse to have a day off, spend time with the family and exchange gifts and have a good time while you are at it. Nothing hypocritical about it because we are not doing it out of anything faith related.
@A1DiamondGirls I think you completely misread my comment, you also completely side stepped my question. I know why it is called Christmas and I know what you THINK it represents (If christ was ever real it is widely accepted he was in fact not born on December 25th.)
Furthermore, Christmas as I have already said did NOT originate as a Christian holiday, its origins are PAGAN, the original name for Christmas is in fact called Saturnalia, google it.
@A1DiamondGirls A lot of people don't celebrate christmas for its religious reasons. Most people I know celebrate it because it brings family together, you exchange gifts and have a good time.
Besides, Christmas actually started as a pagan holiday, do you celebrate it for its pagan origins?
(I'm a Christian, and here's a random question I just thought of :p)
God gives us free will (feel free to play around with that to your heart's content), but if it was SO obvious, undeniable, and there wasn't a single person against it...then I guess what I'm tyrying to say is...God would just be a controlling puppeteer if he didn't give us options...?!? Just something I'm thinking about, lol.
@Akumatrunigga Exactly! That's why I still believe in the tooth fairy. NO amount of reasoning will ever dissuade me from knowing that one day I'll be able to pay her a visit in her invisible tooth castle and give her a big kiss.
I always find the creation question amazing. The Big Bang doesn't answer where all this matter came from. Even if it was all just a tiny speck that exploded, where did the speck come from? But that same problem arises with religion; can God(s) really just create and destroy matter at their whim? If so then the obvious follow up question is where did this(these) God(s) come from?
FYI: I really don't think it matters; whatever makes you happy.
Well.. There is no evidence for a God it's just a theory, some people just believe that theory with such zeal that they take it a bit far. Similarly to the Big Bang theory.
@jaketaylor015 Mmmm....no. God's not a theory. Just a hypothesis. Untested, in some definitions untestABLE...and with, as you said, no evidence behind it.
I don't think morality comes from reason and common sense. There are some thought experiments that show how sometimes our moral compass can be irrational. I think we have an innate moral perceptor in our brains. I think it is a product of evolution and can be fallible in certain situations.
Regarding religion, it is just silly. You rightly point out how the Bible is full of absurdity and moral ugliness.
Its not that I dont believe in God its just that I dont belive in what the bible says. If Eve was created to be perfect why in the hell would God give us free will? If Adam and Eve were perfect why would they make the mistake of disobeying God? That doesnt make sense at all. The bible doesnt make reason of logic at all, i just find it hard to believe everything the bible says is true.
@PeircedinBlood The devil? (I've been thinking) and not saying the devil overrides perfection, but by "perfect" I believe (lol) it means "not sinful," or "not YET sinful." Whether or not God wanted sin, etc...I think he may have ironically named the Tree of Knowledge (Eve ate from it) because God wanted options...if he didn't allow for sin, then life, well...wouldn't be life...God would just be controlling and not giving us free will...maybe he planned for it to happen, maybe he didn't...
haha I love how you said you tried not to say " I believe" and then went on to say it a bunch of times to answer the next question. :) just an observation I still love your work
But in all seriousness you are an excellent speaker. You explain everything very reasonably and calmly and without condescention. The same cannot be said of many people on both sides of this debate.
Science has not explained everything in the world yet. Therefore believe in Christianity, it explains everything with only three words: "God did it."!
U cant see evolution but u can see its effects. Denying evolution is like denying gravity, It's just wrong.
Why don't u believe in the tooth fairy? u get money when ur teeth fall, u can't see the fairy bt u can see its effects. The reason u and I don't believe in the tooth fairy is because it's more likely ur mother put the money than some kind of mythical creature (See Occam's razor).
Dunno about u but scientific facts r more convincing than an all-powerful imaginary friend.
U cant see evolution but u can see its effects. Denying evolution is like denying gravity, It's just wrong.
Why don't u believe in the tooth fairy? u get money when ur teeth fall, u can't see the fairy bt u can see its effects. The reason u and I don't believe in the tooth fairy is because it's more likely ur mother put the money and some kind of mythical creature (See Occam's razor).
Dunno about u but scientific facts r more convincing than an all-powerful imaginary friend.
You all are so fucking dumb. If you have a religous belief, just dont smother it in my face like some fat woman at mcdonalds. People only have problems with re religious fanatics or radicals because those are the fucks who never give up on preaching their "word", killing in the name of allah, bombing abortion clinics, or carrying out genocides
and when u die, u die. tell me i go to heaven when i die. cause for all i know i just see people rot into the ground.
"I just found that there was not enough evidence to turn me from Christianity, considering how many universal concepts aren't configured, let alone discovered."
So that means you should believe in something that has relatively zero evidence for? Fallacy :D
I am The Th0ught Pr0v0ker my song 'How much the word e.a.r.t.h. is worth' is soon coming... them letters in that word mean a whole lot could be my interpretation or maybe it's not...
oh yeah the E on the beginning and that H on the end also play a part in this next equation cuz the E and H intertwine here we go one more time going to take this on another level put an H on the front of self flip it backwards it becomes the word flesh every self has flesh but spirit is best put an E on the front of man flip it backwards it becomes the word name ready aim fire every man takes a name is a self and has flesh on earth but hear it spirit is best I'm f****** mental though!!!
Tite man you know Pearl Jam's 'Tremor Christ' I'm gonna do a 'Rebel Atheist' "drifted is the sailor" blah blah blah well I have this Charles Darwin Beagle kind of theme la la la not immediately on my itinerary though!!!
@Mattroful I'm guessing you would have been part of the crowd who condemned Galileo or Darwin. To suggest that percentage of people who believes something means they're correct is a non sequitur.
@Mattroful Okay, I'll take out the world condemn and the point still stands. The majority doesn't always have the truth and we have those examples to look back on. And if you believe in a religion, you're saying something like 66% of the world is wrong. Still a huge number.
DUDE FINALLY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT BIASED I RESPECT UR OPINION MAN BUT RELIGION HAS CAUSED MORE BAD THAN GOOD BUT WITHOUT IT WHO KNOWS WERE WE WILL BE IT HELPS BUILD MORALS I GUESS
I would rather live my life as if there were a god only to find out there wasn't one, rather than live my life as if there wasn't only to find out there was one.
@avaiae You're assuming that there's only one god to believe in. If I take your wager (not yours, obviously; it's Blaise Pascal's) and believe in the Christian god, what happens when I get to judgement day and I was believing in the wrong god? What if Allah was the real god? Then your wager is worthless.
@Poeticnuisance Well, not entirely. My whole ideology is that I spent some time weighing options and found the belief of a higher power or God if you will, was more plausible than a big bang type of theory. I just consider the benefits from being a Christian as a perk if you will (not saying it won me over), but mostly I believe you should try to live your life (christian or not) within in the morality of a Christian life (or try to emulate Jesus as well as possible).
@avaiae "big bang type of theory" indicates that you don't actually understand what the big bang theory is... Its unfortunate that people make the choice to cling to bronze age beliefs in lieu of actually learning science. If you don't bother to understand, how can you be certain what you believe is even truth, if you never look beyond it? Ignoring evidence doesn't make it go away; you simply deny yourself access to reality.
@Poeticnuisance All you did there is insult me and then tell me a bunch of irrelevant stuff to your first statement. You insulted me but didn't explain why. Please do explain. And LOL, I do look beyond it, trust me I do read in on scientific shit and go to my biology and science classes, we discussed evolution and alternative forms of how the Earth formed and stuff.
@avaiae I apologize if you interpreted what I said as an insult. I used to be a devout christian, so I know all too well what the "alternative" explanations are. Pound for pound, science has mountains of evidence, where the "alternatives" have none at all. Its simply a matter of intellectual integrity. Do you follow where evidence points, or what your emotional state leads you to be more comfortable with? I'm not trying to sound harsh, but its a legitimate question.
@Poeticnuisance Well, I have intellectually contemplated these things and found that considering we still know so little about science and scientific aspects, I just found that there was not enough evidence to turn me from Christianity, considering how many universal concepts aren't configured, let alone discovered.
@avaiae - Sounds like an argument from ignorance. We don't know everything, there God exists... Science does not have all the answers, but that is because it does not have all the information, science is the most consistently reliable tool we have to -approximate- reality, but reality itself exists independent of science and science only helps reveal the world to us, but it can only reveal that which we investigate and until we investigate everything science will be incomplete.
@ixamraxi Assuming by your response, you misunderstood mine. I was saying that considering we still know so little about our universe in a scientific aspect, I would say that is the second most dominant thing that determined my being a christian. I understand it's reliable, but feel it's too early to still be determining what created our universe, so I weighed all of my options and found Christianity to be my religion.... but I have a strong faith in God too.
@avaiae - Then I didn't misunderstand at all. Despite how little we know about our universe from a scientific sense, we know -much- less from a metaphysical and/or theological sense because, unlike science, metaphysical claims have NO evidence, they are based on philosophy. Do you honestly believe you can derive the cause of the universe just by thinking about it? That is your claim, it's like saying because you don't know enough [science] to understand the alternatives, it must have been God.
@ixamraxi Well, I looked at science, but it doesn't provide very much claim on the creation of the Universe, how the Earth was ultimately made with perfect conditions for life, and how we ended up being who we are today from however we got to Earth or whatever kind of form we were when we arrived first on Earth. I just found that if a higher being had created us and put us on the Earth, then that was a very plausible theory in my mind.
@avaiae - Theology does not answer those questions either, at least not in a way that is falsifiable, which means there is no way to discern it's truth with respect to objective reality. Weighing options and picking the answer you find "plausible" when you lack the education necessary to comprehend the alternative means that you have chosen the answer you want, which is fine, but don't pretend you understand the science and still find theology "more likely", that is just dishonest.
@avaiae - We can only follow science down a path the evidence supports. The scientific evidence for how the universe was created is limited, but there is evidence. The scientific evidence for God is *zero*. Also, you couldn't possibly have looked at science if you are using the fine-tuning argument, because that is pure rhetoric, not science. The earth is *not* fine-tuned for life, less then 1/10th of 1% of the earth is suitable for life, that's over 99.9% inhospitable. Not very convincing..
@ixamraxi The reason that we cannot find evidence for God is because God doesn't want us to find it. I'm pretty sure it says in the Bible that the life we are currently in is a test of faith and will. 2nd- What do you mean by 99.9% is inhospitable? LOL, but I never said that most of earth was "hospitable" i just said that earth was capable of harboring life with the perfect conditions to carry it, not that all of it was perfect, l2r
It blows my mind when theists accuse atheists of devil worship. it's just a real *headslap* thing that really frustrates me. If athiests don't believe in god and think the notion is ridiculous, then you can take it as a given that we also don't believe in something equally ridiculous as the devil either!!!! jeez...
Well here's something to think about and I know this has been an argument that has been around for awhile but, why is it so easy for us to "at some point in our childhood" dismiss the belief in (Santa Clause, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy) etc...etc? Imagine if so much emphasis is put behind those "childhood deity's". I look at "God" much in the same way. The concept of God as I see it is within the individual. To me Atheism brings the balance to the public relations of organized religion.
Btw dont think the way how slaves were treated post civil war in america to how they were in he Bible do your research if you want i can give you a link
Santa Clause did in fact exist. A priest or pope named Nicholas who was sainted Santa Nicholas= Santa Claus=Santa Clause. He gave the poor little children of his village toys he made from scratch just to cheer up their lives. .
even a perfect vacuum is testable, there is no test for a God. therefor God does not exist except in your own 'creative' mind, there is no logical test to prove the existence of God. truth come from only logic period. logic can not prove the existence of God therefor God is a delusion of your mind passed down from deluded ancestors.
being an Atheist means, I do not believe in a God, gods, Devil, Demons, Angels, Santa Clause, Tooth Fairy. being an Atheist means I do not believe in anything that can not be tested, even air and electricity is invisible but is verifiable and testable.
@blopajmbar62 Actually in Richard Dawkins book "The God Delusion " he mentions a study on the healing effects of prayer. In this experiment there were three subjects undergoing similar surgeries. Subject A was given prayer unknowingly. Subject B was givin no prayer also unknowingly. Subject C knowingly received prayer. Subjects A&B had very similar results. Where as subject C had several complications.
Well, you have to understand that not all Christians are mean people who think Atheists are satan-worshippers. A lot of us are just people that have a different set of beliefs that are largely motivated by the Lord, Jesus Christ. We wont persecute you at all, rather, we tend to keep a calm tone about it, much like yourself (Thanks for that by the way). And many Atheists are just like, if not worse than most religious people in the sense that they yell "Religion is bullshit you nut". But ye...
Actually, I have observed that most Christians are not mean spirited and don't spew forth thinly veiled hate comments. I think it skews the view of Christians when you have a place like the internet, specifically Youtube in this instance, where the loud and uneducated militant "Christians" (for which I cannot put enough quotes around the term) come and try to fight against their own definitions for people without really listening to anybody. The same can be said about atheists.
You say it's not healthy to believe to believe in a God that will answer your prayers ? Not so true buddy . Scientifically it's proven that such things actually help you relax and cope with anxiety so not a valid point . Just because you think so doesn't mean it's true . Hey everyone come to this genius we don't need anyone else this guy is a genius . Richard Dawkins would not stand a chance next to him
Atheists are persecuted, misunderstood, abused, yada-yada. One has to wonder how funny/sad it will be hearing this spill as this young man explains the same to his maker one day. But God... 'I didn't want to be indoctrinated like everyone else...' (as if the Big Bang theory isn't indoctrinated in our schools right now). I'm thinking that if Psalm 2 applies, then someONE will be busting a gut over this philosophy.... Have a great day today, but don't forget tomorrow!
TheoreticalBullshit, thanks. I thank you for thinking for yourself. I believe that there is hope for the future, and that religion in general is on the way out. I explain the existence of religion to myself as an anthropomorphic explanation of the unknown from a time before the right tool was available. Now that we have the tool set, it is only a matter of time. It hasn't been that long yet. The bottom line is religious beliefs are not satisfactory, or we would not have ever moved past them.
thank you for being my friend!!! GOD works in mysterious ways a mysterious code in that word and name =26 G7 O15 D4 using just simple alphanumerics there is no coincidence that there is that many letters in the English alphabet and letters make words we should trust GOD's word that name can be assured don't forget oh yeah JESUS code =74 the first and last numbers of GOD something is 100% for sure 2nd verse 'Good News' sounds better in song love!!!
@TiteProducts you make no sense, your response from a comment posted a few months ago by me!!!
G7 O15 D4 = 26 7 n 4 are God's first n last numbers Jesus = 74 gospel = 74 cross = 74 messiah = 74 so does Lucifer but was not called 'son of God' son = 48 + God = 26 = 74 Jesus 74 the king of Israel is real!!!
TiteProducts go to The Bank of Eternity and get your eyeballs insured!!! I am The Th0ught Pr0v0ker just surfacing now through music, but telling you this, your wrong have plenty more...
@misterdeeeep If i listened to Pearl Jam I would have killed myself by now, and a good way to brush off any argument, you're just a kid, you wouldn't understand.
@misterdeeeep You do realize that the god character's name is not "God." It's YHWY. And the Bible was not written in English, so this numerology game you present has no basis in reality whatsoever. It is completely fallacious.
The Bible is mythological tales passed down orally over many millenia as a tool for tribal leaders to keep their followers in check. The Bible is no different than the Greek, Roman, Norse, or any other cultural myths.
@wuphat what you talking about Willis Yahweh = 26 in Hebrew gematria too Y'shua = 74 in English
deceptive man would not take the time to install underlying alphanumeric codes never to be told in there time but thousands of years later in these last of the last days hmmm!!!
love love love have lots more not even codes either!!!
@wuphat hey wuphat I know them comments are on public display, well see I am The Th0ught Pr0v0ker a vocal lyrical music guy soon rise... criticize is exercise!!! not my Bible Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth
and not numerology 'alphanumerics' hey man not religious, just follow Jesus 74 as much as possible!!! you want me to send you some insights put into song too... privately... f*** this number letter thing I love love love and you everybody so...we are Under Full Observation dude
@wuphat it's a good n spirit guided mental again some always think their right n looking for that argument...bet if I told you take the H off of the end of the word earth and put it on the beginning it becomes the word heart and just to live on earth bad enough live backwards is evil you have to have a heart to get through...you would say You're f****** mental righghghghghghght or right in the middle of the word earth is the word art and obviously earth had to be made artistically!!!
@wuphat Only the god in later passages is Yahweh. Earlier on the bible clearly refers to El and Bal and other regional gods. The bible refers in places to gods rather than a single god and the very command to"have no other gods before me" suggests that there were several gods for much of biblical history. Editors have tried to make the stories fit their needs but they often fail so inconsistencies are clear enough. Take a look at Evolution of God by Robert Wright.
Atheists aren't persecuited. Are you kidding me? I go to a public high school, and everyting is taught from a atheist point of veiw, and sometimes, going to church us someting to be laughed at. Atheism is the most respected point of veiw.
@katiesaysi why do christians always say that? atheists are persecuted. in a nation that is PREDOMINANTLY christian, atheism is looked down upon. my advice to you, is get past high school. grow up, gain some experience, and then make up your mind about it. no atheism is not the most respected point of view, but it is the most CONSTITUTIONAL. this is because our country decided long ago, that people should be able to live their lives without influence from any one religion.
@katiesaysi because our founding fathers left England because they were persecuted based on their religion, BY THEIR GOVERNMENT. people always say that our founding fathers were christian, and viewed this country as a christian country. they may have been christian, but they were trying to find a country where people could make their own religious choices... you have to understand, education is most free and useful without a religious influence.
@katiesaysi so things are taught from an atheist point of view, because that is an unbiased way of presenting information. that's it. and you must look at the word atheist in the previous sentence as an adjective, not a noun. information in school is presented free from religious bias...
I'm agnostic, so i don't really belive in any god and i can empathize with atheists. But i can't really agree on your 2nd point. I remember when i stopped believing in god, i was terrified. Suddenly, i was alone in the universe and there were no explanations at all. I would give just about anything to be able to truly belive in something; something to hold on to. so I think, though it causes many problems, religion is a crucial part of our society.
They say ignorance is bliss...maybe it's true. Baptist, Pentecostals & Adventists have much higher divorce rates...but what else is new. Their book is Pro-Slavery, Pro-Genocide & Pro-Child sacrifice but they also believe in scapegoating their sins away instead of owning responsibility for their actions. If we take Jephtha's views (or Lott's) of "family values" then Christianity is REPULSIVE...ditto for Abraham's horrendous morality - IMAGINE HOW ISAAC FELT? Disgusting!!!
@minderbart1 exactly... it started the earth. yes super novas exist but I mean that planets dont pop up from anywhere anymore- why? why do i think it was a big event? well i dont even believe it happened but because of its name, one would think it would have been a big event...
anyway, even if the big bang did happen doesn't disprove God so I wont even try to get into that...
" well i dont even believe it happened but because of its name, one would think it would have been a big event..."
you better read in to things, it was a coined the big bang by fred hoyle who whas against the idea of an expanding universe. the name has very little to do with the actual meaning.
"but I mean that planets dont pop up from anywhere anymore- why?"
the only time planets pop out of existence are in religious texts, you managed to create an argument against god.
@minderbart1 i see in no way how i created an argument against God... the whole idea of the Big Bang Theory is ridiculous anyways, something physical like this must have some beginning even the "chemicals" used to create the universe...
@minderbart1 well, how did the planets start then? Im saying that God designed the planets and, to my knowledge, doesn't create any more. atheists say that planets sporadically came into existence. so why don't they sporadically pop up anymore? and debating the expansion of the universe is pointless so im just going to drop it...
" well, how did the planets start then? Im saying that God designed the planets and, to my knowledge, doesn't create any more''
planets don't 'start' planets form. and the way planets form is well understood. i'm not a astronomer, so i don't know exactly how it works. but i can say it has something to do with the formation of stars and gravity.
"atheists say that planets sporadically came into existence."
@minderbart1 i wasn't talking about the big bang... i was talking about planets. and you saying that nothing needs a beginning is (indirectly) an argument for the existence of a deity...
"that doesn't make any sense... if there wasn't a God, nothing could be around to be continuous..."
that kind of looks like circular reasoning. you'r are only correct if god indeed does exist. we can't know if god exist so there is a possibility that everything exist without the interference of god.
if everything always existed(which in my opinion it does) then there isn't need for a first cause and therefore no need for god since god supposedly created everything.
@pianoboypiano "exactly... it started the earth" Actually the 'Big Bang' was several billion years before the event that lead to the release of particles that would directly become the earth.
"but because of its name, one would think it would have been a big event..." This is ignorance on your part. The "Big Bang" refers to the expansion of the singularity (fyi, small point) indicated by evidence to have existed at the time, relative to this universe, of asolute 0.
@onijester56 sorry. i meant the universe... i was just poking fun at the name... we have observed the solar system for a long time... when a man and woman have sex, it produces a baby. but then we learn how the baby was produced. that doesnt then invalidate the point that the man and woman's intercourse caused the baby to be created. had there been no sex, no baby would still have been produced. by learning about the big bang, we learn HOW it was created... not that there was no God involved...
@pianoboypiano "when a man and woman have sex, it produces a baby. but then we learn how the baby was produced. that doesnt then invalidate the point that the man and woman's intercourse caused the baby to be created." It isn't invalidated because THE BABY IS PRODUCED BY ACTIONS THAT REQUIRE THE INTERCOURSE. Proven cause-effect.
"we learn HOW it was created... not that there was no God involved" You seem to ignore that God in fact ONLY is used for "HOW". God does (and can) not address "why".
@onijester56 simple mind? i would retort but im not going to stoop down to your level... so you say that science can answer why this universe was created? why was the baby created? because someone wanted a baby... how? already discussed... the expansion of the universe isn't relevant just how the growth of a baby into a todler isnt relevant to the discussion of intercourse... nobody can answer to why the universe was created. we all know how. but there are misunderstandings on both sides.
(PS - So according to your idea of how morality came about, there's no such thing as a father who cheats on his wife or abandons his children, simply because his ability to "co-operate" with the woman he impregnated makes him a paragon of virtue?! Absolute nonsense...)
brevicaudate 4 days ago
At least there is EVIDENCE for consciousness and conscience in the higher animals. All I see presented in favor of ANY gods existing are baseless assertion and appeals to ignorance and incredulity. The Christian God of the Bible is clearly made in Man's image, not us in His. The chance of such an absurdity truly existing is ZERO.
psycotria 5 days ago
The conscience is nothing more than the result of the working of our brains. Homo sapiens isn't the only animal with a conscience. Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes and many others are aware of right from wrong and are conscious of their own existence. Hell, one of my cats knows his reflection is himself, though the rest don't get it.
psycotria 5 days ago
There are innumerable Bible parables which teach us how to behave with morality to our fellow men. Since the Bible is the word of God, morality itself must also therefore be divinely inherited by God's people, which is why we are all born with a soul and with that soul, a conscience. Morality, being God-given, is not "out there" for us to "define". It, like God, simply "is". The only problem is that people, corrupted by SOCIETY, lose their moral integrity because social evils tempt it astray.
brevicaudate 1 week ago
@brevicaudate I guess you didn't feel the need to watch the video before commenting on it.
croxleylad 5 days ago
Comment removed
brevicaudate 5 days ago
@brevicaudate I would watch the video. Scott asked where the questioner got his moral values and went on to suggest that it was the same place as Scott got his. The bible promotes a god who has no moral values and tells us that genocide, race hate, slavery, beating children, killing homosexuals and human sacrifice is all ok. Given that you probably don't agree with these things where do you get your morals from? I would guess, like TBS said, it isn't from your bible.
croxleylad 5 days ago
@croxleylad - You're simply using the same hackneyed caricature of God that Richard Dawkins et al are so fond of espousing. The problem with your position is, you approach the Bible with scepticism and doubt, and so nothing you read in there will make sense to you. I suspect you're also a literalist, which blinds you from more subtle truths. The Bible is not a code of morality; it is a documented record of humanity's fall from grace, to remind us of our sin and lead us to redemption.
brevicaudate 5 days ago
@brevicaudate I simply asked where you got your morals from. I don't need a lecture about the collection of myths, fables, cautionary tales and historic propaganda you call the bible.
Can we stay on topic and answer the question Scott asked. Please tell us where you get your morals from. If you get them from the bible then how do you decide what is meant to be a moral law and what is not?
.
croxleylad 5 days ago
@croxleylad - I thought I should correct your error in referring to the Bible as a book where Christians "get their morality from". Who has ever suggested that? Have you actually read the Bible, by the way? You might learn something from it. Where do I get my morals from? As I said, they are endowed upon mankind by God, and were reflected through Jesus, who died for us. But unlike Jesus, we are fallible, and have the capacity to ignore our conscience. The key is to listen to God for direction.
brevicaudate 5 days ago
Comment removed
brevicaudate 5 days ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@croxleylad - Equally I might ask you: Do you consider yourself a moral person? If so, where do you get your morals from, if not through your conscience? And since the answer can only be, your conscience, who gave you that conscience? Where did it come from, if not through the inheritance of your creator God? Can the presence of a conscience be explained by the material universe? I think not...
brevicaudate 5 days ago
@brevicaudate Let me try and understand what you are saying - you think that a god puts morals in your head, that your god gives your a conscience? So nothing to do with the bible? And you think the only possible way we could have concious thought and judgement is through some sort of creator god?
Once I understand exactly and precisely what you believe I'll tell you where and why I disagree or agree.
croxleylad 4 days ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@croxleylad - Yeah, pretty much. All his videos say the same thing: God doesn't exist, and here's a logical equation to prove it, X Y Z. My point was intended to show that since this particular gem happened to mention morality, the fact that people are corrupted by sin is by no means "evidence" that God doesn't exist, but rather that he does, since without the temptation of sin, mankind could not make a choice between this world and His world. Turn away from sin, and toward God.
brevicaudate 5 days ago
@brevicaudate If the "Bible is the word of God" how do you explain all the base and immoral activity, the hideous behaviour of a vengeful and immoral god for example. If this really is some self authored, even ghosted, piece of Promotional Material written by an all knowing god it fails. It's only success is that people don't read it. It is no coincidence that studies have revealed most Christians know less about the bible than most atheists.
croxleylad 4 days ago
@croxleylad - Okay. First, where is the evidence that most Christians know less about the content of the Bible than atheists? I asked you if you had read the Bible and you ignored the question, so I can only assume you have not. I would also suspect this is true for most of your fellow kin, since very rarely do atheists quote Bible passages in their arguments against it being the word of God. Second, it's important that you understand that the Bible was not authored BY GOD; it is not
brevicaudate 4 days ago
"self-authored". If you really were aware of the Bible, you would know it was written by successive prophets and apostles ranging from all walks of life - even kings. Were they ALL deluded? And what would they have been deluded by? You might say "popular opinion the time", but how did that consensus first emerge, if not by some decisive act of divinity? Third, I'm not denying that atheists, like believers, have a conscience; I'm suggesting it is universal (because God is not an
brevicaudate 4 days ago
elitist), and that it is liable to FREE WILL. This is the gift we have inherited, not through "natural selection" or biological evolution, but through His benevolence, whereby we can make choices which either pursue His truth or deny it. Hence, your denial of God's existence is PROOF only of his benevolence. Finally, I asked you where your conscience comes from, if not from God. You might say "the same place as everyone else", but what is the origin? Where is that "place"?
brevicaudate 4 days ago
@brevicaudate
1. Search for Pew Forum’s religious knowledge survey.
2. I have read substantial parts of the bible - how else would I know how crazy it is?
3. Why would an atheist quote a rediculous collection of primitive myth, ancient propoganda and bizarre threat?
4. I must appologise for misunderstanding who you think wrote what you told me you believe is "The Word of God". If there was a god you would have thought these questions about who wrote what and what the hell it...
croxleylad 4 days ago
... means would be clearer.
I am well aware it was written, heavily edited and re-written over a 700 year period and was mainly politically inspired.
5. As Scott explained in his video - morality is a beneficial behaviour - as a social animal we need to co-operate and those people are more likley to be bale to raise children.
Please watch the video befiore commenting further, and confirm you have done so - otherwise this is just spam.
croxleylad 4 days ago
@croxleylad - It's obvious that the reason you are so intent on questioning the relationship between God, the Bible and morality is because you want answers, not because you are seriously committed to your worldview. If you were, you wouldn't need to challenge myself or anyone else who believes in God. This is the case with most atheists - those who have been reformed in the way of God will confirm it. You are searching for a fundamental truth which your present understanding of life
brevicaudate 4 days ago
cannot give you. Only through accepting God as your Lord and Saviour, and acknowledging the sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ, who died for your sins, can you be free from the suffering and torment you will otherwise endure while on earth. You need to transcend these restrictive material conceptions of reality and develop a higher state of spiritual oneness with God. For Jesus said, "I am the truth, the way and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me".
brevicaudate 4 days ago
@brevicaudate If you haven't even been bothered to watch the video - you are simply Trolling - discussion over.
croxleylad 4 days ago
@croxleylad - I'm dealing with your questions directly, to dispel the confusion and open your eyes. Isn't that preferable to sidelining you in favour of a third party?
brevicaudate 4 days ago
I find it humorous that American scientists are thinking of not using the word "theory" anymore because we are too stupid to know that a Scientific Theory...is NOT a theory. Oi
speed0spank 1 week ago
It seems very rare that anyone brings up the dark ages as an argument against religion. If it wasn't for religion, we as humans would be most of five hundred years more advanced than we are. Not to mention seven hundred years of the inquisition, as well as many other religious atrocities (I'm not sure of how much overlap there is in these). Who knows where we'd be.
drscratchnsniff2 2 weeks ago
this is brilliant
SeanMDolan 2 weeks ago
You are a very smart guy!!!
Mattwest1985 1 month ago
You have really good logical statements. Thanks for the videos! :)
enalopez26 1 month ago
Awesome video, i couldn't have answered the questions any better.
bottlecupknight 1 month ago
Right off the bat you got that pesky "belief" word stuck in your throat.
"Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true". I believe many religious people, have hijacked the word to mean "faith without substantiated evidence". All you have to do is notify them that you mean the former & not the latter. I'm a little bit let down that you allowed yourself to trip over that.
MrLittletomdj 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Atheists should feel bad becouse your Imaginary gone whith the wind. A famous British paleontologist, Derek V. Ager, admits
this fact, even though he is an evolutionist:
The point emerges that if we examine the fossil record in detail,
whether at the level of orders or of species, we find—over and
over again—not gradual evolution, but the sudden explosion of
one group
There is no Evolution, ((but)) that does not means that the Bible is true
Findsomthingright 2 months ago
How can Zach from Reaper not believe in god. He collects souls for the Devil!
jame55millie 2 months ago
I find it difficult to give credence to peoples' comments when they can't even spell correctly, nevermind the argument at hand. If you want anyone to take you seriously, please show that you have the education of a third grader in your ability to master the language.
sillynut331 3 months ago
@A1DiamondGirls Continued:
So, just like you don't celebrate Christmas for its Pagan origins, as an atheist I, along with so many others do not celebrate Christmas for its Christian based reasons. Like I said, it is an excuse to have a day off, spend time with the family and exchange gifts and have a good time while you are at it. Nothing hypocritical about it because we are not doing it out of anything faith related.
ProjectBlackWolf 3 months ago
@A1DiamondGirls I think you completely misread my comment, you also completely side stepped my question. I know why it is called Christmas and I know what you THINK it represents (If christ was ever real it is widely accepted he was in fact not born on December 25th.)
Furthermore, Christmas as I have already said did NOT originate as a Christian holiday, its origins are PAGAN, the original name for Christmas is in fact called Saturnalia, google it.
ProjectBlackWolf 3 months ago
@A1DiamondGirls A lot of people don't celebrate christmas for its religious reasons. Most people I know celebrate it because it brings family together, you exchange gifts and have a good time.
Besides, Christmas actually started as a pagan holiday, do you celebrate it for its pagan origins?
ProjectBlackWolf 3 months ago
(I'm a Christian, and here's a random question I just thought of :p)
God gives us free will (feel free to play around with that to your heart's content), but if it was SO obvious, undeniable, and there wasn't a single person against it...then I guess what I'm tyrying to say is...God would just be a controlling puppeteer if he didn't give us options...?!? Just something I'm thinking about, lol.
Cimmantti 4 months ago
@Cimmantti There is no god.
DrLJ745 4 months ago
@DrLJ745 nice answer...definitely "enlightened" me.
Cimmantti 4 months ago
@Cimmantti Glad to hear that. Just doing my part to educate humanity.
DrLJ745 4 months ago
If God exist... where is he....
TheLolololololololz 4 months ago
@TheLolololololololz God's with all the other mythical deities, such as Zeus, Thor, Allah, Apollo.. in books.
oMeGaSoLjaX 4 months ago
the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence
Akumatrunigga 5 months ago
@Akumatrunigga Exactly! That's why I still believe in the tooth fairy. NO amount of reasoning will ever dissuade me from knowing that one day I'll be able to pay her a visit in her invisible tooth castle and give her a big kiss.
smothaudio 4 months ago
I always find the creation question amazing. The Big Bang doesn't answer where all this matter came from. Even if it was all just a tiny speck that exploded, where did the speck come from? But that same problem arises with religion; can God(s) really just create and destroy matter at their whim? If so then the obvious follow up question is where did this(these) God(s) come from?
FYI: I really don't think it matters; whatever makes you happy.
pckrfan93 5 months ago
@pckrfan93 What is matter? Energy. What is this energy?
TheSuperAgnosticOne 5 months ago
@TheSuperAgnosticOne Exactly. We'll never know, so I say don't worry about it and enjoy the ride.
pckrfan93 5 months ago
@pckrfan93 perhaps, but digging deeper into it can be part of the ride. We will never know everything, but we can try to get to 99.9%
TheSuperAgnosticOne 5 months ago
@TheSuperAgnosticOne Of course you can. Whatever makes you happy.
pckrfan93 5 months ago
Well.. There is no evidence for a God it's just a theory, some people just believe that theory with such zeal that they take it a bit far. Similarly to the Big Bang theory.
jaketaylor015 5 months ago
@jaketaylor015 Mmmm....no. God's not a theory. Just a hypothesis. Untested, in some definitions untestABLE...and with, as you said, no evidence behind it.
BigLundi 4 months ago
how does anyone believe in planets smashing together to create everything in the unverse on earth whatever...? lmao
Maper555 5 months ago
Bloody hell, man! You look so young, so 80s!
saintlybastard 5 months ago
I don't think morality comes from reason and common sense. There are some thought experiments that show how sometimes our moral compass can be irrational. I think we have an innate moral perceptor in our brains. I think it is a product of evolution and can be fallible in certain situations.
Regarding religion, it is just silly. You rightly point out how the Bible is full of absurdity and moral ugliness.
jgonsalk 5 months ago
Its not that I dont believe in God its just that I dont belive in what the bible says. If Eve was created to be perfect why in the hell would God give us free will? If Adam and Eve were perfect why would they make the mistake of disobeying God? That doesnt make sense at all. The bible doesnt make reason of logic at all, i just find it hard to believe everything the bible says is true.
PeircedinBlood 5 months ago
@PeircedinBlood The devil? (I've been thinking) and not saying the devil overrides perfection, but by "perfect" I believe (lol) it means "not sinful," or "not YET sinful." Whether or not God wanted sin, etc...I think he may have ironically named the Tree of Knowledge (Eve ate from it) because God wanted options...if he didn't allow for sin, then life, well...wouldn't be life...God would just be controlling and not giving us free will...maybe he planned for it to happen, maybe he didn't...
Cimmantti 4 months ago
awesome!
grumpyfrown 6 months ago
Loved it but u should have explained chaos theory lolz that gets them every time also asking what the first third and fourth laws also gets them....
alexpet888 6 months ago
cool video bro. Also you have fantastic hair.
00chicken101 6 months ago
haha I love how you said you tried not to say " I believe" and then went on to say it a bunch of times to answer the next question. :) just an observation I still love your work
WeenahWonders 6 months ago
But in all seriousness you are an excellent speaker. You explain everything very reasonably and calmly and without condescention. The same cannot be said of many people on both sides of this debate.
KingOfWaffles 6 months ago
Science has not explained everything in the world yet. Therefore believe in Christianity, it explains everything with only three words: "God did it."!
KingOfWaffles 6 months ago
bouncyoink1234
U cant see evolution but u can see its effects. Denying evolution is like denying gravity, It's just wrong.
Why don't u believe in the tooth fairy? u get money when ur teeth fall, u can't see the fairy bt u can see its effects. The reason u and I don't believe in the tooth fairy is because it's more likely ur mother put the money than some kind of mythical creature (See Occam's razor).
Dunno about u but scientific facts r more convincing than an all-powerful imaginary friend.
guy5368 6 months ago
bouncyoink1234
U cant see evolution but u can see its effects. Denying evolution is like denying gravity, It's just wrong.
Why don't u believe in the tooth fairy? u get money when ur teeth fall, u can't see the fairy bt u can see its effects. The reason u and I don't believe in the tooth fairy is because it's more likely ur mother put the money and some kind of mythical creature (See Occam's razor).
Dunno about u but scientific facts r more convincing than an all-powerful imaginary friend.
guy5368 6 months ago
So you don't believe in wind because you have no verification that its true? I cant see it, but you can see the effects. Just like God.
bouncyoink1234 6 months ago
@bouncyoink1234 So an earthquake, for example, is Gods effect?
SiLeNtZs 6 months ago
You all are so fucking dumb. If you have a religous belief, just dont smother it in my face like some fat woman at mcdonalds. People only have problems with re religious fanatics or radicals because those are the fucks who never give up on preaching their "word", killing in the name of allah, bombing abortion clinics, or carrying out genocides
and when u die, u die. tell me i go to heaven when i die. cause for all i know i just see people rot into the ground.
balto318 7 months ago
@balto318 Yea and if you are atheist don't try to create arguments about religions with religious people, they leave you alone, you leave them alone.
GmanZombie 5 months ago
Comment removed
balto318 7 months ago
"I just found that there was not enough evidence to turn me from Christianity, considering how many universal concepts aren't configured, let alone discovered."
So that means you should believe in something that has relatively zero evidence for? Fallacy :D
neualex308 7 months ago 29
@neualex308 hahaha your good, very good
SeanMDolan 2 weeks ago
I am The Th0ught Pr0v0ker my song 'How much the word e.a.r.t.h. is worth' is soon coming... them letters in that word mean a whole lot could be my interpretation or maybe it's not...
love love love!!!
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
oh yeah the E on the beginning and that H on the end also play a part in this next equation cuz the E and H intertwine here we go one more time going to take this on another level put an H on the front of self flip it backwards it becomes the word flesh every self has flesh but spirit is best put an E on the front of man flip it backwards it becomes the word name ready aim fire every man takes a name is a self and has flesh on earth but hear it spirit is best I'm f****** mental though!!!
love
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
Tite man you know Pearl Jam's 'Tremor Christ' I'm gonna do a 'Rebel Atheist' "drifted is the sailor" blah blah blah well I have this Charles Darwin Beagle kind of theme la la la not immediately on my itinerary though!!!
love love love dude
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
So, 95% of the world got it wrong. Got it....
Mattroful 8 months ago
@Mattroful I'm guessing you would have been part of the crowd who condemned Galileo or Darwin. To suggest that percentage of people who believes something means they're correct is a non sequitur.
tmpennstate 8 months ago
@tmpennstate Not at all my friend, I don't condemn anyone. People tend to do that themselves just fine.
Mattroful 8 months ago
@Mattroful Okay, I'll take out the world condemn and the point still stands. The majority doesn't always have the truth and we have those examples to look back on. And if you believe in a religion, you're saying something like 66% of the world is wrong. Still a huge number.
tmpennstate 8 months ago
DUDE FINALLY SOMEONE WHO IS NOT BIASED I RESPECT UR OPINION MAN BUT RELIGION HAS CAUSED MORE BAD THAN GOOD BUT WITHOUT IT WHO KNOWS WERE WE WILL BE IT HELPS BUILD MORALS I GUESS
VEGANSEATMEAT69 8 months ago
I would rather live my life as if there were a god only to find out there wasn't one, rather than live my life as if there wasn't only to find out there was one.
avaiae 8 months ago
@avaiae You're assuming that there's only one god to believe in. If I take your wager (not yours, obviously; it's Blaise Pascal's) and believe in the Christian god, what happens when I get to judgement day and I was believing in the wrong god? What if Allah was the real god? Then your wager is worthless.
tmpennstate 8 months ago
@avaiae So the reason you're a believer is because there could be a god?
Poeticnuisance 7 months ago
@Poeticnuisance Well, not entirely. My whole ideology is that I spent some time weighing options and found the belief of a higher power or God if you will, was more plausible than a big bang type of theory. I just consider the benefits from being a Christian as a perk if you will (not saying it won me over), but mostly I believe you should try to live your life (christian or not) within in the morality of a Christian life (or try to emulate Jesus as well as possible).
avaiae 7 months ago
@avaiae "big bang type of theory" indicates that you don't actually understand what the big bang theory is... Its unfortunate that people make the choice to cling to bronze age beliefs in lieu of actually learning science. If you don't bother to understand, how can you be certain what you believe is even truth, if you never look beyond it? Ignoring evidence doesn't make it go away; you simply deny yourself access to reality.
Poeticnuisance 7 months ago
@Poeticnuisance All you did there is insult me and then tell me a bunch of irrelevant stuff to your first statement. You insulted me but didn't explain why. Please do explain. And LOL, I do look beyond it, trust me I do read in on scientific shit and go to my biology and science classes, we discussed evolution and alternative forms of how the Earth formed and stuff.
avaiae 7 months ago
@avaiae I apologize if you interpreted what I said as an insult. I used to be a devout christian, so I know all too well what the "alternative" explanations are. Pound for pound, science has mountains of evidence, where the "alternatives" have none at all. Its simply a matter of intellectual integrity. Do you follow where evidence points, or what your emotional state leads you to be more comfortable with? I'm not trying to sound harsh, but its a legitimate question.
Poeticnuisance 7 months ago 16
@Poeticnuisance Well, I have intellectually contemplated these things and found that considering we still know so little about science and scientific aspects, I just found that there was not enough evidence to turn me from Christianity, considering how many universal concepts aren't configured, let alone discovered.
avaiae 7 months ago
@avaiae - Sounds like an argument from ignorance. We don't know everything, there God exists... Science does not have all the answers, but that is because it does not have all the information, science is the most consistently reliable tool we have to -approximate- reality, but reality itself exists independent of science and science only helps reveal the world to us, but it can only reveal that which we investigate and until we investigate everything science will be incomplete.
ixamraxi 7 months ago
@ixamraxi Assuming by your response, you misunderstood mine. I was saying that considering we still know so little about our universe in a scientific aspect, I would say that is the second most dominant thing that determined my being a christian. I understand it's reliable, but feel it's too early to still be determining what created our universe, so I weighed all of my options and found Christianity to be my religion.... but I have a strong faith in God too.
avaiae 7 months ago
@avaiae - Then I didn't misunderstand at all. Despite how little we know about our universe from a scientific sense, we know -much- less from a metaphysical and/or theological sense because, unlike science, metaphysical claims have NO evidence, they are based on philosophy. Do you honestly believe you can derive the cause of the universe just by thinking about it? That is your claim, it's like saying because you don't know enough [science] to understand the alternatives, it must have been God.
ixamraxi 7 months ago
@ixamraxi Well, I looked at science, but it doesn't provide very much claim on the creation of the Universe, how the Earth was ultimately made with perfect conditions for life, and how we ended up being who we are today from however we got to Earth or whatever kind of form we were when we arrived first on Earth. I just found that if a higher being had created us and put us on the Earth, then that was a very plausible theory in my mind.
avaiae 7 months ago
@avaiae - Theology does not answer those questions either, at least not in a way that is falsifiable, which means there is no way to discern it's truth with respect to objective reality. Weighing options and picking the answer you find "plausible" when you lack the education necessary to comprehend the alternative means that you have chosen the answer you want, which is fine, but don't pretend you understand the science and still find theology "more likely", that is just dishonest.
ixamraxi 7 months ago
@avaiae - We can only follow science down a path the evidence supports. The scientific evidence for how the universe was created is limited, but there is evidence. The scientific evidence for God is *zero*. Also, you couldn't possibly have looked at science if you are using the fine-tuning argument, because that is pure rhetoric, not science. The earth is *not* fine-tuned for life, less then 1/10th of 1% of the earth is suitable for life, that's over 99.9% inhospitable. Not very convincing..
ixamraxi 7 months ago
@ixamraxi The reason that we cannot find evidence for God is because God doesn't want us to find it. I'm pretty sure it says in the Bible that the life we are currently in is a test of faith and will. 2nd- What do you mean by 99.9% is inhospitable? LOL, but I never said that most of earth was "hospitable" i just said that earth was capable of harboring life with the perfect conditions to carry it, not that all of it was perfect, l2r
avaiae 7 months ago
see you in hell. oh wait
KTxO5 8 months ago
I do beleive you are hot!
sarandro 8 months ago
It blows my mind when theists accuse atheists of devil worship. it's just a real *headslap* thing that really frustrates me. If athiests don't believe in god and think the notion is ridiculous, then you can take it as a given that we also don't believe in something equally ridiculous as the devil either!!!! jeez...
wurble 9 months ago
Very well done.
DjRalfy 9 months ago
A great voice of reason, and well expressed. Good on ya dude.
ivolol 9 months ago
Well here's something to think about and I know this has been an argument that has been around for awhile but, why is it so easy for us to "at some point in our childhood" dismiss the belief in (Santa Clause, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy) etc...etc? Imagine if so much emphasis is put behind those "childhood deity's". I look at "God" much in the same way. The concept of God as I see it is within the individual. To me Atheism brings the balance to the public relations of organized religion.
TheMrpeal 9 months ago
I want to see this guy as a college/high school professor. Our next generation would be so well educated that it wouldn't even be funny.
Critic863 9 months ago
Btw dont think the way how slaves were treated post civil war in america to how they were in he Bible do your research if you want i can give you a link
Poxlajetik 9 months ago
Santa Clause did in fact exist. A priest or pope named Nicholas who was sainted Santa Nicholas= Santa Claus=Santa Clause. He gave the poor little children of his village toys he made from scratch just to cheer up their lives. .
TheDano1947 9 months ago
even a perfect vacuum is testable, there is no test for a God. therefor God does not exist except in your own 'creative' mind, there is no logical test to prove the existence of God. truth come from only logic period. logic can not prove the existence of God therefor God is a delusion of your mind passed down from deluded ancestors.
onthecuttingedge2005 9 months ago
being an Atheist means, I do not believe in a God, gods, Devil, Demons, Angels, Santa Clause, Tooth Fairy. being an Atheist means I do not believe in anything that can not be tested, even air and electricity is invisible but is verifiable and testable.
onthecuttingedge2005 9 months ago
@blopajmbar62 Actually in Richard Dawkins book "The God Delusion " he mentions a study on the healing effects of prayer. In this experiment there were three subjects undergoing similar surgeries. Subject A was given prayer unknowingly. Subject B was givin no prayer also unknowingly. Subject C knowingly received prayer. Subjects A&B had very similar results. Where as subject C had several complications.
MrLeftfootrightfoot 10 months ago
he's cute :)
cupcakesWhale 10 months ago
Comment removed
michaelparshley 10 months ago
Well, you have to understand that not all Christians are mean people who think Atheists are satan-worshippers. A lot of us are just people that have a different set of beliefs that are largely motivated by the Lord, Jesus Christ. We wont persecute you at all, rather, we tend to keep a calm tone about it, much like yourself (Thanks for that by the way). And many Atheists are just like, if not worse than most religious people in the sense that they yell "Religion is bullshit you nut". But ye...
TheAntiochus 10 months ago 4
@TheAntiochus
Actually, I have observed that most Christians are not mean spirited and don't spew forth thinly veiled hate comments. I think it skews the view of Christians when you have a place like the internet, specifically Youtube in this instance, where the loud and uneducated militant "Christians" (for which I cannot put enough quotes around the term) come and try to fight against their own definitions for people without really listening to anybody. The same can be said about atheists.
Sn4pDr4gon 9 months ago
You say it's not healthy to believe to believe in a God that will answer your prayers ? Not so true buddy . Scientifically it's proven that such things actually help you relax and cope with anxiety so not a valid point . Just because you think so doesn't mean it's true . Hey everyone come to this genius we don't need anyone else this guy is a genius . Richard Dawkins would not stand a chance next to him
blopajmbar62 11 months ago
I don't know how the hell I'm going to tell my mom I'm not a Christian... It has to happen some time but she's already messed up enough already.
axel5735 11 months ago
Atheists are persecuted, misunderstood, abused, yada-yada. One has to wonder how funny/sad it will be hearing this spill as this young man explains the same to his maker one day. But God... 'I didn't want to be indoctrinated like everyone else...' (as if the Big Bang theory isn't indoctrinated in our schools right now). I'm thinking that if Psalm 2 applies, then someONE will be busting a gut over this philosophy.... Have a great day today, but don't forget tomorrow!
amme2112 11 months ago
TheoreticalBullshit, thanks. I thank you for thinking for yourself. I believe that there is hope for the future, and that religion in general is on the way out. I explain the existence of religion to myself as an anthropomorphic explanation of the unknown from a time before the right tool was available. Now that we have the tool set, it is only a matter of time. It hasn't been that long yet. The bottom line is religious beliefs are not satisfactory, or we would not have ever moved past them.
fordskydog 11 months ago
misterdeeeep 11 months ago
@misterdeeeep LOL if that somehow proves a god exists, then 911 means that the police are the real terrorists
TiteProducts 7 months ago
@TiteProducts you make no sense, your response from a comment posted a few months ago by me!!!
G7 O15 D4 = 26 7 n 4 are God's first n last numbers Jesus = 74 gospel = 74 cross = 74 messiah = 74 so does Lucifer but was not called 'son of God' son = 48 + God = 26 = 74 Jesus 74 the king of Israel is real!!!
TiteProducts go to The Bank of Eternity and get your eyeballs insured!!! I am The Th0ught Pr0v0ker just surfacing now through music, but telling you this, your wrong have plenty more...
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep If you think that the coincidental arrangement of the alphabet somehow proves your point, you are stupid.
TiteProducts 7 months ago
@TiteProducts too much Pearl Jam listening can make one think that way!!! your a kid in life still but a rebel kid at that!!!
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep If i listened to Pearl Jam I would have killed myself by now, and a good way to brush off any argument, you're just a kid, you wouldn't understand.
TiteProducts 7 months ago
@TiteProducts I am not 21 but 40 anyhow hope you continue to have a decent life!!!
love love love
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@TiteProducts hey Tite I feel you on the Pearl Jam killed your self by now comment!!!
have a good night n day tomorrow...
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep You do realize that the god character's name is not "God." It's YHWY. And the Bible was not written in English, so this numerology game you present has no basis in reality whatsoever. It is completely fallacious.
The Bible is mythological tales passed down orally over many millenia as a tool for tribal leaders to keep their followers in check. The Bible is no different than the Greek, Roman, Norse, or any other cultural myths.
Silly rabbit, fairy tales are for kids.
wuphat 7 months ago
@wuphat what you talking about Willis Yahweh = 26 in Hebrew gematria too Y'shua = 74 in English
deceptive man would not take the time to install underlying alphanumeric codes never to be told in there time but thousands of years later in these last of the last days hmmm!!!
love love love have lots more not even codes either!!!
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep It's not "Yahweh" It's YHWY. You're adding letters to make it fit a predisposed schema.
"deceptive man would not take the time to install underlying alphanumeric codes"
Sure they would. People do it all the time.
Numerolgy, like the Bible, is bullshit.
wuphat 7 months ago
@wuphat actually in gematria the YHWY is used in that form the a and e are fillers for English!!!
simple alphanumerics not numerology alright!!!
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep I'm aware of that. That's why I pointed it out to you.
Your numbers game is still bullshit.
wuphat 7 months ago
@wuphat listen wuphat some people always think they are right and look for that argument so...
love love love
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep Hey, you put comments out on public display. If you don't want them criticized, don't put them out there.
Your Bible is bullshit. Your numerology is bullshit. Your religion is bullshit.
If you want to demonstrate otherwise, it's easy:
Show me some repeatable, testable, and falsifiable evidence that your god exists.
wuphat 7 months ago
@wuphat hey wuphat I know them comments are on public display, well see I am The Th0ught Pr0v0ker a vocal lyrical music guy soon rise... criticize is exercise!!! not my Bible Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth
and not numerology 'alphanumerics' hey man not religious, just follow Jesus 74 as much as possible!!! you want me to send you some insights put into song too... privately... f*** this number letter thing I love love love and you everybody so...we are Under Full Observation dude
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep The only thoughts you are provoking is how utterly inane your posts are.
And your acronym is laughable.
Numerology, alphanumerics--you can put any label you want on it, it's still BULLSHIT,
"you want me to send you some insights put into song too"
No. I don't.
"we are Under Full Observation dude"
Do. We are not. Though maybe you should be under full observation in a mental facility.
wuphat 7 months ago
@wuphat what you talking about Willis...
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@misterdeeeep You're fucking mental. That's what I'm talking about.
wuphat 7 months ago
@wuphat it's a good n spirit guided mental again some always think their right n looking for that argument...bet if I told you take the H off of the end of the word earth and put it on the beginning it becomes the word heart and just to live on earth bad enough live backwards is evil you have to have a heart to get through...you would say You're f****** mental righghghghghghght or right in the middle of the word earth is the word art and obviously earth had to be made artistically!!!
misterdeeeep 7 months ago
@wuphat Only the god in later passages is Yahweh. Earlier on the bible clearly refers to El and Bal and other regional gods. The bible refers in places to gods rather than a single god and the very command to"have no other gods before me" suggests that there were several gods for much of biblical history. Editors have tried to make the stories fit their needs but they often fail so inconsistencies are clear enough. Take a look at Evolution of God by Robert Wright.
croxleylad 5 days ago
go brag about being aetheist somewhere else.
deathwishca 1 year ago
@deathwishca Atheist* dumbfuck
wowitswickizer 1 year ago
@wowitswickizer hahahah shut the fuckup what are you the grammar police?
deathwishca 1 year ago
Is it wrong that for most of the video i was just like.....DAMN his hair looks nice
savage1026 1 year ago 18
Atheists aren't persecuited. Are you kidding me? I go to a public high school, and everyting is taught from a atheist point of veiw, and sometimes, going to church us someting to be laughed at. Atheism is the most respected point of veiw.
That's at least how I veiw the world/
katiesaysi 1 year ago
@katiesaysi why do christians always say that? atheists are persecuted. in a nation that is PREDOMINANTLY christian, atheism is looked down upon. my advice to you, is get past high school. grow up, gain some experience, and then make up your mind about it. no atheism is not the most respected point of view, but it is the most CONSTITUTIONAL. this is because our country decided long ago, that people should be able to live their lives without influence from any one religion.
WowUrFcknHxC 1 year ago
@WowUrFcknHxC dude, chill.
katiesaysi 1 year ago
@katiesaysi because our founding fathers left England because they were persecuted based on their religion, BY THEIR GOVERNMENT. people always say that our founding fathers were christian, and viewed this country as a christian country. they may have been christian, but they were trying to find a country where people could make their own religious choices... you have to understand, education is most free and useful without a religious influence.
WowUrFcknHxC 1 year ago
@katiesaysi so things are taught from an atheist point of view, because that is an unbiased way of presenting information. that's it. and you must look at the word atheist in the previous sentence as an adjective, not a noun. information in school is presented free from religious bias...
WowUrFcknHxC 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@katiesaysi Atheists are the most prejudiced minority in the United States. Don't believe me? Search "atheists are most prejudiced" in Google.
xCole119x 1 year ago
I'm agnostic, so i don't really belive in any god and i can empathize with atheists. But i can't really agree on your 2nd point. I remember when i stopped believing in god, i was terrified. Suddenly, i was alone in the universe and there were no explanations at all. I would give just about anything to be able to truly belive in something; something to hold on to. so I think, though it causes many problems, religion is a crucial part of our society.
BmxBikePro 1 year ago
According to polls about Gallup, the religious generally live healthier lifestyles
ShinhoDynasty7 1 year ago
@ShinhoDynasty7
They say ignorance is bliss...maybe it's true. Baptist, Pentecostals & Adventists have much higher divorce rates...but what else is new. Their book is Pro-Slavery, Pro-Genocide & Pro-Child sacrifice but they also believe in scapegoating their sins away instead of owning responsibility for their actions. If we take Jephtha's views (or Lott's) of "family values" then Christianity is REPULSIVE...ditto for Abraham's horrendous morality - IMAGINE HOW ISAAC FELT? Disgusting!!!
TruthJockey 1 year ago
if the big bang started the earth, then why dont huge random events like that happen anymore???
pianoboypiano 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
the big bang did not start the earth. it set in motion events that result in the creation of various planets, sun etc.
" then why dont huge random events like that happen anymore"
you mean like super nova's? or bigger? what makes you think the big bang was such a big event?
minderbart1 1 year ago
@minderbart1 exactly... it started the earth. yes super novas exist but I mean that planets dont pop up from anywhere anymore- why? why do i think it was a big event? well i dont even believe it happened but because of its name, one would think it would have been a big event...
anyway, even if the big bang did happen doesn't disprove God so I wont even try to get into that...
pianoboypiano 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
" well i dont even believe it happened but because of its name, one would think it would have been a big event..."
you better read in to things, it was a coined the big bang by fred hoyle who whas against the idea of an expanding universe. the name has very little to do with the actual meaning.
"but I mean that planets dont pop up from anywhere anymore- why?"
the only time planets pop out of existence are in religious texts, you managed to create an argument against god.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@minderbart1 i see in no way how i created an argument against God... the whole idea of the Big Bang Theory is ridiculous anyways, something physical like this must have some beginning even the "chemicals" used to create the universe...
pianoboypiano 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
"i see in no way how i created an argument against God."
you said: "but I mean that planets dont pop up from anywhere anymore- why?"
if you don't see that you need to buy glasses.
" the whole idea of the Big Bang Theory is ridiculous anyways"
it would be ridiculous if you where right, but you aren't the big bang theory explains the expansion of the universe not the beginning.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@minderbart1 well, how did the planets start then? Im saying that God designed the planets and, to my knowledge, doesn't create any more. atheists say that planets sporadically came into existence. so why don't they sporadically pop up anymore? and debating the expansion of the universe is pointless so im just going to drop it...
pianoboypiano 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
" well, how did the planets start then? Im saying that God designed the planets and, to my knowledge, doesn't create any more''
planets don't 'start' planets form. and the way planets form is well understood. i'm not a astronomer, so i don't know exactly how it works. but i can say it has something to do with the formation of stars and gravity.
"atheists say that planets sporadically came into existence."
straw man argument, no atheist says that.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
". so why don't they sporadically pop up anymore? "
there is a planet forming every second, if i may guess otherwise it would probably every minute.
there are billions of galaxies, saying that "no new planets form" is utter bullocks.
"and debating the expansion of the universe is pointless so im just going to drop it."
if you would only open a textbook on astronomy or visit wikipedia on the formation of stars or planets you would learn so much new stuff.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
" something physical like this must have some beginning even the "chemicals" used to create the universe..."
physical? no one said that the big bang was physical. it's was not a normal explosion you see on new year.
nothing needs a beginning, there is not a simple example of something that has a beginning. the state 'before' the big bang could have been infinite.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@minderbart1 i wasn't talking about the big bang... i was talking about planets. and you saying that nothing needs a beginning is (indirectly) an argument for the existence of a deity...
pianoboypiano 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
"and you saying that nothing needs a beginning is"
you'r mis qouting me.
let me put it differently, there is nothing that has a beginning, everything is continuous.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@minderbart1 no, that IS what you said, but anyway, that is still an aspect of God- continuous
pianoboypiano 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano
No, if all is continous there is no need for god.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@minderbart1 that doesn't make any sense... if there wasn't a God, nothing could be around to be continuous...
pianoboypiano 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@pianoboypiano
"that doesn't make any sense... if there wasn't a God, nothing could be around to be continuous..."
that kind of looks like circular reasoning. you'r are only correct if god indeed does exist. we can't know if god exist so there is a possibility that everything exist without the interference of god.
if everything always existed(which in my opinion it does) then there isn't need for a first cause and therefore no need for god since god supposedly created everything.
minderbart1 1 year ago
@pianoboypiano "exactly... it started the earth" Actually the 'Big Bang' was several billion years before the event that lead to the release of particles that would directly become the earth.
"but because of its name, one would think it would have been a big event..." This is ignorance on your part. The "Big Bang" refers to the expansion of the singularity (fyi, small point) indicated by evidence to have existed at the time, relative to this universe, of asolute 0.
(cont)
onijester56 8 months ago
@onijester56 sorry. i meant the universe... i was just poking fun at the name... we have observed the solar system for a long time... when a man and woman have sex, it produces a baby. but then we learn how the baby was produced. that doesnt then invalidate the point that the man and woman's intercourse caused the baby to be created. had there been no sex, no baby would still have been produced. by learning about the big bang, we learn HOW it was created... not that there was no God involved...
pianoboypiano 8 months ago
@pianoboypiano "when a man and woman have sex, it produces a baby. but then we learn how the baby was produced. that doesnt then invalidate the point that the man and woman's intercourse caused the baby to be created." It isn't invalidated because THE BABY IS PRODUCED BY ACTIONS THAT REQUIRE THE INTERCOURSE. Proven cause-effect.
"we learn HOW it was created... not that there was no God involved" You seem to ignore that God in fact ONLY is used for "HOW". God does (and can) not address "why".
onijester56 8 months ago
@onijester56 simple mind? i would retort but im not going to stoop down to your level... so you say that science can answer why this universe was created? why was the baby created? because someone wanted a baby... how? already discussed... the expansion of the universe isn't relevant just how the growth of a baby into a todler isnt relevant to the discussion of intercourse... nobody can answer to why the universe was created. we all know how. but there are misunderstandings on both sides.
pianoboypiano 8 months ago