De Botton is a book salesman... He's probably written an Atheist Bible, or some more pop-up philosophy books... He's a bored middle class twat, an intellectual fairy and has no business flogging his shite on TED talks.
Athiesm is a religion...a belief in only classical determinism. Like physics of the 17th century, physics of the 21st century will eventually be replaced by physics of the 25th century. My God won't. Religion teaches a respect for our creator. If you don't think science and religion mix, then I dare you check out "Reason to Believe" group of scientists....or go pickup any recent quantum physics research. Quantum erasure experiments alone should have you believing that God plays dice.
@hitechsella - Quite quite wrong...Someone can be an atheist and believe in space monkeys. Not believing in God doesn't say anything about what someone believes...You can be spiritual yet completely atheist, in the religious sense.
Using science to prove God is a non-starter, but on a philosophical level you may see God everywhere, in the cosmos or evolution for example....You can have your own beliefs, just not your own facts.
''Religions are intermittently too useful, effective and intelligent to be abandoned to the religious alone.'' Alain de Botton
Religion has been useful and effective to make people dogmatic, close minded, and to have an excuse to kill other people, not very intelligent things in my opinion. Alain de Botton is an ignorant who needs to read some history books, and read news about the relgious conflicts around the world.
false religions, filthy and unholy philosophy. I tremble considering the masses of lost peoples buying their one way tickets for hell...they will regret deeply when the last days will come
Consolation from an imaginary friend? Rituals of superstition with 0 proved facts to back them? Can someone tell me in a logical and rational way why being a "spiritual person" is better than being a non-spiritual person?
As a CNN user pointed out, we don't need religion to have culture, traditions or morality. It was culture which created religion and not the other way around as De Botton says. Religion can learn more from atheism than viceversa. Alain de Botton is deluded.
Oh, it's easy to dismiss religion? Do you even have any idea what the choice to admit to friends, family and total strangers entails? Some have been disowned by their own parents. Ignored by friends, bullied and become victims of persecution.
Atheism 2.0? What if I don't take from other religions, but rather take inspiration from all the things religions have denied us access to through history.
Do things that are scientifically proven to work instead of trivial rituals for an unproven soul.
It’s human nature to rescue a person in a burning building; likewise, there is no distinction with a person headed toward Hell. True Mature Christians are aware of the impending dangers facing people without salvation. That said, there isn’t a single individual in Hell that doesn’t believe in God. All have had an immediate change of heart and mind, but was too late!
No one can blame God, as people simply refuse the truth while making wrong choices and by their decisions, end in Hell...very sad!
Here's an interesting fact, there isn't a single Atheist in Hell. Apparently they've had an intimidate change of heart and mind. And, all have come to understand that True Mature Christians were only trying to keep them out of Hell. We don’t hate Atheist, we love them enough to tell them the truth. Another interesting fact, God put His reality in all men’s hearts, but if a person's heart is seared, few will come to the truth about God. By the way, the wages of any sin is death.
the amount of red in the like bar is disturbing. this man is the fucking genius of our lifetime and we are red barring him. what the fuck humans, get your shit together.
I think he said it best in the beginning - replace religion with culture. Religion is culture that was seen as a truth. Truths are personal; 1 book should never decide the morality of all men, no matter who writes it.
Well, he seems to have identified what Atheism lacks, but not the why of it. Atheism is suspicious by its very nature of claims to objectively labeling anything "good" or "bad". Case in point: there is no "good" propaganda. I think de Botton is just trying to convert lax Christians. But why should someone consider becoming an atheist at all if they're not willing to do the work required in questioning themselves or the greater world? That's what agnosticism is for.
What a bore! Note the fancy microphone. Seems like a preacher to me except that Botton is very likely making a comfortable living sermonizing on a popular topic; the only difference is that he says nothing of any real substance or value.
I think Alain de Botton would have a lot to talk about in conversation with Terry Eagleton. The two make a lot of similar points - that, for instance, in capitalistic society we've secularised in a very bourgeois manner, in a manner that effaces the humane and the human, that prides itself on being liberal and cultured, but hives off the arts and humanities to the extent that they're not profitable, or else tries to assimilate them to profitability.
but why all these...if all these are the good things from religion...then why must atheists change and adapt to religions...instead why not ..the religious people adapt to these good things and stop brainwashing and controlling others and scaring people with hell and devils etc. and scare them and force them to obey the laws of religion and must believe in "god"
This just seems like a religious person admitting that his myths are wrong but still wanting his myths to be right. The whole "We need spiritualism and rituals!" line gives it away. Are we facing a future of guys like this if we manage to convert the majority of humans? Why does he even need all the dressings if the core is wrong?
Yes, atheists can learn a lot from religion: how to avoid paying tax; how to gain undeserved privilege; how to talk bollocks; homophobia; misogyny, etc., etc.
@ProDegiaque i know right atheist that think them self intelligent becuase they're atheist create that false dichotomy im a non believer and it drives me up the wall with with this dogamtic atheism that poeple try to push which makes no sence
Just as the moderates in religious circles give indirect support to religious extremists, I am afraid this type of capitulation to organized religion will give indirect support to religion's delusional beliefs.
They have had thousands of years to hone their organization (and control) skills along with the "god" meme to create what they have using the meme "momentum" to carry them forward. But with knowledge and thought I believe that it will die down to a fizzle.
Life will always be messy. No philossify has cured that. Morality existed long before organized religion. I don't like the brain washing that religion brings to the table. I'm done with it.
@zdtmlp i'm sorry, but i have to state that, if you find this mainly "bullshit" what's your arguments ? i mainly think you weren't very attentive when you watched this.
@AlirezaBehzadnia bullshit may have been lil to strong and i understand what hes presenting but atheism is not by definition an ideal its marly a statement an what he was refering to is more humanism and i feel in schools that facts need to be put first before some wishy washy what dose it all mean thats for class for the humanities which is importent but shouldnt take president over the facts and i know that the schools need a clean up and more hands on with the childern
@AlirezaBehzadnia n the morality bit poeple have constructed morality which is beneficial to are survival i feel it a shame to say religious indoctrination is what gave us somthin we already had you dont see other apes going to clargy its innate to be good for the beneifit of us an others and i find somthing thats been evolutionary beneficial to us. long befor the birth of myths an delusion and giving the credit to myth and delusion to be belittlement of the importence of orgin of our morality
@abedabudayyeh1 you should realize that, what atheists are debating, is the root of religion. which says everything is created by god. we reject that, because we don't like to believe is superpowers. nevertheless you have a point there, as he explained, we admire the way religions work, but not what they work for. an example would be a computer, it works great, but if it was built to deliver us wrong info, its well utilized.
Religion works by constructing a strict and stern dogma. I don't want atheists or atheism to turn into a dogma of mindless worship and following dogma where our brains are emotionally hijacked.
And propaganda is blind. Who gets to decide what is good propaganda vs. bad?
@Alibm80 it teaches us morality. without it, we would've taken more years to get here. i don't believe in god either, but religious-like philosophies such as "Buddhism" which i highly recommend, bridges the secular world and the religious world. its the fine line between, being a christian and being an atheist.
@AlirezaBehzadnia Buddhism is a religion, not a philosophy. There may not be a God in it, but being an adherent requires accepting supernatural forces. You're getting confused with the cultural/philosophical traditions of Eastern countries. Also, you have zero evidence that morality would have developed differently without religion, and there's no point in even speculating about this.
Don't make atheism as a cult! It would be equally as bad as organized religion. Alain de Botton, you gave a terrible presentation and you were jeopardizing atheist rational cause.
I think he is missing the point of art, I completely disagree. It should be an end in itself. Otherwise, it isn't art, it's decoration, or like he said himself - propaganda. In previous times it did serve a different purpose but that was a time when cameras, video, radio, etc could not serve that purpose better, and art has evolved into something new, more organic, respected and personal to the artist, and he disregards that... though I do agree that it is very important to look at the moon.
Sounds like he is opening a door and paving a way towards future "religions". His argument to pick bits from religion is a weak half baked attempt to mollycoddle the religious. "Leave the songs and the buildings and copy how religions treat art and love and music ,BAH! That's exactly how we have arrived at this amphibologistic state of religious manipulation and parasitic symbiosis . Thats how religions develop!!! Scheduled propitiations to that moon? Non-Sense!
@d3r2000 You must be talking about the type of religious humility that teaches us they we are so special that a god created an entire universe for just us and that it listens to us all the time so it can test and reward us constantly, right up to the point of death. Then we get to spend eternity with it smiling at us.
@d3r2000 If learning about the impossibly tiny place you occupy in the infinite expanse of the universe is not enough a lesson in humility for you, then your narcissism knows no bounds.
I personally think all the various issues relating to religion are themselves issues which should be highlighted. As for dieities or a single god by definition are intangible so they can't be compared with a tangible entity such as fairies, etc.
About the only thing I've ever missed from religion is singing hymns as a group and fellowship. Unfortunately fellowship can only exist as long as one believes as the rest of the people, if one's beliefs do NOT match, then one no longer feels a sense of belonging, nor fellowship with one another. Nothing replaces these things outside of church, but I would not put up with the rest of church to get those 2 pleasures. Thanks for such a reasonable rational talk.
Some of the atheist comments on here are ridiculous. There may be problems with de Botton's approach but why would you be opposed to moving the successful elements of religions and applying them to helping humanity without the superstition? There are reasons why religions have been so successful in the past, and while we may and should move beyond the myths involved, ritual, community, humility and grandeur are all perfectly healthy elements to include in secular society.
" while we may and should move beyond the myths involved, ritual, community, humility and grandeur are all perfectly healthy elements to include in secular society."
I don't see how any of those elements are missing..
Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; they poison Rivers and skies; thistles are their cash crop. God sticks his head out of heaven. He looks around. He's looking for someone not stupid-one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman. He comes up empty. A string of zeros. Useless, unshepherded Sheep, taking turns pretending to be Shepherd. The ninety and nine follow their fellow. Don't they know anything, all these impostors?
Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is real, and these are his commands." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air. A Goddess comes down from heaven. She looks around for someone, for at least one rational sane person, just one rational person that she can chat with. She comes up empty. A string of zeros. Useless sheep, taking turns pretending to know a shepherd. Are there any self-reliant people who refuse to bow down to others, and who are capable of guiding themselves?
"Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; they poison Rivers and skies"
right, ironically it's the "non-believers" who are generally more environmentally aware, whereas many believers with their "take no heed for tomorrow", "judgement day" and "kingdom come" mindset who don't "need to" care... the lobby denying Global Warming is largely a religious one.
To boil down John Wesley's ministry to 'travelling up and down the country telling people how to live' is both ignorant, narrow, and offensive. John Wesley would balk at the thought that that was what we have taken away from his ministry. His dedication was to the gospel first and foremost...it's intellectually dishonest to try and say otherwise.
It seems to me that those who responded to this so angrily are in dire need of a moral framework to live by. Whether you are all believers or non believers, your anger makes it clear that whatever it is that you believe, it is not working for you. Can there be a dialogue without the anger? In fact, I think that may have been his point......
Her face says: "What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
I'm an atheist and this made a lot of sense. His aim is NOT for a formal conspiracy. He's reminding us that celebrating culture, free from ancient dogma, against the Religious monopoly on the numinous is worth pursuing. In the marketplace of ideas you might compete with religion at its own game by selling a better product, that being a reality more articulate, insightful and profound than any scripture. Sounds alright to me.
Some of these points are valid but they have nothing to do with faith, just some of the techniques religions employ. Of course we can learn from them but there is no need for Atheism 2.0. Really he's just talking about anthropology.
@deadlyrhythm I agree with you :) I cant stop watching Alain de Botton speaches .... i disagree with quite a large part of his ideas, but he really is a fascinating speaker :)
@deadlyrhythm really? what point(s) Botton presented here was(were) valid? what can we learn from religion? I agree with you on that there is no need for atheist 2.0.
"There are many gaps in secular life" - he says that because we do not believe, we therefore do not have community or morality (17min mark). What an outrageous and incorrect statement. Of course there can be community and morality in the lives of atheists - they just do not have to be centered around religious values. Community centers, charities and even book clubs all provide community and offer a sense of morality in helping others, and studying works of art and culture.
@seanmultisean I am also sick of defining atheists as those who have a non belief, as if there is something lacking in that person's life. If everyone collected stamps, except for a handful, we would not view those people that don't as lacking something in their lives. We don't view them as missing an important part of life, unless we frame everyone in that sense. Atheists should not be framed in the same way as religious people. They believe. Mostly, atheists don't concern themselves with it.
Mighty interesting! Atheist should be able to do better since religions are successful at selling fiction. 17:00 That sound like miracle. If we come together include religions then miracle can happen. We are human being and we can't see beyond the corners or liar's loan is bad or house is not going to appreciate 15% every 3 month forever. But sometime when we do something for a while and it can be like Facebook, all of a sudden we have world peace.
2:37. "best side of religion". What a nonsense! Religion is corrosive to science and humanity. There are militant/stand-up atheists and atheists in closet. The so-called atheism 2.0 is only for those coward non believers who still want to show how smart they are. Militant atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and PZ Myers are real heroes we need to make our world better.
What a FUCKING IDIOT! Perfect, leave or never join religion just to mimic them? Are you fucking kidding me?! This is not Atheism 2.0 and for you to call it that sets those who claim the label BACKWARDS. Atheism already has a fucking definition. We don't need this bullshit to base our morality from, to infect our education system or to infect our political system. Religion is already guilty of those crimes!
Ever hear of LaVeyan Satanism? That sounds closer to your plan. Fuck that and fuck you!
He's talking about Dawkins and Hitchens at the start but he clearly doesn't know what they're really about because both of them are already on Atheism 2.0.
I liked his talk. It was really sensible, and did attempt to bridge the gap with a synergistic approach. I'm an Atheist, I been freed from religion, and do think that there are wonderful things about it worth keeping.
I'm already practicing your «Religion» as an Atheist, but without having to steal or borrow from any religion : it's called «common sense» and empathy, and you do not need any PHD to think about that or act that way.
If Atheism is a religion, then I am not only an atheist, I am a non-stamp collector, a non-football fan, non-country music listener, a non-vegetarian, a non-watcher of jersey-shore, I own a non-cat and I have a non-vagina.
Cut off from morality by being an atheist? Has he lost his mind? As long as religion is still a threat to humanity it is still too early for his atheism 2.0. At this moment we are in a war of survival against the destructive forces of the religion!
@boomtao Actually the typical 'go to' argument by the theological is that of "where do you get your reference of morality ?" He presented his argument that could easily be understood by both parties and not catering to one side as much as you would like. It is something that is such an amazingly simple concept, but you will over look. Look in history, look at the times now. When people and ideas are under suppression, is when they can grow the most. Just politely disagree and move on.
I don't need ritual or transcendence, or mystical bullshit generally. For connection, I have friends. To remain in touch with what I know, I have routine review. And please, we know how repressive institutions can be, spare us some new, contrived, pitiful institution.
I know what you mean, I was a youngling on Coruscant and there was a huge coverup after the allegations of Yoda's 'private' sessions with some of the students - to this day, he hasn't gone on trial.
All I know is that I've never had an Atheist at my door Bothering me about their beliefs.
Why can't religious nut-jobs understand that if I want or need something I will search and find it, and that goes for a new pair of shoes or for religion.
Worse than nuisance telesales in my opinion. Pious bunch of pr*k$
He is pandering to the deep human need for something greater disguising it as a system. Humans are theotropic because our ancestors evolved and survived with religion. Our atheist ancestors died alone so now we are stuck with the desire for something to look up to in the same way we need to breed, communicate and make each other feel better with neo communist ideas like this.
There is no need to rebrand yourselves if you take the message to heart. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to glean wisdom from this or that. I have been doing this just on my own, before coming upon this video or even finding many others who would agree. He is correct to say atheism is just the beginning--it's an axiom, a truth we atheists find to be self-evident. But there is so much more potential beyond a mere starting point!
I suggest Joseph Campbell to those looking to grow. :)
LOL, THIS IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD!
How about we don't worship anything, don't interact as athiests, and just continue not believing in anything other than our own abilities to know right from wrong, how to treat other people as we would like to be treated, and try to not use all of the scarce resources that we really need to share with others...
@MurphysLaww But do you believe that everyone knows how to, or a better yet, is willing to do all those things? I don't think the majority of the "Western" world does.
De Botton is trying to flog one of his new books...Probably the Atheist Bible, or some such shite...He's a well known as an intellectual lightweight, and writes the most god-awful drivel.
If the worst thing people can say about Mr. de Botton's proposal is that people will say it's a godless religion, is that really so bad? What is religion but philosophy delivered with flair? He isn't suggesting oppressing outsiders, and any missionary work, so to e-speak, would be through cogent arguments, not bullying or guilt trips. Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
he had my attention until he started talking about history in overtly vague terms in brevity, then tried to move on as if his position was uncontroversial.... sorry, thumbs down.. This is an entirely subjective argument.. i don't like it.
Just what we needed: to prove the religious when they say atheism is a religion.
You know what happens when you shoot fish in a barrel? YOU GET MORE FREAKIN' FISH!
This is nothing more than the old atheism trying re-pakage itself after years, upon years, of being the most hated group known and they couldn't understand why because they were "so nice".
Now religions' on the decline, our books are best sellers & we dominate social media - by being proud of who we are.
@YOURINQUIRER Atheism is not a religion. Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods. Do atheists, by definition believe in and worship a superhuman controlling power? No. therefore is atheism a religion? No.
@ResponsibleSnowflake Except I did nothing of the sort. By your definition, any disagreement I have with you, you can define to your benefit as "religious". While that might seem helpful to you, it has no relationship to reality whatsoever. Nice try though.
@YOURINQUIRER Okay maybe, I just feel that ultimately your reaction was an emotional one that failed to see the positive aspects of Alains speech. He's just offering a form of Atheism that isn't militant... For me Atheism is "not god" rather than "against god" and we can hardly be defined as "us" against "them". I live in secular society and come from a sec home. Maybe this has had an impact? My distinguishing recognition of people is: Empathy or no, compassion or no, real or not?
@ResponsibleSnowflake One positive aspect does not negate negative ones, especially when it is the central premise of his argument.
The description 'militant' is laughable. The form of atheism he advocates is a return to the older form which was disasterous for atheists. It defined us as people who forced on the culture atheism though the courts rather than what we are now which is a vibrant movement within the culture.
@YOURINQUIRER Why believe in a cruel omnipotent who wants to be worshiped? Religion is bogus, when believing in life and the beauty of faith, religion is just a story which tries to indoctrinate people into black and white thinking. Its unnecessary. Philosophy is everything. To be able to rationalize about what is true or accept others opinion is what creates progress, not reading in an ancient book which is nevertheless incredibly ignorant. Religion belongs in the past, we don't need idiocy.
@YOURINQUIRER I think you missed the point. I am pretty sure the intent of making a "religion for atheists" was more of a calling to make atheism a more solid philosophy. Using the tools that religion has used, and giving people what they inherently desire. As silly as it is to believe in fairies, and ghost and the like, it is just as silly to dismiss the function of those tales. I mean if you want to be adults about it, stop belittling some one because of what they believe.Respect goes bothways
@resuort In fact, if you actually care about other people, you will inform them when they are mistaken. When their delusions are such that only ridicule can do the job, as is often the case with religions, then you ridicule them. They'll feel better afterwards.
@resuort Atheism is not a philosophy, it's the absence in a belief in a god or gods. If you are looking to make atheists more well grounded in philosophy, how would you possibly do that by making them more open to irrational practices?
We tried this already. It failed, failed, failed. It was a failure. We've been more respectful than even the religious were to us & it didn't matter. They still despise us. They will always despise us or just be friendly with us in the hope of converting us.
I'd take almost any excuse to assemble publicly for times a private house gathering does not feel like enough, and to do so on a frequent, regular basis as a catchall for different people and their differing life-events. We can celebrate or mourn together or otherwise support each other, or simply mingle.
14:55 "look at how religions are spreading ideas" No they try to impose it on you. They don't try to convince or to make your understand (convince and understand require proofs which must be found in reality not in faith)
@Sasataf Well this talk is about what can atheist take from religion? Nothing is my answer. Taking their ways of spreading ideas is a really bad thing to do as they say "you have to believe it". They don't want to convince, they want to force their ideas. Thet make groups and so ne? Well it was not a chrisitian invention.
@maximemeis111 Ah, but you can't deny that the methods used by religious institutions to spread their beliefs and doctrines are very effective. So if we used those same methodologies to spread other non-religious ideas, then would you say the ends justifies the means? For example, spreading the "idea" on how to budget your spending, or what a balanced diet consists of?
@Sasataf No! for fuck sake! to win a gamble it's safer not to bet. Atheism is 'not' playing the game or answering loaded questions. Atheism is knowing the choice.
@Sasataf Writing a book and saying "it is the truth, believe it or you'll perish in hell" is an immoral way to spread ideas. Any atheist sprending his ideas like that, trying to blindly inpose rather than proove, trying to force rather than convince, has no more value to me than any believer in any religion doing the same.
@maximemeis111 Therefore, you have totally missed the point of this talk. Alain is focusing on the methods religions use to distribute their ideas...you are still focusing on the idea itself.
To take your example, the "method" of distribution is the book. The "idea" that is being distributed is "it is the truth, believe it or you'll perish in hell".
@maximemeis111 I would make a point though. I'm really not for going to people's house on Sundays and tell them "here is what you think", like some christians do. I don't see any problem arguing with other people on video, comment, article,... they post, but going to people's house and saying "hey this is what we think and why we think that" doesn't seem the good thing to do for me. It's just an example.
8:46 "what you'll say will need to be back up by really convincing ways of saying it" True for religion. Untrue otherwise. What you say must be backed up by facts.
4:5à "we are rational adults" Therefore, based on reality, based on the evidence of the senses you must be able to use logic to come to conclusions, not wait for other to tell you what to think.
@dashiellv The first question one musk ask is"Why do I need ethics?" The second is "then what in reality gives rise to ethics?" The answer two the second is that man has free-will, the possibility to make choices. The answer to the first is man has no automatic code of actions and he must learn his way to survive and reach happiness. Therefore he must learn the values it requires based on its nature, based on reality. A code of value accepted by choice for that purpose becomes a code ot morality
3:55 for guidance, they must find guidance by themselves, by reasoning on the nature of reality. They must ask themselves: why would I need a code of value? They need a code of value based on reality to survive and to be reach happiness. A code of value choosen becomes a code of morality.
3:50 morality is to be found in reality, not in religion. Who can honestly say that christian morality is moral? God tells Abraham "kill your son" and the goood becomes to kill him and than he show up and says "by the ways I was kidding" and the good is not killing him any longer.
2:00 if you think that an old church looks good, you are enjoying men's creativity and hability to build that building. Doesn't mean that you are attracted to religion.
1:00 yeah he's right, it's to easy. Religion's purposed is to distroy what makes a human being human. It aims at destroying, evidence, reason, reality, logic,... (faith is a rejection of those values) Man's nature requires him to find his values to live and be happy. Christianity is based on destroying life. It teaches not to seek your good, not to enjoy your life. It's actually a sin against the nature of reality.
There is no god,now lets act like those who believe there is.No,that is not going to work,unless your aim is to covertly turn atheism in to a religion which negates atheism.
According to Botton, propaganda can be good if used for the right reasons. So when exactly, is biased or misleading information used for the right reasons?
I believe you have the right to your opinion, but please watch this entire video and let me know what you thingk....thank you very much....Utube 58:10
De Botton is a book salesman... He's probably written an Atheist Bible, or some more pop-up philosophy books... He's a bored middle class twat, an intellectual fairy and has no business flogging his shite on TED talks.
rogan71 4 hours ago
Athiesm is a religion...a belief in only classical determinism. Like physics of the 17th century, physics of the 21st century will eventually be replaced by physics of the 25th century. My God won't. Religion teaches a respect for our creator. If you don't think science and religion mix, then I dare you check out "Reason to Believe" group of scientists....or go pickup any recent quantum physics research. Quantum erasure experiments alone should have you believing that God plays dice.
hitechsella 19 hours ago
@hitechsella - Quite quite wrong...Someone can be an atheist and believe in space monkeys. Not believing in God doesn't say anything about what someone believes...You can be spiritual yet completely atheist, in the religious sense.
Using science to prove God is a non-starter, but on a philosophical level you may see God everywhere, in the cosmos or evolution for example....You can have your own beliefs, just not your own facts.
rogan71 4 hours ago
@hitechsella atheism is not a religion please educate your self
zdtmlp 2 hours ago
This is the stupidest TED lecture (sermon?) I've ever heard.
skat1140 19 hours ago
''Religions are intermittently too useful, effective and intelligent to be abandoned to the religious alone.'' Alain de Botton
Religion has been useful and effective to make people dogmatic, close minded, and to have an excuse to kill other people, not very intelligent things in my opinion. Alain de Botton is an ignorant who needs to read some history books, and read news about the relgious conflicts around the world.
ixevil 19 hours ago
false religions, filthy and unholy philosophy. I tremble considering the masses of lost peoples buying their one way tickets for hell...they will regret deeply when the last days will come
sympathika29 20 hours ago
Consolation from an imaginary friend? Rituals of superstition with 0 proved facts to back them? Can someone tell me in a logical and rational way why being a "spiritual person" is better than being a non-spiritual person?
As a CNN user pointed out, we don't need religion to have culture, traditions or morality. It was culture which created religion and not the other way around as De Botton says. Religion can learn more from atheism than viceversa. Alain de Botton is deluded.
ixevil 1 day ago 2
Oh, it's easy to dismiss religion? Do you even have any idea what the choice to admit to friends, family and total strangers entails? Some have been disowned by their own parents. Ignored by friends, bullied and become victims of persecution.
Atheism 2.0? What if I don't take from other religions, but rather take inspiration from all the things religions have denied us access to through history.
Do things that are scientifically proven to work instead of trivial rituals for an unproven soul.
puttefnask 1 day ago
It’s human nature to rescue a person in a burning building; likewise, there is no distinction with a person headed toward Hell. True Mature Christians are aware of the impending dangers facing people without salvation. That said, there isn’t a single individual in Hell that doesn’t believe in God. All have had an immediate change of heart and mind, but was too late!
No one can blame God, as people simply refuse the truth while making wrong choices and by their decisions, end in Hell...very sad!
1LonePuma 2 days ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Here's an interesting fact, there isn't a single Atheist in Hell. Apparently they've had an intimidate change of heart and mind. And, all have come to understand that True Mature Christians were only trying to keep them out of Hell. We don’t hate Atheist, we love them enough to tell them the truth. Another interesting fact, God put His reality in all men’s hearts, but if a person's heart is seared, few will come to the truth about God. By the way, the wages of any sin is death.
Best regards
1LonePuma 2 days ago
the amount of red in the like bar is disturbing. this man is the fucking genius of our lifetime and we are red barring him. what the fuck humans, get your shit together.
klmblog 2 days ago
He has a terrible aspect like this, he should shave his head completely or do something about it. What a pity a young guy that lost his hair that way
emfoes 2 days ago
So De Botton wants atheists to be more like religious people. Why? I see no reason for any of that.
MomoTheBellyDancer 2 days ago
I think he said it best in the beginning - replace religion with culture. Religion is culture that was seen as a truth. Truths are personal; 1 book should never decide the morality of all men, no matter who writes it.
LPhase9 2 days ago
obviously this dude doesn't even know what atheism is, learn what it is first before try to change it
tRiShA456 2 days ago
#atheism 2.0 >>>#atheism 1.0
Which camp do you belong in?
Are you a religious #atheist1.0?
For #atheists1.0, time for a self-upgrade?
mealoffering316 2 days ago
Well, he seems to have identified what Atheism lacks, but not the why of it. Atheism is suspicious by its very nature of claims to objectively labeling anything "good" or "bad". Case in point: there is no "good" propaganda. I think de Botton is just trying to convert lax Christians. But why should someone consider becoming an atheist at all if they're not willing to do the work required in questioning themselves or the greater world? That's what agnosticism is for.
TeenageSage 2 days ago
Atheists are religious freaks! It's all about being agnostic.
ism3c 3 days ago
What a bore! Note the fancy microphone. Seems like a preacher to me except that Botton is very likely making a comfortable living sermonizing on a popular topic; the only difference is that he says nothing of any real substance or value.
Teachering 3 days ago
I think Alain de Botton would have a lot to talk about in conversation with Terry Eagleton. The two make a lot of similar points - that, for instance, in capitalistic society we've secularised in a very bourgeois manner, in a manner that effaces the humane and the human, that prides itself on being liberal and cultured, but hives off the arts and humanities to the extent that they're not profitable, or else tries to assimilate them to profitability.
dROUFrank 3 days ago
stop disliking this video D:
CineBoxStudio 3 days ago in playlist Uploaded videos
but why all these...if all these are the good things from religion...then why must atheists change and adapt to religions...instead why not ..the religious people adapt to these good things and stop brainwashing and controlling others and scaring people with hell and devils etc. and scare them and force them to obey the laws of religion and must believe in "god"
kingkonghitme 4 days ago
Comment removed
kingkonghitme 5 days ago
My God, I'm only three seconds past the TED intro and I'm already filled with an urge to punch the twat.
jaxxstraw 5 days ago 4
This just seems like a religious person admitting that his myths are wrong but still wanting his myths to be right. The whole "We need spiritualism and rituals!" line gives it away. Are we facing a future of guys like this if we manage to convert the majority of humans? Why does he even need all the dressings if the core is wrong?
NiteSaiya 5 days ago
Yes, atheists can learn a lot from religion: how to avoid paying tax; how to gain undeserved privilege; how to talk bollocks; homophobia; misogyny, etc., etc.
MarkEmbletonVideo 5 days ago 10
so what you're saying is that we should learn our art, english and social studies in the same way we learn our catechism?
geekgroupie42 6 days ago
"only just holding it together"
Its nice to know Im not alone there.
AnaLoGMunKy 1 week ago
Don't you hate it when your childhood hero goes from captaining the starship voyager to making atheism dogmatic?
ProDegiaque 1 week ago
@ProDegiaque i know right atheist that think them self intelligent becuase they're atheist create that false dichotomy im a non believer and it drives me up the wall with with this dogamtic atheism that poeple try to push which makes no sence
zdtmlp 6 days ago
Just as the moderates in religious circles give indirect support to religious extremists, I am afraid this type of capitulation to organized religion will give indirect support to religion's delusional beliefs.
They have had thousands of years to hone their organization (and control) skills along with the "god" meme to create what they have using the meme "momentum" to carry them forward. But with knowledge and thought I believe that it will die down to a fizzle.
djkoch65 1 week ago
@djkoch65 Yeah you're right, I prefer the Super Saiyans are Real meme to the God meme any day.
knightcaptaincullen 6 days ago
Comment removed
knightcaptaincullen 6 days ago
Life will always be messy. No philossify has cured that. Morality existed long before organized religion. I don't like the brain washing that religion brings to the table. I'm done with it.
flubno 1 week ago
i wana say majority of this is bullshit theres some good but mainly bullshit
zdtmlp 1 week ago 5
@zdtmlp i'm sorry, but i have to state that, if you find this mainly "bullshit" what's your arguments ? i mainly think you weren't very attentive when you watched this.
AlirezaBehzadnia 1 week ago
@AlirezaBehzadnia bullshit may have been lil to strong and i understand what hes presenting but atheism is not by definition an ideal its marly a statement an what he was refering to is more humanism and i feel in schools that facts need to be put first before some wishy washy what dose it all mean thats for class for the humanities which is importent but shouldnt take president over the facts and i know that the schools need a clean up and more hands on with the childern
zdtmlp 1 week ago
@AlirezaBehzadnia and i admite i was abit rash
zdtmlp 1 week ago
@AlirezaBehzadnia n the morality bit poeple have constructed morality which is beneficial to are survival i feel it a shame to say religious indoctrination is what gave us somthin we already had you dont see other apes going to clargy its innate to be good for the beneifit of us an others and i find somthing thats been evolutionary beneficial to us. long befor the birth of myths an delusion and giving the credit to myth and delusion to be belittlement of the importence of orgin of our morality
zdtmlp 1 week ago
Uncle Tom de Botton.
GodPatrol 1 week ago
We in islam we don't get bored listening to the same verses for weeks!
Indeed The Holy Quraan contains the things we seek to know in this life,
it is intrepreting all of whats happening in the real life..
Evidence, each friday, Muslims are advised to read Surat AlKahf
each time we read it, we feel we wanna repeat it, because it discuss 4 major things we face
in life...
And pls no that, with Islam there are no mystry... all explained in Holy Quraan...
abedabudayyeh1 1 week ago
@abedabudayyeh1 you should realize that, what atheists are debating, is the root of religion. which says everything is created by god. we reject that, because we don't like to believe is superpowers. nevertheless you have a point there, as he explained, we admire the way religions work, but not what they work for. an example would be a computer, it works great, but if it was built to deliver us wrong info, its well utilized.
AlirezaBehzadnia 1 week ago
Religion works by constructing a strict and stern dogma. I don't want atheists or atheism to turn into a dogma of mindless worship and following dogma where our brains are emotionally hijacked.
And propaganda is blind. Who gets to decide what is good propaganda vs. bad?
robobrain10000 1 week ago
I don't agree that religion is useful in anyway ....
Alibm80 1 week ago 3
@Alibm80 it teaches us morality. without it, we would've taken more years to get here. i don't believe in god either, but religious-like philosophies such as "Buddhism" which i highly recommend, bridges the secular world and the religious world. its the fine line between, being a christian and being an atheist.
AlirezaBehzadnia 1 week ago
@AlirezaBehzadnia Buddhism is a religion, not a philosophy. There may not be a God in it, but being an adherent requires accepting supernatural forces. You're getting confused with the cultural/philosophical traditions of Eastern countries. Also, you have zero evidence that morality would have developed differently without religion, and there's no point in even speculating about this.
TeenageSage 2 days ago
Comment removed
Nameless1324 1 week ago
Don't make atheism as a cult! It would be equally as bad as organized religion. Alain de Botton, you gave a terrible presentation and you were jeopardizing atheist rational cause.
goldmonkey77 1 week ago
I think he is missing the point of art, I completely disagree. It should be an end in itself. Otherwise, it isn't art, it's decoration, or like he said himself - propaganda. In previous times it did serve a different purpose but that was a time when cameras, video, radio, etc could not serve that purpose better, and art has evolved into something new, more organic, respected and personal to the artist, and he disregards that... though I do agree that it is very important to look at the moon.
divinati0n 1 week ago
Sounds like he is opening a door and paving a way towards future "religions". His argument to pick bits from religion is a weak half baked attempt to mollycoddle the religious. "Leave the songs and the buildings and copy how religions treat art and love and music ,BAH! That's exactly how we have arrived at this amphibologistic state of religious manipulation and parasitic symbiosis . Thats how religions develop!!! Scheduled propitiations to that moon? Non-Sense!
mattmoore111 1 week ago
So this guy is arguying about atheistic religion... Oh wait, this is buddhism! ;)
vsenderov 2 weeks ago 2
Most of the things encountered in religion are simple ideas such as humility. Secular world doesn't teach humility.
d3r2000 2 weeks ago
@d3r2000 You must be talking about the type of religious humility that teaches us they we are so special that a god created an entire universe for just us and that it listens to us all the time so it can test and reward us constantly, right up to the point of death. Then we get to spend eternity with it smiling at us.
messianicrogue 2 weeks ago
@d3r2000 If learning about the impossibly tiny place you occupy in the infinite expanse of the universe is not enough a lesson in humility for you, then your narcissism knows no bounds.
medicpaige 2 weeks ago
This form of athiesm is more of a new renaissance in Christianity really.
d3r2000 2 weeks ago 10
@d3r2000 Or an equivocation of agnosticism.
TeenageSage 2 days ago
I personally think all the various issues relating to religion are themselves issues which should be highlighted. As for dieities or a single god by definition are intangible so they can't be compared with a tangible entity such as fairies, etc.
d3r2000 2 weeks ago
Don't forget the Agnostics
d3r2000 2 weeks ago
About the only thing I've ever missed from religion is singing hymns as a group and fellowship. Unfortunately fellowship can only exist as long as one believes as the rest of the people, if one's beliefs do NOT match, then one no longer feels a sense of belonging, nor fellowship with one another. Nothing replaces these things outside of church, but I would not put up with the rest of church to get those 2 pleasures. Thanks for such a reasonable rational talk.
gmj2012 2 weeks ago
Some of the atheist comments on here are ridiculous. There may be problems with de Botton's approach but why would you be opposed to moving the successful elements of religions and applying them to helping humanity without the superstition? There are reasons why religions have been so successful in the past, and while we may and should move beyond the myths involved, ritual, community, humility and grandeur are all perfectly healthy elements to include in secular society.
sherwos 2 weeks ago
@sherwos
" while we may and should move beyond the myths involved, ritual, community, humility and grandeur are all perfectly healthy elements to include in secular society."
I don't see how any of those elements are missing..
mindwis3 2 weeks ago
@mindwis3 They exist but very often independent of each other. You have to go to different sources to find them.
sherwos 2 weeks ago
Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; they poison Rivers and skies; thistles are their cash crop. God sticks his head out of heaven. He looks around. He's looking for someone not stupid-one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman. He comes up empty. A string of zeros. Useless, unshepherded Sheep, taking turns pretending to be Shepherd. The ninety and nine follow their fellow. Don't they know anything, all these impostors?
nawonder 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@nawonder
Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is real, and these are his commands." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air. A Goddess comes down from heaven. She looks around for someone, for at least one rational sane person, just one rational person that she can chat with. She comes up empty. A string of zeros. Useless sheep, taking turns pretending to know a shepherd. Are there any self-reliant people who refuse to bow down to others, and who are capable of guiding themselves?
VectorMatt 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@nawonder
"Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; they poison Rivers and skies"
right, ironically it's the "non-believers" who are generally more environmentally aware, whereas many believers with their "take no heed for tomorrow", "judgement day" and "kingdom come" mindset who don't "need to" care... the lobby denying Global Warming is largely a religious one.
Wake Up !
mindwis3 2 weeks ago
To boil down John Wesley's ministry to 'travelling up and down the country telling people how to live' is both ignorant, narrow, and offensive. John Wesley would balk at the thought that that was what we have taken away from his ministry. His dedication was to the gospel first and foremost...it's intellectually dishonest to try and say otherwise.
masteroftheobvious86 2 weeks ago
Fidem scit.
WrongTimeline 2 weeks ago
It seems to me that those who responded to this so angrily are in dire need of a moral framework to live by. Whether you are all believers or non believers, your anger makes it clear that whatever it is that you believe, it is not working for you. Can there be a dialogue without the anger? In fact, I think that may have been his point......
413michel 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@413michel
" Can there be a dialogue without the anger? In fact, I think that may have been his point......"
Really ? then what is he referring to either Atheism or Religion for? Clearly neither
No, i think Hitchen's is more honest and correct by stating our Frontal Lobes are too small and our adrenaline glands are too large.
Neither Atheism nor Religion can change that.
Kr,
mindwis3 2 weeks ago
God is real.
TehBurchhh 2 weeks ago
@TehBurchhh
God IS real.
All Gods are or have been real. .
They are real in people's heads.
TheBCMilnov 2 weeks ago
@TheBCMilnov That's a strange definition of real.
fastballers 2 weeks ago
This guys idea is so daft. I cant take anymore of this stupidity!
Pause at 2:21 and look at the Woman...
Her face says: "What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Vids4Dinner 2 weeks ago
Nihilism is better.
JesuisChristie 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I'm an atheist and this made a lot of sense. His aim is NOT for a formal conspiracy. He's reminding us that celebrating culture, free from ancient dogma, against the Religious monopoly on the numinous is worth pursuing. In the marketplace of ideas you might compete with religion at its own game by selling a better product, that being a reality more articulate, insightful and profound than any scripture. Sounds alright to me.
rhatcher010 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
rhatcher010 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
rhatcher010 2 weeks ago
Some of these points are valid but they have nothing to do with faith, just some of the techniques religions employ. Of course we can learn from them but there is no need for Atheism 2.0. Really he's just talking about anthropology.
deadlyrhythm 2 weeks ago 20
@deadlyrhythm I agree with you :) I cant stop watching Alain de Botton speaches .... i disagree with quite a large part of his ideas, but he really is a fascinating speaker :)
ElleFr0st 2 weeks ago
@deadlyrhythm really? what point(s) Botton presented here was(were) valid? what can we learn from religion? I agree with you on that there is no need for atheist 2.0.
goldmonkey77 5 days ago
"There are many gaps in secular life" - he says that because we do not believe, we therefore do not have community or morality (17min mark). What an outrageous and incorrect statement. Of course there can be community and morality in the lives of atheists - they just do not have to be centered around religious values. Community centers, charities and even book clubs all provide community and offer a sense of morality in helping others, and studying works of art and culture.
seanmultisean 2 weeks ago in playlist Uploaded videos
@seanmultisean I am also sick of defining atheists as those who have a non belief, as if there is something lacking in that person's life. If everyone collected stamps, except for a handful, we would not view those people that don't as lacking something in their lives. We don't view them as missing an important part of life, unless we frame everyone in that sense. Atheists should not be framed in the same way as religious people. They believe. Mostly, atheists don't concern themselves with it.
seanmultisean 2 weeks ago in playlist Uploaded videos
I won't be Polite to Bible thumping child molesters. Religion doesn't have anything exclusive that secularism can't offer.
ChristopherLuck 2 weeks ago in playlist Liked videos
Mighty interesting! Atheist should be able to do better since religions are successful at selling fiction. 17:00 That sound like miracle. If we come together include religions then miracle can happen. We are human being and we can't see beyond the corners or liar's loan is bad or house is not going to appreciate 15% every 3 month forever. But sometime when we do something for a while and it can be like Facebook, all of a sudden we have world peace.
CaptainAthiest 2 weeks ago
Atheism 0.5
adjohnson916 2 weeks ago
2:37. "best side of religion". What a nonsense! Religion is corrosive to science and humanity. There are militant/stand-up atheists and atheists in closet. The so-called atheism 2.0 is only for those coward non believers who still want to show how smart they are. Militant atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and PZ Myers are real heroes we need to make our world better.
goldmonkey77 2 weeks ago
What a FUCKING IDIOT! Perfect, leave or never join religion just to mimic them? Are you fucking kidding me?! This is not Atheism 2.0 and for you to call it that sets those who claim the label BACKWARDS. Atheism already has a fucking definition. We don't need this bullshit to base our morality from, to infect our education system or to infect our political system. Religion is already guilty of those crimes!
Ever hear of LaVeyan Satanism? That sounds closer to your plan. Fuck that and fuck you!
AdamShumpisxXx 2 weeks ago
I agree and love his ideas, but how do we implement them in universities, colleges, gymnasiums, clinics and workshops?
estuchedepeluche 2 weeks ago
Make sense. The ideas behind religion are dubious - but the teaching & celebration of them are worthy of study and imitation.
I don't think it serves atheists well to be defensive and dismissive in response to this talk.
Levethian7 2 weeks ago
I'd opt for Sam Harris' solution of the Moral Landscape any time over this eclectic stuff.
carlitoergosum 3 weeks ago
He tried to link christmas carols with christianity? Do your homework TED.
kennethherrick 3 weeks ago
i haven't spent countless years of my life fighting for logic to say oh ok atheism is also a religion.
what a cunt
bitch
rozic 3 weeks ago
He's talking about Dawkins and Hitchens at the start but he clearly doesn't know what they're really about because both of them are already on Atheism 2.0.
MusicStudyMan 3 weeks ago
I liked his talk. It was really sensible, and did attempt to bridge the gap with a synergistic approach. I'm an Atheist, I been freed from religion, and do think that there are wonderful things about it worth keeping.
dizzitoast 3 weeks ago
Hey Alain!
I'm already practicing your «Religion» as an Atheist, but without having to steal or borrow from any religion : it's called «common sense» and empathy, and you do not need any PHD to think about that or act that way.
HalfFullYeah 3 weeks ago in playlist Uploaded videos
Youtube comments about theology upset me.
imhallowarren 3 weeks ago 7
If Atheism is a religion, then I am not only an atheist, I am a non-stamp collector, a non-football fan, non-country music listener, a non-vegetarian, a non-watcher of jersey-shore, I own a non-cat and I have a non-vagina.
nightmathzombieethan 3 weeks ago
I'm from the UK, and my religion is Jedi. -_-
superhamzah85 3 weeks ago 2
Yea, thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not quite done with the "old" way of being an atheist. Next!
fdasherv 3 weeks ago
No,no, no!!
dave474c 3 weeks ago
Cut off from morality by being an atheist? Has he lost his mind? As long as religion is still a threat to humanity it is still too early for his atheism 2.0. At this moment we are in a war of survival against the destructive forces of the religion!
boomtao 3 weeks ago 7
@boomtao Actually the typical 'go to' argument by the theological is that of "where do you get your reference of morality ?" He presented his argument that could easily be understood by both parties and not catering to one side as much as you would like. It is something that is such an amazingly simple concept, but you will over look. Look in history, look at the times now. When people and ideas are under suppression, is when they can grow the most. Just politely disagree and move on.
resuort 2 weeks ago
Yes, yes, yes!!
imperialflagship 3 weeks ago
I don't need ritual or transcendence, or mystical bullshit generally. For connection, I have friends. To remain in touch with what I know, I have routine review. And please, we know how repressive institutions can be, spare us some new, contrived, pitiful institution.
No, no, no.
NevilleRhysBarnes 3 weeks ago 10
@NevilleRhysBarnes
I know what you mean, I was a youngling on Coruscant and there was a huge coverup after the allegations of Yoda's 'private' sessions with some of the students - to this day, he hasn't gone on trial.
superhamzah85 3 weeks ago 2
All I know is that I've never had an Atheist at my door Bothering me about their beliefs.
Why can't religious nut-jobs understand that if I want or need something I will search and find it, and that goes for a new pair of shoes or for religion.
Worse than nuisance telesales in my opinion. Pious bunch of pr*k$
Rant over.
myz1 3 weeks ago 3
Have you ever listened to a "lecture" by Martin Seligman? Not just a transfer of information.
m0rg4nd 3 weeks ago
He is pandering to the deep human need for something greater disguising it as a system. Humans are theotropic because our ancestors evolved and survived with religion. Our atheist ancestors died alone so now we are stuck with the desire for something to look up to in the same way we need to breed, communicate and make each other feel better with neo communist ideas like this.
Rikshore 3 weeks ago
This guy is a monster.
Frey12 3 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Frey12 "This guy is a monster."
This guy is brilliant!
AThagoras 3 weeks ago
How's this different from a perennial philosophy or general mysticism?
BOYinc 3 weeks ago 2
I've never disliked religion more. Thanks for listing all the ways it's bad?
Pluvialis 3 weeks ago
This was so bad…
gabrieleprotopapa 3 weeks ago
There is no need to rebrand yourselves if you take the message to heart. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to glean wisdom from this or that. I have been doing this just on my own, before coming upon this video or even finding many others who would agree. He is correct to say atheism is just the beginning--it's an axiom, a truth we atheists find to be self-evident. But there is so much more potential beyond a mere starting point!
I suggest Joseph Campbell to those looking to grow. :)
quasiverse 3 weeks ago
LOL, THIS IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS I'VE EVER HEARD!
How about we don't worship anything, don't interact as athiests, and just continue not believing in anything other than our own abilities to know right from wrong, how to treat other people as we would like to be treated, and try to not use all of the scarce resources that we really need to share with others...
MurphysLaww 3 weeks ago
@MurphysLaww But do you believe that everyone knows how to, or a better yet, is willing to do all those things? I don't think the majority of the "Western" world does.
Sasataf 3 weeks ago
Alain de Botton has recently raised half the money for a £1million temple for atheists... in London.
It's not going to be all that great if they only have a million. Plus it's something I'm not even sure our community either wants or needs.
piprod01 3 weeks ago
Fuck this
mattryanshade 3 weeks ago
De Botton is trying to flog one of his new books...Probably the Atheist Bible, or some such shite...He's a well known as an intellectual lightweight, and writes the most god-awful drivel.
rogan71 3 weeks ago
Can anyone tell me, what zen buddhist festival he is referring to?
sbkingy 4 weeks ago
who thought giving du botton the mike was a good idea? hmm? Come on, we all make mistakes, confess and repent.
smokingnome 4 weeks ago
If the worst thing people can say about Mr. de Botton's proposal is that people will say it's a godless religion, is that really so bad? What is religion but philosophy delivered with flair? He isn't suggesting oppressing outsiders, and any missionary work, so to e-speak, would be through cogent arguments, not bullying or guilt trips. Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
marasu66 4 weeks ago
he had my attention until he started talking about history in overtly vague terms in brevity, then tried to move on as if his position was uncontroversial.... sorry, thumbs down.. This is an entirely subjective argument.. i don't like it.
PaGaNM0nK 4 weeks ago
Just what we needed: to prove the religious when they say atheism is a religion.
You know what happens when you shoot fish in a barrel? YOU GET MORE FREAKIN' FISH!
This is nothing more than the old atheism trying re-pakage itself after years, upon years, of being the most hated group known and they couldn't understand why because they were "so nice".
Now religions' on the decline, our books are best sellers & we dominate social media - by being proud of who we are.
Stuff this tripe.
YOURINQUIRER 4 weeks ago 13
@YOURINQUIRER So what lovely faith are you apart of? You sound like a typical satanic dofus.
rorschach602 3 weeks ago
@rorschach602 Thank you for proving my point for me. :-)
YOURINQUIRER 3 weeks ago
@YOURINQUIRER It's like you didn't even watch the video.
3xamine 3 weeks ago
@3xamine Of course...and I quoted from it by revelation from God!
YOURINQUIRER 3 weeks ago
@YOURINQUIRER Atheism is not a religion. Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods. Do atheists, by definition believe in and worship a superhuman controlling power? No. therefore is atheism a religion? No.
06stephend 3 weeks ago in playlist More videos from TEDtalksDirector
@YOURINQUIRER and there you are acting like a man of religion in your atheism, perfectly proving the point
ResponsibleSnowflake 3 weeks ago
@ResponsibleSnowflake Except I did nothing of the sort. By your definition, any disagreement I have with you, you can define to your benefit as "religious". While that might seem helpful to you, it has no relationship to reality whatsoever. Nice try though.
YOURINQUIRER 2 weeks ago
@YOURINQUIRER Okay maybe, I just feel that ultimately your reaction was an emotional one that failed to see the positive aspects of Alains speech. He's just offering a form of Atheism that isn't militant... For me Atheism is "not god" rather than "against god" and we can hardly be defined as "us" against "them". I live in secular society and come from a sec home. Maybe this has had an impact? My distinguishing recognition of people is: Empathy or no, compassion or no, real or not?
ResponsibleSnowflake 2 weeks ago
@ResponsibleSnowflake One positive aspect does not negate negative ones, especially when it is the central premise of his argument.
The description 'militant' is laughable. The form of atheism he advocates is a return to the older form which was disasterous for atheists. It defined us as people who forced on the culture atheism though the courts rather than what we are now which is a vibrant movement within the culture.
Why return to failure?
YOURINQUIRER 2 weeks ago
@YOURINQUIRER Why believe in a cruel omnipotent who wants to be worshiped? Religion is bogus, when believing in life and the beauty of faith, religion is just a story which tries to indoctrinate people into black and white thinking. Its unnecessary. Philosophy is everything. To be able to rationalize about what is true or accept others opinion is what creates progress, not reading in an ancient book which is nevertheless incredibly ignorant. Religion belongs in the past, we don't need idiocy.
phlegmize 3 weeks ago
@YOURINQUIRER I think you missed the point. I am pretty sure the intent of making a "religion for atheists" was more of a calling to make atheism a more solid philosophy. Using the tools that religion has used, and giving people what they inherently desire. As silly as it is to believe in fairies, and ghost and the like, it is just as silly to dismiss the function of those tales. I mean if you want to be adults about it, stop belittling some one because of what they believe.Respect goes bothways
resuort 2 weeks ago
@resuort "As silly as it is to believe in fairies, and ghost and the like, it is just as silly to dismiss the function of those tales."
What is the function of those tales anyway? To have humans spend vast amounts of time chasing imaginary beings?
"I mean if you want to be adults about it, stop belittling some one because of what they believe.Respect goes bothways"
Respect is earned by demonstrating that you have something of value to others, not by entertaining delusions.
Gnomefro 2 weeks ago
@resuort In fact, if you actually care about other people, you will inform them when they are mistaken. When their delusions are such that only ridicule can do the job, as is often the case with religions, then you ridicule them. They'll feel better afterwards.
Gnomefro 2 weeks ago
@resuort Atheism is not a philosophy, it's the absence in a belief in a god or gods. If you are looking to make atheists more well grounded in philosophy, how would you possibly do that by making them more open to irrational practices?
We tried this already. It failed, failed, failed. It was a failure. We've been more respectful than even the religious were to us & it didn't matter. They still despise us. They will always despise us or just be friendly with us in the hope of converting us.
YOURINQUIRER 2 weeks ago
I'd take almost any excuse to assemble publicly for times a private house gathering does not feel like enough, and to do so on a frequent, regular basis as a catchall for different people and their differing life-events. We can celebrate or mourn together or otherwise support each other, or simply mingle.
marasu66 4 weeks ago
14:55 "look at how religions are spreading ideas" No they try to impose it on you. They don't try to convince or to make your understand (convince and understand require proofs which must be found in reality not in faith)
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
@maximemeis111 Umm, it sounds like you've missed the entire point of this talk...
Sasataf 4 weeks ago
@Sasataf Well this talk is about what can atheist take from religion? Nothing is my answer. Taking their ways of spreading ideas is a really bad thing to do as they say "you have to believe it". They don't want to convince, they want to force their ideas. Thet make groups and so ne? Well it was not a chrisitian invention.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
@maximemeis111 Ah, but you can't deny that the methods used by religious institutions to spread their beliefs and doctrines are very effective. So if we used those same methodologies to spread other non-religious ideas, then would you say the ends justifies the means? For example, spreading the "idea" on how to budget your spending, or what a balanced diet consists of?
Sasataf 3 weeks ago
@Sasataf No! for fuck sake! to win a gamble it's safer not to bet. Atheism is 'not' playing the game or answering loaded questions. Atheism is knowing the choice.
breaneainn 3 weeks ago
@Sasataf Writing a book and saying "it is the truth, believe it or you'll perish in hell" is an immoral way to spread ideas. Any atheist sprending his ideas like that, trying to blindly inpose rather than proove, trying to force rather than convince, has no more value to me than any believer in any religion doing the same.
maximemeis111 3 weeks ago
@maximemeis111 Therefore, you have totally missed the point of this talk. Alain is focusing on the methods religions use to distribute their ideas...you are still focusing on the idea itself.
To take your example, the "method" of distribution is the book. The "idea" that is being distributed is "it is the truth, believe it or you'll perish in hell".
Sasataf 3 weeks ago
@Sasataf ok I see the point now
maximemeis111 3 weeks ago
@maximemeis111 I would make a point though. I'm really not for going to people's house on Sundays and tell them "here is what you think", like some christians do. I don't see any problem arguing with other people on video, comment, article,... they post, but going to people's house and saying "hey this is what we think and why we think that" doesn't seem the good thing to do for me. It's just an example.
maximemeis111 3 weeks ago
13:42 not fighting for the mind but against it. Rejection of reason and logic for faith is a destruction of man's mind.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
8:46 "what you'll say will need to be back up by really convincing ways of saying it" True for religion. Untrue otherwise. What you say must be backed up by facts.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
7:15 calendars were created by men's mind. All the calculs required did not come from religion but from reason
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
4:5à "we are rational adults" Therefore, based on reality, based on the evidence of the senses you must be able to use logic to come to conclusions, not wait for other to tell you what to think.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
4:00 Morality does not come from society but from reality.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
@maximemeis111 You want to develop that thought?
dashiellv 4 weeks ago
@dashiellv The first question one musk ask is"Why do I need ethics?" The second is "then what in reality gives rise to ethics?" The answer two the second is that man has free-will, the possibility to make choices. The answer to the first is man has no automatic code of actions and he must learn his way to survive and reach happiness. Therefore he must learn the values it requires based on its nature, based on reality. A code of value accepted by choice for that purpose becomes a code ot morality
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
3:55 for guidance, they must find guidance by themselves, by reasoning on the nature of reality. They must ask themselves: why would I need a code of value? They need a code of value based on reality to survive and to be reach happiness. A code of value choosen becomes a code of morality.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
3:50 morality is to be found in reality, not in religion. Who can honestly say that christian morality is moral? God tells Abraham "kill your son" and the goood becomes to kill him and than he show up and says "by the ways I was kidding" and the good is not killing him any longer.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
2:00 if you think that an old church looks good, you are enjoying men's creativity and hability to build that building. Doesn't mean that you are attracted to religion.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
1:00 yeah he's right, it's to easy. Religion's purposed is to distroy what makes a human being human. It aims at destroying, evidence, reason, reality, logic,... (faith is a rejection of those values) Man's nature requires him to find his values to live and be happy. Christianity is based on destroying life. It teaches not to seek your good, not to enjoy your life. It's actually a sin against the nature of reality.
maximemeis111 4 weeks ago
Set up a strawman, burn it down. Rinse, repeat.
mumdangerous 4 weeks ago
There is no god,now lets act like those who believe there is.No,that is not going to work,unless your aim is to covertly turn atheism in to a religion which negates atheism.
h8red42 4 weeks ago
According to Botton, propaganda can be good if used for the right reasons. So when exactly, is biased or misleading information used for the right reasons?
XPMBblues 4 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I believe you have the right to your opinion, but please watch this entire video and let me know what you thingk....thank you very much....Utube 58:10
Creation and Miracles, Past and Present (
ellasgodmother 4 weeks ago
Its horrible that TED even allowed this. This guy is brutal
TheJasonreti 4 weeks ago