I find it most amusing that very few of you are able to actually argue intelligently with Vmiba. It's almost like you take your belief purely on "faith."
And there's no faith to atheism. It's a lack of belief in a deity, hence "a-theism." It's entirely reasonable to ask for extraordinary proof for an extraordinary claim. And none exists, so....
...your point of atheism being on the rise. Its an interesting concept and if you look at history, it comes and goes in waves - so just because its on the rise now means very little to me. Again, a colorful example is provided by the former Soviet Union - after the fall, all of the sudden you had millions of people who were professed atheists all of a sudden becoming Christian - we can argue their genuinenesses, but it still makes the point.
1. By admitting to waves rather than a static equilibrium, you've conceeded that people can be convinced. Hence, our purpose here. Further, the waves are growing. Much of Europe is Atheistic, and unprecendented numbers here as well.
2. Hitchens' point is Communists are deists - they worship Stalin and Mao. There's a closer connection between Christianity and Hitler, who followed Martin Luther to the tee. Atheism is merely lack of belief, not the dogma you may wish it to be.
Anyway, I am really not worried about you not being able to convince the "dumb" people into atheism. But that's also kind of ironic, because it should be the dumb people who are most gullible and hence, the most easiest to convince...
Anyways, smart people can discard bad ideas and learn new good ones. Dumb people can also be convinced of bad ideas. You have to judge the idea itself. You can't just say people are gullible for taking on new ideas.
We are saying here that Atheism is a very good idea.
Um, maybe it's because religious thinking facilitates war, creates injustice, slows down science, ruins human sexuality, fuels prejudice, and is highly correlated with societal dysfunction in general. Google "religion societal dysfunction."
Besides that, religion is complete bullshit, and mightiest scam in history. Does that answer your question?
No it doesn't answer my question. So tell me, if religion facilitates war, why did the atheistic Soviet Union killed 20 million people in the name of "progress"? Could it be that simply people don't need religion or anything else to cause harm to other people? Now, the fact that there are people who in the name of God do evil thing...well, as I pointed out, you don't need Christianity to do evil things - so even with my imperfect logic it would seem that Christianity is not the cause of it.
ok, but not in the name of a god. How many were killed under its name? waaaay more people. And The killings in USSR were not because they didn't have a god to "guide" them to the good path.
It's a good discussion ... as you are aware now, I am a Christian and contrary to atheistic beliefs, I do enjoy an open minded discussion with people with whom I disagree. So to that point, I'm not sure I agree with you that more people were hurt in the name of God than not. Especially if you only look in the past 100 years, which is the easiest for us to analyze - i.e China, USSR, Germany.
... so as I stated before, it appears that the cause of evil and harm comes from somewhere outside of religion or even social structure. So the question that we need to ask ourselves, what is the root cause of all the evil that you and I despise... This will be my last post to this discussion - it was nice to interact with all of you.
If atheists are so logic and reason driven, why are you so obsessed with Christians? It defies logic that you would spend your time trying to convince people of things that they cannot be convinced of? Why not spend your time on things that would really have a good impact on you and on the society at large? Do you know what those things would be? Seriously.
The shallowness of your joke really speaks to your intellectual capacity - which may explain your atheism as well.
Yeah, it takes a real 'intellectual' to believe that a big GUY is the center of the universe.
What do you know about logic? How do you characterize a "good impact" on someone else or on "society at large"? Only through your moral judgements, which are based on the idiotic assertion that God wrote a book. Get the fuck real.
Wow, your ability to argue and create an intelligent response just sweeps me of my feet. As an atheist, how much time have you devoted to studying Christianity? How much have you studied the Bible without the aid of other atheists? If you haven't, then how can you expect to have an intelligent conversation with Christians?
...And still, in your response you haven't answered my first question - why are atheists obsessed with what they believe is a fairy tale? Why does it bother you so much?
Hey, I'm responding to your blog more than your video here. You say Christians becoming atheist happens much more often than the other way around. I wonder if you've seen data on this. I'm not saying it's not true, I'd just like to see proof... you know... me being a skeptic and all.
This is hilarious? I'm usually considered to have a fine sense of humor. And yet...somehow, claiming to have found deeper meaning to life and a claim to eternal life doesn't seem all that funny to me. If Billy Graham claimed to be an atheist for a day, not sure who would be exactly busting a gut. I guess if your life doesn't have much purpose, it gives you something to do.
Next April 1 you might want to try another art form to express your humor- you could paint The Lord's Supper or ???
it doesn't matter. so yeah it's funny. the dif would be that Billy's people are more needy then those who would find this funny. actually it's not that funny, but still it doesn't matter.
Christians fall for stuff like this, because they have an absurdist worldview in which belief trumps reason. It's much the same reason that Kent Hovind (and ONLY Kent Hovind) fell for that dinosaur and man fossil prank a number of years back.
Atheists catch onto pranks like this, because they actually pay attention to things that defy science, logic, and reason. On the other hand, fervent born again Christians, who already believe the absurd, are naturally not as tuned to obvious absurdity.
As for Anthony Flew and his "conversion" - this is an example of the fraud of Christians: he came to a kind of deism, possibly a panentheistic point of view, not Jesus-loves-me-yes-I-know Christianity, as evangelicals love to claim.
great vid hoss....I love the tune too...and huge Kris fan....you're damn good
jballard459 3 years ago
Well Sam harris was right, the conversation is taking place. A lot of it is on YouTube but it's happening.
GBart 3 years ago
I find it most amusing that very few of you are able to actually argue intelligently with Vmiba. It's almost like you take your belief purely on "faith."
remf3 3 years ago
Oh, I think I put him away.
And there's no faith to atheism. It's a lack of belief in a deity, hence "a-theism." It's entirely reasonable to ask for extraordinary proof for an extraordinary claim. And none exists, so....
atheistavenger417 3 years ago
Oh and by the way? Atheism is on the rise, even in the USA.
We are convincing people. Just not the dumb ones... so you have nothing to worry about.
atheistavenger417 3 years ago 4
...your point of atheism being on the rise. Its an interesting concept and if you look at history, it comes and goes in waves - so just because its on the rise now means very little to me. Again, a colorful example is provided by the former Soviet Union - after the fall, all of the sudden you had millions of people who were professed atheists all of a sudden becoming Christian - we can argue their genuinenesses, but it still makes the point.
vmiba 3 years ago
1. By admitting to waves rather than a static equilibrium, you've conceeded that people can be convinced. Hence, our purpose here. Further, the waves are growing. Much of Europe is Atheistic, and unprecendented numbers here as well.
2. Hitchens' point is Communists are deists - they worship Stalin and Mao. There's a closer connection between Christianity and Hitler, who followed Martin Luther to the tee. Atheism is merely lack of belief, not the dogma you may wish it to be.
atheistavenger417 3 years ago
Anyway, I am really not worried about you not being able to convince the "dumb" people into atheism. But that's also kind of ironic, because it should be the dumb people who are most gullible and hence, the most easiest to convince...
vmiba 3 years ago
"Most easiest?"
Talk about ironic.
Anyways, smart people can discard bad ideas and learn new good ones. Dumb people can also be convinced of bad ideas. You have to judge the idea itself. You can't just say people are gullible for taking on new ideas.
We are saying here that Atheism is a very good idea.
atheistavenger417 3 years ago
Um, maybe it's because religious thinking facilitates war, creates injustice, slows down science, ruins human sexuality, fuels prejudice, and is highly correlated with societal dysfunction in general. Google "religion societal dysfunction."
Besides that, religion is complete bullshit, and mightiest scam in history. Does that answer your question?
atheistavenger417 3 years ago 3
No it doesn't answer my question. So tell me, if religion facilitates war, why did the atheistic Soviet Union killed 20 million people in the name of "progress"? Could it be that simply people don't need religion or anything else to cause harm to other people? Now, the fact that there are people who in the name of God do evil thing...well, as I pointed out, you don't need Christianity to do evil things - so even with my imperfect logic it would seem that Christianity is not the cause of it.
vmiba 3 years ago
ok, but not in the name of a god. How many were killed under its name? waaaay more people. And The killings in USSR were not because they didn't have a god to "guide" them to the good path.
arielwollinger 3 years ago
It's a good discussion ... as you are aware now, I am a Christian and contrary to atheistic beliefs, I do enjoy an open minded discussion with people with whom I disagree. So to that point, I'm not sure I agree with you that more people were hurt in the name of God than not. Especially if you only look in the past 100 years, which is the easiest for us to analyze - i.e China, USSR, Germany.
vmiba 3 years ago
... so as I stated before, it appears that the cause of evil and harm comes from somewhere outside of religion or even social structure. So the question that we need to ask ourselves, what is the root cause of all the evil that you and I despise... This will be my last post to this discussion - it was nice to interact with all of you.
vmiba 3 years ago
The root cause of evil is irrational thinking. Thanks for playing.
atheistavenger417 3 years ago
If atheists are so logic and reason driven, why are you so obsessed with Christians? It defies logic that you would spend your time trying to convince people of things that they cannot be convinced of? Why not spend your time on things that would really have a good impact on you and on the society at large? Do you know what those things would be? Seriously.
The shallowness of your joke really speaks to your intellectual capacity - which may explain your atheism as well.
vmiba 3 years ago
Yeah, it takes a real 'intellectual' to believe that a big GUY is the center of the universe.
What do you know about logic? How do you characterize a "good impact" on someone else or on "society at large"? Only through your moral judgements, which are based on the idiotic assertion that God wrote a book. Get the fuck real.
Dumbass apes.
c13853211 3 years ago
That was directed @ vimba, btw... should have posted below his comment, since I clicked the Reply next to it...
c13853211 3 years ago
Wow, your ability to argue and create an intelligent response just sweeps me of my feet. As an atheist, how much time have you devoted to studying Christianity? How much have you studied the Bible without the aid of other atheists? If you haven't, then how can you expect to have an intelligent conversation with Christians?
...And still, in your response you haven't answered my first question - why are atheists obsessed with what they believe is a fairy tale? Why does it bother you so much?
vmiba 3 years ago
we want to really make the world a better place by enlightening people with the gift of reason.
arielwollinger 3 years ago
lol you're such a bastard lol. i never wanted to be an atheist. i've traded happiness for logic.
Qwaarf 3 years ago
Hey, I'm responding to your blog more than your video here. You say Christians becoming atheist happens much more often than the other way around. I wonder if you've seen data on this. I'm not saying it's not true, I'd just like to see proof... you know... me being a skeptic and all.
ludwigdergott 3 years ago
Excellent! Give 'em a taste of their own medicine. "The God Who Wasn't There" was astounding, sir. Thank you for your efforts.
DannySCee 3 years ago
This is hilarious? I'm usually considered to have a fine sense of humor. And yet...somehow, claiming to have found deeper meaning to life and a claim to eternal life doesn't seem all that funny to me. If Billy Graham claimed to be an atheist for a day, not sure who would be exactly busting a gut. I guess if your life doesn't have much purpose, it gives you something to do.
Next April 1 you might want to try another art form to express your humor- you could paint The Lord's Supper or ???
mwhitmore1 3 years ago
it doesn't matter. so yeah it's funny. the dif would be that Billy's people are more needy then those who would find this funny. actually it's not that funny, but still it doesn't matter.
Qwaarf 3 years ago
Christians fall for stuff like this, because they have an absurdist worldview in which belief trumps reason. It's much the same reason that Kent Hovind (and ONLY Kent Hovind) fell for that dinosaur and man fossil prank a number of years back.
Atheists catch onto pranks like this, because they actually pay attention to things that defy science, logic, and reason. On the other hand, fervent born again Christians, who already believe the absurd, are naturally not as tuned to obvious absurdity.
Neilsama 3 years ago
I'm surprised it worked! I just happened to check the blog that day, but it was worth it. Nice job.
urbster1 3 years ago
I have to admit I was fooled (and shocked).
As for Anthony Flew and his "conversion" - this is an example of the fraud of Christians: he came to a kind of deism, possibly a panentheistic point of view, not Jesus-loves-me-yes-I-know Christianity, as evangelicals love to claim.
StarTrekLivz 3 years ago
i wasn't fooled.
your music's way better, btw.
toomanytribbles 3 years ago
lame....
kris kristofferson called. he wants his song back.
moosebites 3 years ago
Just fucking awesome. Go Brian! HAHAHAHA!
ladyeuthanasia 3 years ago
That was a good one.
I knew right away but it was still hilarious!
GBart 3 years ago
Happy April Fools Day!!!
(I almost believed it for a minute.)
Prepare the ROFLCOPTER!
unorthodoxatheism 3 years ago