He is lying about Pat Tillman. The reverse was true. Tillman started in Iraq, THEN was sent to Afghanistan where he died. But it makes a better story for pacifists if they reverse the truth to symbolize their opinions.
Unfortunately, this is too common among atheists. He insists on rational thought, freedom from indoctrination by others, etc. But then he dumnps his brain and says something dumb, like how we could solve our problems if only we just let the government run things.
Wonderful speech. I totally agree with his take on women winning the fight and his understanding that atheism struggles in societies that don't care for it's citizens. When the citizenship is in fear all the time for various reasons people turn to delusions for comfort.
Women are so important as role models for young boys and men; something religions have en mass.
If you aren't smart enough to understand that this space is reserved for stating your opinions regarding the video and not for ad hominem attacks upon those that don't share your opinion then kindly don't bother to say so. I make no lofty claims of my intelligence but I do understand, and agree, with his speech but it is clear that Chapman is more comfortable writing than speaking. Don't be an atheist fanboy.
I have placed an order for Matthew Chapman's book "40 days and 40 nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, Oxycontin, and other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania" from my library.
I totally agree with his viewpoint that in countries where people's standard of living is higher!! The need for religion and atheism/agnosticism in the general population increases!!
In Pakistan(where I am) there is chronic backbreaking poverty, horrible living conditions,terrible health care and people find comfort in the belief that they will be rewarded for their sufferings in the next life!!
Try telling someone you're an atheist in the Bible Belt, or even in many areas dominated by religious moderates. It's also a question of fostering reason and evidence in a world of superstition.
Atheists' work for the separation of church/state in the U.S. is to benefit EVERYONE. Religionists and non-believers alike. Trust me, when the U.S. becomes a theocracy, it won't be friendly to *all* religions; just a narrow, select group of the Fund-gelical stripe. Let's prevent that horror.
Sweden and Norway are two of the most atheistic as well as socialist nations in the world. They take care of their citizens. I can't believe how many Americans are brainwashed into believing that (Democratic) Socialism is evil.
Not sure about Norway. That is officially a theocracy! However the least religious nations of the world are the safest places to live and demonstrate the highest public morality.
Capitalism was designed for economic expansion, But why its bad? well i can give alot of examples, but mostly the need to expand into cheap labor sources and exploiting forgien countries resources, usually we have to go to war/overthrow the currnt govt so that we can start trade. Very messy, capitalism..
No, no the type of capitalism practiced in the US is not true capitalism. True capitalism is exchanging of value based on free markets. American capitalism is government controlled and does devour it's own principles. Remember that any idea taken to extremes is bad...
sweden is not really socialist, they have a market economy. private property is protected, and the means of production is privately owned in sweden, they are a market economy with social programs. which is fine. but its not what marx ment by socialism.
No, of course not... I'm not talking about pure socialism, but DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM. There's a big difference... A lot of American's think all socialiasm is evil. Do you think that Matthew Chapman is talking about Marxist Socialism? I highly doubt it!
Very interesting guy, I agree with a good bit of what he had to say... but just to clarify regarding Pat Tillman, he was in fact fighting in Afghanistan when he was killed. Probably just a bit of mistaken information, but it should be clarified.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
"We can destroy just about all life on earth now..."
Nonsense. Apocalyptic ravings like this, which have been made and failed to come true, many times in the past few decades (Ehrlich, Club of Rome, Sagan, et al), grossly puffs up managable regional effects.
Do I want to? No. And neither does anyone else, because they know it would be. M.A.D. Nuclear weapons have prevented another world war for 62 years. Despite the predictions of experts (incl. Einstein) that they'd inevitably be used.
Prove it! Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Pah, those cities were vaporized. Nothing there to prove anything. Why must you taint his argument with your facts. Also, my point was that we "could" it "is" possible... not that it hasn't happened for a couple decades as he seemed to think. We can do it... so yeah.
Someone had to say it. It's been a point of contention with me for quite a while.
And I would say to Mr. Chapman. Who would presumably think that the government sponsors religion or supports X over Y. That the solution is NOT a bigger government. The government has traditionally always been an oppressor, of blacks and women and now of men and whites and other PC-safe groups of derision.
I have to disagree with him about atheism not being able to provide what the church does. We can easily form support groups or networks that help each other out. The only reason church has dominated this area is because people feel compelled to go to it. As church attendance is seen as less mandatory, there will be less and less of a support system.
It is family or religious followers acting out of responsibility to god who help, or simply people who care about others. We atheists fit into the latter group. If we can provide on an individual level, there is no reason to think we can't do what the religious can.
Everyone wants to say they have the answers. This is a problem that many people have with atheism; admitting that you don't know something. Especially in America, where having a big ego is something that is encouraged from birth. It pays to have the answers here, even if they are just fantasy.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
The problem with some athiests is that they replace a belief in God with a belief in government. Out of the hands of god and into the arms of a nanny state.
The most atheistic nations on earth have reasonably small governments that nonetheless provide basic healthcare services to all free of charge. I speak of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the general Scandinavian area. They also have better education than America and a higher standard of living. Other predominantly secular nations include Japan and France, and soon Britain.
What would you base this anchorless "theory" on? Most atheists are (unlike many religious people) very critical thinkers who do not "follow the flock", be it some imaginary god or some (highly incompetent in some cases) government, especially one with a strong religious background...
"Most atheists are (unlike many religious people) very critical thinkers who do not "follow the flock""
I agree however their seems to be a real trend including Dawkins to tie their viable alternative to religion to a more caring maternal state. The last thing athiests need is a division along the collectivist vs individualist ideologies. Both are compatable with athiesm and I see no point in making connections in these type of forums.
"For A Feminist to still believe in god, is like a freed slave still living on the plantation."
Brilliant!!
This and the explanation of some kind of Stockholm syndrome at work has also occurred to me too, although Matthew articulates it much better than I could hope to.
He's very well spoken, is quite funny, and has a few fantastic ideas. He said this was his first atheist conference- hopefully it won't be the last. And I can't wait to see his atheistic film!
I completely agree with him about what he says about american sociery and the conditions that spawn its religiosity... As long as it remains so mutilated regarding welfare services and social equality, it is doomed to be ruled by fundamentalism,
He is lying about Pat Tillman. The reverse was true. Tillman started in Iraq, THEN was sent to Afghanistan where he died. But it makes a better story for pacifists if they reverse the truth to symbolize their opinions.
GurzgleGurzgle 4 years ago
Unfortunately, this is too common among atheists. He insists on rational thought, freedom from indoctrination by others, etc. But then he dumnps his brain and says something dumb, like how we could solve our problems if only we just let the government run things.
GurzgleGurzgle 4 years ago
BRAVO
msginca 4 years ago
Wonderful speech. I totally agree with his take on women winning the fight and his understanding that atheism struggles in societies that don't care for it's citizens. When the citizenship is in fear all the time for various reasons people turn to delusions for comfort.
Women are so important as role models for young boys and men; something religions have en mass.
zoxovox 4 years ago
Amazing and entertaining lecture.
Masenko 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Evidence that enlightenment does not equal entertainment. Boring.
OGRastamon 4 years ago
If you aren't smart enough to understand his speech, just say so.
johnclavis 4 years ago
If you aren't smart enough to understand that this space is reserved for stating your opinions regarding the video and not for ad hominem attacks upon those that don't share your opinion then kindly don't bother to say so. I make no lofty claims of my intelligence but I do understand, and agree, with his speech but it is clear that Chapman is more comfortable writing than speaking. Don't be an atheist fanboy.
OGRastamon 4 years ago
Sounded like an attack on the speaker's speach. Hardly off-topic.
GurzgleGurzgle 4 years ago
Awesome talk, agree with this man completely, now if we can actually do it.
SpaceCarnivora 4 years ago
I have placed an order for Matthew Chapman's book "40 days and 40 nights: Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, Oxycontin, and other Oddities on Trial in Pennsylvania" from my library.
It looks like a fascinating read.
Turandot29 4 years ago
This man is brilliant: "A feminist who still believes in God is like a free slave who still lives on the plantation."
realitybites 4 years ago
kurdistaniatheists. com
kurdistaniatheist 4 years ago
He lost me with big government, but saved himself at the end with the atheists getting to keep our shoes on.
RobertlewisIR 4 years ago
We already have a HUGE gov't. People do not consider the prison industrial complex, or any military as gov't.
Somebody get's food stamps, that's big government. Lock them up, well, that's a necessary expenditure.
America, I don't want your cops, or your soldiers.
I already had a daddy.
skutre 4 years ago
Brilliant speaker.
"For a feminist to still believe in God is like a freed slave still living on the plantation."
Amen to that and bravo! Exodus 21:7-9 regulates the selling of daughters as sex-slaves, it's just un-fucking-believable!
Antichrist4Life 4 years ago
This guy gives himself too little credit at the beginning. It was a good presentation.
BoozyBeggar 4 years ago 2
I agree, he gives a really good overview of the Dover Trial, plus he has a lovely relaxing speaking voice.
LightninBoltz 4 years ago 2
I totally agree with his viewpoint that in countries where people's standard of living is higher!! The need for religion and atheism/agnosticism in the general population increases!!
In Pakistan(where I am) there is chronic backbreaking poverty, horrible living conditions,terrible health care and people find comfort in the belief that they will be rewarded for their sufferings in the next life!!
witzbold20078 4 years ago 5
Meant to type "the need for religion decreases" in the second sentence of the past comment ..
witzbold20078 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
why the hell do you need to have an athiest group?
jamesnoble 4 years ago
Try telling someone you're an atheist in the Bible Belt, or even in many areas dominated by religious moderates. It's also a question of fostering reason and evidence in a world of superstition.
Thornfox 4 years ago 2
Atheists' work for the separation of church/state in the U.S. is to benefit EVERYONE. Religionists and non-believers alike. Trust me, when the U.S. becomes a theocracy, it won't be friendly to *all* religions; just a narrow, select group of the Fund-gelical stripe. Let's prevent that horror.
Turandot29 4 years ago 5
This guy was great in The Transporter!
FartheadOgre 4 years ago
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this was interesting until he started talking about socialism. booooo.
cromicus 4 years ago
Sweden and Norway are two of the most atheistic as well as socialist nations in the world. They take care of their citizens. I can't believe how many Americans are brainwashed into believing that (Democratic) Socialism is evil.
FinnHawk 4 years ago
Not sure about Norway. That is officially a theocracy! However the least religious nations of the world are the safest places to live and demonstrate the highest public morality.
artyfarty2 4 years ago 5
I guess I am brainwashed if I don't like the idea of the government deciding how much my doctor should get paid, or who I should buy insurance from.
GurzgleGurzgle 4 years ago
There's nothing innately evil about capitalism either so why bother gutting the whole system when it just needs a good cleaning?
feedbackdude 4 years ago
Capitalism was designed for economic expansion, But why its bad? well i can give alot of examples, but mostly the need to expand into cheap labor sources and exploiting forgien countries resources, usually we have to go to war/overthrow the currnt govt so that we can start trade. Very messy, capitalism..
PinoX7 4 years ago
No, no the type of capitalism practiced in the US is not true capitalism. True capitalism is exchanging of value based on free markets. American capitalism is government controlled and does devour it's own principles. Remember that any idea taken to extremes is bad...
adobster 4 years ago
sweden is not really socialist, they have a market economy. private property is protected, and the means of production is privately owned in sweden, they are a market economy with social programs. which is fine. but its not what marx ment by socialism.
discronificator 4 years ago
No, of course not... I'm not talking about pure socialism, but DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM. There's a big difference... A lot of American's think all socialiasm is evil. Do you think that Matthew Chapman is talking about Marxist Socialism? I highly doubt it!
FinnHawk 4 years ago
Very interesting guy, I agree with a good bit of what he had to say... but just to clarify regarding Pat Tillman, he was in fact fighting in Afghanistan when he was killed. Probably just a bit of mistaken information, but it should be clarified.
coop14881 4 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
"We can destroy just about all life on earth now..."
Nonsense. Apocalyptic ravings like this, which have been made and failed to come true, many times in the past few decades (Ehrlich, Club of Rome, Sagan, et al), grossly puffs up managable regional effects.
SteveWrathall 4 years ago
You want to launch all our nuclear weapons and then argue over that point?
Tatarize 4 years ago 2
Do I want to? No. And neither does anyone else, because they know it would be. M.A.D. Nuclear weapons have prevented another world war for 62 years. Despite the predictions of experts (incl. Einstein) that they'd inevitably be used.
SteveWrathall 4 years ago
they have been used genius
grman 4 years ago
Prove it! Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Pah, those cities were vaporized. Nothing there to prove anything. Why must you taint his argument with your facts. Also, my point was that we "could" it "is" possible... not that it hasn't happened for a couple decades as he seemed to think. We can do it... so yeah.
Tatarize 4 years ago
You say that and yet you probably have no idea how many times we all came to being blown off the face of the Earth during the cold war.
JDRedstone 4 years ago
We were safer during the cold war than we are now. At least we knew who had nukes back then!
Marconi76 4 years ago 2
And knowing made the risk of being shot off the face of the planet go away?
JDRedstone 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Good speech but I really hate watching 40 minute videos.
stilanas 4 years ago
Hey, why was this comment voted down so much? Just for saying that this person has a lot of other demands for their time?
treeman17 4 years ago
Well spoken and funny.
But can we please leave the leftist politics out of atheism please? We don't all think like that.
ArgusEyes 4 years ago 4
Amen!
mrjdr 4 years ago
Someone had to say it. It's been a point of contention with me for quite a while.
And I would say to Mr. Chapman. Who would presumably think that the government sponsors religion or supports X over Y. That the solution is NOT a bigger government. The government has traditionally always been an oppressor, of blacks and women and now of men and whites and other PC-safe groups of derision.
ArgusEyes 4 years ago
Like the quote goes.. "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have".
ArgusEyes 4 years ago
the chewing is rather off putting.
NIckSouthAfrica 4 years ago
Pat Tillman didn't die in Iraq.
Good otherwise though.
xchivitox 4 years ago
I have to disagree with him about atheism not being able to provide what the church does. We can easily form support groups or networks that help each other out. The only reason church has dominated this area is because people feel compelled to go to it. As church attendance is seen as less mandatory, there will be less and less of a support system.
JSResponds 4 years ago
It is family or religious followers acting out of responsibility to god who help, or simply people who care about others. We atheists fit into the latter group. If we can provide on an individual level, there is no reason to think we can't do what the religious can.
JSResponds 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
All applaud the anti-Thomas Jefferson! "That Government which governs the most and takes the most freedom governs the best!"
templarart 4 years ago
the freedom to die because your poor, some freedom/
danny123xvz 4 years ago
Indeed, great speech.
SilentBombr 4 years ago
Everyone wants to say they have the answers. This is a problem that many people have with atheism; admitting that you don't know something. Especially in America, where having a big ego is something that is encouraged from birth. It pays to have the answers here, even if they are just fantasy.
atheistphilosopher 4 years ago 2
very well spoken and interesting, good work mate!
PhosphateSugar 4 years ago
'Yes, my dear atheist, you may keep your shoes on. Have a wonderful flight.'
Fantastic. I loved it.
Saerain 4 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The problem with some athiests is that they replace a belief in God with a belief in government. Out of the hands of god and into the arms of a nanny state.
stratvic 4 years ago
The most atheistic nations on earth have reasonably small governments that nonetheless provide basic healthcare services to all free of charge. I speak of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the general Scandinavian area. They also have better education than America and a higher standard of living. Other predominantly secular nations include Japan and France, and soon Britain.
Zamboro 4 years ago
What would you base this anchorless "theory" on? Most atheists are (unlike many religious people) very critical thinkers who do not "follow the flock", be it some imaginary god or some (highly incompetent in some cases) government, especially one with a strong religious background...
DaftDoggyDog 4 years ago 2
"Most atheists are (unlike many religious people) very critical thinkers who do not "follow the flock""
I agree however their seems to be a real trend including Dawkins to tie their viable alternative to religion to a more caring maternal state. The last thing athiests need is a division along the collectivist vs individualist ideologies. Both are compatable with athiesm and I see no point in making connections in these type of forums.
stratvic 4 years ago
I don't know why, but my comment stands there alone, it was supposed to be an answer to someone whose comment is gone now?!
Anyhow, can you somehow back up the theory that Dawkins suggests a more maternal state (e.g. a link)? I have never heard of that...
DaftDoggyDog 4 years ago
Thanks again!
worldlystone 4 years ago 2
Wonderful lecture, I truly enjoyed it. Thanks for posting!
Shandy64 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Why doesnt this guy just get Darwin's face tattooed on his forhead. talk about milking a weak association.
stratocasterz 4 years ago
That was hilarious. I'm impressed!
mattroberts66 4 years ago 3
"For A Feminist to still believe in god, is like a freed slave still living on the plantation."
Brilliant!!
This and the explanation of some kind of Stockholm syndrome at work has also occurred to me too, although Matthew articulates it much better than I could hope to.
Klarkster 4 years ago 5
He's very well spoken, is quite funny, and has a few fantastic ideas. He said this was his first atheist conference- hopefully it won't be the last. And I can't wait to see his atheistic film!
kryptoknightmare 4 years ago 10
Utterly fascinating talk. Chapman is truly a man deserving of the Darwin legacy.
Matt7895 4 years ago 6
I completely agree with him about what he says about american sociery and the conditions that spawn its religiosity... As long as it remains so mutilated regarding welfare services and social equality, it is doomed to be ruled by fundamentalism,
DeusMortemEst 4 years ago 3
Exelent Lecture. Thanks again RRS!!!
drahyden 4 years ago 7
this guy is really good
tieInterceptor 4 years ago 7
This guy is awesome
zbambam5 4 years ago 9
What is the name of the "Book"?
karmazach 4 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The bible...
That is the only book that matters!
Repent, repent from all of your sins!
thefakeyeti 4 years ago
I ment the book by Matthew Chapman. Not the BIBLE.
karmazach 4 years ago 4
I think the book is called "40 Days and 40 Nights", but that's just guessing from looking at it.
tacopylas 4 years ago 2
40 days and 40 nights : Darwin, intelligent design, God, Oxycontin, and other oddities on trial in Pennsylvania
Turandot29 4 years ago
Awesome.
JustOneEarth 4 years ago 3
hahaha, I want the atheist express lane!
unicyclebabyguy 4 years ago 6
Seconded!
WizardJim 4 years ago 4
Fantastic.
Dextrous 4 years ago
~RRS~
Evanmileus 4 years ago