Pop My Atheist Cherry

[simonthesinner]

You hit it spot on the head. The rules are there for those that are prone to break them.

You have your heart in teh wrong place and you see the big picture.

[riverlioness]

Good for you, Bay Area Len. Atheists and agnostics are decent people too. We don't need commandments to love our neighbors.

We appreciate people while they are alive. Life is sacred, there is only one chance.

[jnewmark41]

I have just discovered you here on YouTube. I am so impressed with you on so many levels, bro. I, too, am a critical thinker. I also am a gay, Jewish man. I am so completely on the same page with you-I feel like jumping up and down and screaming to the world that , "YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS MAN'S VIDEOS !!! " I am not too good at this YouTube thing, but I sure would love to converse with you and discuss some of these issues you discuss. A BIG HUG for you and lots of manly love :-)

[BayAreaLen]

Thanks again for the words of support. It's kind of scary revisiting my older videos like this and reading comments. I have to remember what I said and hope it was suitable.

[WhyAreYouListening]

100% behind you. I hate people trying to convert from my experience and the people I have asked Christians are told their duty is to Help their brothers hear the word of God. The Buddhists that I have spoke to are the most respectful and open. I was also wondering if you have seen the quantum movie called What the bleep. I think you would like it.

[FreePlay]

What The Bleep was funded and produced by a religious cult, just FYI. The woman they call "Ramtha" in the movie is really named J. Z. Knight; Ramtha, she claims, is a warrior from the lost nation of Lemuria who fought with the Atlanteans over 35,000 years ago. She started a cult called Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.

There's practically no science at all in that movie, and what little there is is either misrepresented or twisted for false purposes.

[WhyAreYouListening]

Hey thanks for that info its interesting. I want to look into that further.

Ill soon check out your videos. you sound like an interesting person.

Thanks

[FreeThoughtCrime]

You are an atheist, but also a waffler. If you're going to enter the theism vs. atheism debate on YouTube, you need to articulate and adopt a defensible position. Multicultural accomodationism is not a tenable position. You are obviously smart, articulate and have a great on camera presence. What you need to do is grow a pair of balls and stop being "reluctant to say your piece."

[BayAreaLen]

This video was one of my breakout videos on YouTube. I was a rookie at this point. I've since realize that my aim on YouTube is to cover a broad range of topics that effect humanity. I wouldn't be the best debater on behalf of all atheists, but I can articulate many issues very well. You should pop into my BlogTV show sometime. Links on my channel.

[FreeThoughtCrime]

Additionally, you will find that a lot of atheists will challenge you on your idea of accomodation, and that you "respect" people's religious convictions. The problem is that they don't respect yours. And given the power to do so, religion would be the first to enslave you, censor you, and subjugate you to its will.

[FreeThoughtCrime]

BayAreaLen,

Atheism does not become a religion simply by being "organized." You provided a great definition of "cult". Now look at a definition of "religion." Atheism, organized or not, simply cannot be shoehorned into that definition.

[tvcanthurtyou]

I see you have Christmas lights in your house, HA! Checkmate! No just kidding. Many things you said were well thought out.

[marinello6]

When we die our bodies have no more value then the chemicals in them...maybe the metal in the teeth and the hair. A dead human immediately becomes part of other particulates buried or flying around in the air. The End.

[BayAreaLen]

Sounds about right to me. In fact, I bet it feels quite simular to how it felt before you were conceived.

[marinello6]

Bingo....seize the day!

[MistaJussu]

In ancient Egypt they boiled the bodies of dead people to make salt =)

[BayAreaLen]

Hey, maybe we'll all be on french fries! ;-)

[marinello6]

In China Mao killed 60 million of his own people....I know they did organ harvesting on the black market. I wonder if they used the fat for soap?

[BayAreaLen]

Like in the movie Fight Club?

[marinello6]

Yes...........I sent you a private message....to be appropriate...I am a bad boy today.

[marinello6]

How can you not believe in angels, devils, spirits, rising from the dead, heaven, hell,

praising god for eternity (sounds like hell to me.?) The Baptists are the real Christians, no...it's the Lutherans...no it's the Catholics...no it's Super Bullshit....AryanNobility.

[mirandasblog]

why are Atheists always so bitter? I don't mean to say that to be bitchy but it's something I've noticed, Atheists tend to be angry, bitter, and cynical. Cynical is not so bad, but I do want to point out that being a critical thinker is not exclusive to Atheists.

[BayAreaLen]

Possibly bitter from always being so out numbered. We live in a world where we must cope with the effects that religion leaves behind. Stuff like, unnecessary war, death, censorship and tax exempt status that doesn't include me.

[mirandasblog]

you do realize that religion is not the cause of war as much as ignorance is. Frankly, war would be fought regardless, religion is just an excuse. if the world was godless people would fight over the color of skin, or something as meaningless. As for censorship not enough people complain about censorship to stop it, it's like politics, you have to write letters complain, all of your excuses for being bitter can be easily fixed, but then you'd have nothing to complain about.

[BayAreaLen]

I would challenge to say that any of those "excuses" that I made can be easily fixed. We live in a world where Janet Jackson's boob at the super bowl creates a week worth of national news. Also, one who embraces faith, is delusional by choice, thereby being less likely to be bitter, because they have then conceded to not being able to handle life's harsh truths. Great discussion!

[mirandasblog]

Well The first "excuses" was being out numbered, well that is a very easy fix. Christians, for example, out number you because we are "fitter" (i.e. we procreate) go fuck someone and have a couple kids, actually go have 5 or 6 kids, if you don't one kids of your own go adopt and indoctrinate them with your own set of morals and values , easy fix! #1 I have a screaming new born in my lap so i'll get back to you about your other "excuses" in a moment.

[BayAreaLen]

Yet another misconception. I would never indoctrinate my kids. They would have minds of their own, and execute their own choices. See, that's the beauty of not buying what religion advertises. Christians will have several kids, and everyone of them will be forced to go to church until their 18. My kids will be able to bum condoms from me if they need them.

[FreePlay]

Most atheists I know aren't bitter. Also, I wouldn't overgeneralize, were I you...

[Andelimia]

Race & IQ =Incompatible

Evolution=Divergence=Incompati­ble

Diversity ="Downside of diversity"by roberts putnam,diversed societies are worse.

[Andelimia]

A critical thinker will not respond as a conditioned individuall and psychologicaly project his sophism and prejudice.Weird visions, but they're unrealistic,we're not secular from the laws of physics.Understand it dont transcend it.

[Andelimia]

For why, go to sociobiology, it's innate and it serve evolution. As an atheist, one should at least recognize this. Across the bord, not from within.

[marine76er]

so true,every point.specially the "lets build a atheits club" one,that is so often said by religious people.they just don`t get it,most people still live as tribes,they need leadership,strikt rules,otherwise lots of them are helpless.they need the guidance of a system and therefor can`t understand people wich simply use common sense for moral values etc.and ofcourse it`s much easier to let others do the job of thinking.

one how cares for himself is therefor a "troublemaker" to the system.

[bjarczyk]

Great video but beliefs have consequences. Sure we shouldn't judge or mistreat people based on what they believe to be true, but to say "oh lets just let everyone mingle" completely misses the whole point of the debate. Socially and politically at least.

To say atheists shouldn't organize also completely fails to see the consequences of beliefs.

[BayAreaLen]

Thanks for the compliment on the video, but when you say that beliefs have consequences, I couldn't agree more. Look at all the people suffering in the Isreli/Palestinian conflict. There's an example of beliefs in god and organized religion resulting in terrible consequences. If my beliefs, being an inclusive atheist, have any consequences at all, I can't imagine that those consequences could be half as bad as people dying in the name of god and religion.

[muncleike]

i was an athiest of 29 years and said i would never believe in God untill he came down himself and proved to me he was real,and HE did.only God can prove God.let me tell ya when ya think ya know the truth,ya don't.and when ya think back to when you though you knew the truth,and understand you were wrong,but now you do know the truth,chances are your still wrong.life is a journey and we've lost our map.

[BayAreaLen]

Life is a journey, but it's also the destination. I would never rely on the promise of an "afterlife," but that's just me. I can appreciate your wisdom though.

[ChronicPhilosopher]

I look forward to some thought provoking discussions in the future, because it sounds like you have some ideas worth exploring.

[serialpath33]

I would love to give you a video response sometime, but I happen to agree with everything I've heard you say so far. Sorry, Len, it seems we're just too similar.

[BayAreaLen]

Haha! You know, I had the same thought about your 4 part rant dude. I wanted to make a response, but it would have been adding to your points, not disputing them.

[BayAreaMisterE]

Good subject -

the ground swell grows -

the numbers increase -

the community of U-tube is responding to the call -

truth will out !!!

continue...

[mikecampochiaro]

I posted a response.

[ghawk15]

Very good video. I share the same view as you. I've often wanted to make videos about this debate as well, but I didn't want to come off as a despiser of those who believe, which I believe is attributed to many atheists.

[BayAreaLen]

Yeah, that's why I was reluctant, but now that I did make this video, I feel great about it. You should dive in too. Nice guitar playing by the way. I can't play guitar at all, but I'm semi-okay on the drums.

[ghawk15]

Thanks :) I'm not that great, but I enjoy playing and making the videos. Maybe you should upload some videos of you drumming sometime.

[theendofconfusion]

This video made me happy.

[RahRy444]

Thanks man, i was just about to message you about this exact subject... i think in a later vid you should probably go more in depth about it... i've watched all your vids, so keep'em coming...

[BayAreaLen]

we'll get more in depth for sure.  I appreciate your consistant feedback.

[ThePirateGrog]

Dude your youtube channel is going places. you have a unique and engrossing presentation.

but, the one thing i'd critique is your title choice, i think if you cut the "- Len's Vlog #15" it would strengthen appeal. just my 2c

that said,

i really enjoy your vids. keep it up

[BayAreaLen]

Dude, that was an awesome thing to say. Also, I welcome your critique. I've actually been pondering that very thing.

[Na8tive510]

Wow, I can't believe you went there! Since you did, I somewhat agree with you. I am spiritual not religeous. So I do not believe in the bible simpley because it was create by man and there is now way that they didn't lie about things and left things out. It is a proven fact the only reason there are so many religions is because people did not like certain things in the early begining of religion. So people added and took away from the bible to suit what they believe.