I was watching this and I heard the comment by a user read by you.
It is not. And I repeat NOT Jesus that said those things, the followers and the some of the wretched people who put the quotes in the bible did. Jesus never enforced his belief, rather offer it openly - since he never went people's houses to promote himself, he went to a hill and spoke to those who gave a listen to him.
And this is coming from a guy whose not religious whatsoever.
Edward if your reading this message reply to it. Since you were a priest before, why were you a priest in the first place? If you didn't believe in God than why did you become a priest in the first place? Yes, the words that were expressed at Jessica by those mean kids are very hurtful. This is one reason that people deny Christianity or believe in Jesus. They were just taught wrong. A lot of people are taught wrong and that's why they don't believe. so what happens when u die? in athiest belief
@4TheBiscuit, when I was a priest, I believed in the Christian god. Many years later I stopped believing in any god. What happens when I die? I have made arrangement for my body to be used by medical students in their study, if the medical school wants it. Eventually my body will be cremated. I do not find any credible evidence that there is any life after death.
@edwardtarte okay so why did u stop believing?? you were a priest so you believed at first but than theres no god... so ur saying we just die after death thats it to life.. and since ur an athiest now how do u know that there isn't a god? do u have proof that there isn't? have u ever seen a billion dollars? probably not. does it mean that a billion doesn't exist?
@4TheBiscuit Why don't you get it? Why does there have to be an 'after-life'? Is that like an after-party for death? It's no different than going the other way: before you were born. Do you remember that? No. That's because life is all about the here and now. Religion is a control mechanism that uses the invention of after-life to threaten you into obedience, nothing more.
It's also pretty shameful how people can become adults but because of the influence of religion, they are taught to accept and believe instead of learn and reason. They think what by defending their beliefs, they are reasoning, but it doesn't come close to what reasoning is. In order to reason, you need to use logic. If you understand what logic is, then you must be able to separate fact from myth. Believers lack the ability to see this difference. Case in point.
speaking as an athiest,while I agree that no religious banner of any kind should be in a publicly funded school,after reading the banner I don't see how it is religious because it enspouses what we all should strive for.Take out the heavenly father and amen parts and you have a good secular moral banner.
Thanks Edward. You and Jessica keep up the good work. You have lots of support here in the UK. We don't need to remind you not to waste your time rebutting the small fry. Bigoted, hateful 'trolls' and 'blog monsters' are in plentiful supply and will occupy all your time if you drop to their level. The heads of the religious establishments will use their unending supply of threatening pawn zealots to defeat you. Don't engage the small fry. Engage the leaders. You are good enough. Good luck.
"Their prayer did not work. It is exclusionary prayer intended to separate the good guys from the bad guys - and it worked. It's a brag virtues that they implicitly claim, but do not possess and do not value."
I am Agnostic and a former fundamentalist Christian. The most common denominator I see in Christians is hypocrisy. It is the hallmark of the cross. Christians desperately want to turn the US into a theocracy because they feel they are defending themselves from attack. The reality is, that their goal is self-destructive and the protections afforded them in the US are due to that which they decry - human secularism. It's a shame when we have to protect them from themselves.
One of comments was if I take over the world I would start a holocaust on the atheists? I think the Christians tried that on the Jews didn't go well for them. I rest my case.
Randomly stumbled upon this video, watched the entire video and did some research to see what the subject was all about. I feel sorry for her, and hopes nothing bad will happens to her.
Watching this as an European is strange, over here people would look funny at you when you say you go to church every sunday. In my city only 20% of the elderly still go to church and church-visiting youth is almost non existant.Hopefully more and more people will wake up from the shackles of religion.
@Caelistas Lucky son of a bitch over here in the United Christian States ......oops I mean the United States if your not Christian or at least some type of faith you are shunned and hated.
It depends on where you are living- there are religious pockets all over and they behave the same way, only they're more vocal in the USA. In either case, it's time the grip religion and superstition has on this world gets pried off humanity's throat.
The School was offered the option of keeping the mural, as long as they removed the overtly religious aspects of it, such as the words 'School Prayer' 'Heavenly Father' and 'Amen'.
They stubbornly refused to compromise, and instead chose to contest the matter in court. The school board was playing for 'all or nothing' and lost.
You are a former preist?? Now atheist because you used the rational side of your brain and determined the existence of god to be impossible at this point?? People like you are what helps give me hope for the future...thank you Mr Tart
When I see videos like this, hope for humanity goes up. It's nice that more and more Americans "come out", so to speak, as secularists/atheist/humanists/agnostics, despite the risk it involves in hostility from extreme religious fundamentalists. Maybe in the future, America will move towards becoming secular for real, with no bias towards religion from the government/states, and the religious people keeping religion as a private matter. Good luck (from Sweden).
A fantastic former Baptist, Sam Singleton is a fantastic evangelistic Atheist and if you have not listened to him consider it. He is short, sweet, and brilliant. Enjoy!
@edwardtarte, thank you for this video. I especially love hearing from former preachers/pastors/priests who have deconverted, because it's harder for people to say you were never a true Christian. Many Protestants will say this about Catholics anyway, despite their own religion's Catholic roots, but I digress. This is the first video of yours that I've watched, but I'll be sure to watch more. Kudos!
Christians can be hateful and hypocritical as much as they want to be because in their minds, they're forgiven. Its no wonder why the religion is so appealing for so many.
Continued:- man or a woman to lie with a woman. It also says you cannot eat shellfish. I wonder how many Christians realise that the oyster they ate is going to send them to hell.
@stewartvcm to quote Carl Sagan extraordinary proof requires extraordinary evidence.
I nor anyone else can prove a negative. As an atheist I say there is no credible evidence for a god. It is up to you and other people of faith to provide evidence. I suggest you look at the JREF channel for James Randi explaining exactly how negatives cannot be proven. You probably will not though as Mr Randi is an out homosexual and your bible says it is an offence in the eyes of god for a man to lie with a m
I put this on my Facebook and it was fine for a few days, until my CHRISTIAN mother yelled at me, and said to me you molested boys and that is why you quit and became an Atheist. I wanted to punch her in the face for trying to tell me such a lie. Edward, do you have any advice to people like me, who are nonreligious and have parents who force it down their throats and say that anyone who is Atheist is a bad person?
@mew2226,I have never molested boys or anybody else.I wish I could give you some good advice,but I don't know your mother.You could tell her that she should not make accusations unless she has evidence to back up what she says.I don't know whether saying that to her would do any good.She could get to know me better by watching some of my videos,including perhaps some of my piano and other music videos.If she has any interest in math,invite her to watch my Date-Names video.I am a good person.
@mew2226 Some advice! Buy yourself a nice asbestos jumpsuit and prepare to spend eternity in a nice warm location. Your parents are trying to give you a guiding light that doesn't come from the government corrupt system. A little meatball like you thinks a freak like this guy can give you advice but your loving parents can't? You are lost. Maybe someday you'll see the truth, statism is communism. Communists are inherently atheist and evil. Public schools don't tell you that. Research it!
@PhilAOFish Lol i disagree with the bible so i am gay?! silly small minded phil that evolved from a fish ;) I am not against homosexuality.It isnt something man needs to worry about.It happens throughout nature and humans have never been "gay" free.Live and let live.I do not hate the bible or christians i am just not stupid enough to worship a fictional piece of literature.Plenty of nice christians out there despite their ignorance. Religious people are generally more hateful.I love family guy;)
Dear Edward, don't normally spend the time to sit and watch a 7 minute long video having a thumbnail of a bespectacled, middle aged man, but I had to leave a comment to let you know that you've done a really great job in bringing your observations to light. This is really a fantastic story of Courage and Fortitude. Many girls her age have their hands full with worrying about their hair, pimples and weight.
Jessica is an AMAZING person and has brought a lot of truth into the open.
I urge everyone to try and research medieval history as well. It unravels the development and strategy of Christianity and its uses. I had to the opportunity to study the Dark Ages and it only strengthened my reasons for being an Atheist.
Thanks for making this video man. I'm 23 and am losing all hope in anything good for my country. I grew up with the idea that children are bully's and adults are more mature, but the more my life unfolds...the more I realize that adults are the worst bullies. Anyway, you've restored my hope slightly. It's not often one of the older generations thinks the way I do(Im sure living in Texas isn't helping either).
>played gustav holst jupiter ( « I Vow to Thee, My Country » are my two favorite from Hoslt) they give me hope for humanity when i listen to them you are a model sincerly,Canada
I think the people who made these comments would be filled with hate regardless of religion. But without it they would not be so enabled to express it.
As far as I can tell, the 'Christians' who wrote those horrible messages about Jessica, violated just about every principal their beloved plaque exhorted them to follow. I also have no doubt that the mind-numbing irony of the situation is completely lost on them.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
I hope people understand that most, if not all of the hateful remarks towards Jessica were from High school students. I think all of us adults can understand, and relate of how immature they can be at times.
Edward you have been blinded by the world. I hope you can find yourself once again some day.
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx,besides shorter hateful remarks,probably mostly from high school students,there have been a huge number of longer hateful remarks,probably mostly from adults.As for me,I base my view of reality on evidence.A person who does this is not being blinded.If I would revert to a view of reality based on religious faith in the absence of evidence,I guess you would say that I have 'again found myself'.I see that as a perversely erroneous use of our language.
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx You're either delusional, short-sighted, or plain ignorant. There's nothing scarier than a religious nut teenager who's grown up into a religious nut adult. The only difference is age, the attitude is just as dangerous and aggressive. Time to wake up.
@silverlight68 Nice of you to make those assumptions. I'm not even that religious. I can't even remember the last time I went to church. At least say something that's useful in a debatable conversation please.
@edwardtarte Good for you, Edward- keep your chin up!! Doing an excellent job of providing intelligent rebuttals and not stooping to the idiot comments some people leave here. Proud of you!
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx What you fail to realize is that the threat from someone of high school age is probably more likely to be carried out than with more mature adults. Belief motivated hate and violence, besides, of course greed, are among the most sinister and senseless attitude that exist among people.
This is a form of terror mentality that exists within our own borders, not in Iran or in Afghanistan.
There's a whole world watching and we're proud of her!!
@silverlight68 I would have to disagree. I think that a hate filled adult is more likely to do something violent, or disrespectful.
I agree that there is terror within our own borders. Everybody, and i mean everybody, has a form of hate in them. That's just the simple fact. I think people here who have been pointing out the hatred that some people have been giving to Jessica, need to realize that they too, at one point in time have hated, and been disrespectful.
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx I hope you find some sense. Your delusion may lead you to waste what appears to be the only life you get. You can happily enjoy the technology this modern world has given you including medicine and yet deny what science has discovered that was discovered with the same scientific method as the one that allowed to write that youtube post. Science is science. It did not set out to show the bible untrue. It just did. You do not even know yourself. We are all animals. Gd luck.
@MrImmobile Did I ever say I believed everything the bible has said? I believe in god not religion. You don't know my believe's so don't try and pester me about them.
@MrImmobile Well you want to put your beliefs on edward telling him hes misguided. Even without religion going by the evidence you are the misguided one. In this day and age a god is not needed. If we found evidence then fair enough but all religions are man made and we are having no problem explaining what up until recently was the work of god(s). I guess we have deep seeded ties to faith and to know our place. Well we are apes and we share a common ancestor with everything alive. Amazing:)
Mr Tarte, I couldn't agree with you more. I could only stomach a handful of the comments from the "victims" before I had to close the page. Otherwise, I would've begun swearing at the computer.
Jessica is a brave and courageous young woman. When I was her age, I wasn't even close to having the courage that that young woman has.
The US was not founded as a secular nation, read the document. The Declaration of Independence is the foundational document. The Constitution is the "how we govern" document. Being "uncomfortable" is just a part of life. Our modern view of "separation of church and state" isn't the original view of those who founded the country. Most of the states who signed the new 1787 Constitution had "state religions." Wise up people. You're letting the dishonest rewrite history.
good video Mr. Tarte, i really enjoy seeing christians act like this and then "moderates" saying "well it dosent represent jesus and the bible!", but as you pointed out, they clearly represent the bible more accurately than the moderates could ever hope to, and thats sad, thats not what america is about.
Thank you, Edward, for the well researched and thoughtful comment. I stand with Jessica and hope that this world will become a better place for my own loving and caring atheist family. I feel truly sorry for every young child being indoctrinated into the Christian fantasy of "loving hate". The bible has never been and will never be anything more than a hateful document written by men pretending to be 'God'.
Your support of Jessica and her cause is admirable ! Your courage to speak against the venom and hysterical hatred of religious fanatics, should be one ideal example of patriotism, to everyone who believes in the rights, of all individuals, that are granted to us by our Constitution.
I just spent an hour reading comments directed at Jessica. My god, some crazy christians even found HER ADDRESS and now they post all over the internet...
Ed, finding no evidence for a god, might suit the position of being an Agnostic.
I'd like to think of myself as an Agnostic, but most often in arguments with religious people I'm coming across as an Atheist because the arguments they most often make are so ludicrous and they refuse to accept anything that contradicts or challenges their doctrine.
@a1mint Agnostic or Gnostic means whether or not you think it is possible to know whether or not there is a god. You can be both atheist and agnostic or gnostic.
~Giggles~ Christians are so amusing. The moment you rule in favour of atheists, or another religion, they kick up a fuss and claim persecution. I'm glad I live in Britain, where in 2008 a judge declared that religion has no place in British law making. Finally America seems to be growing up out of this...miasma of sickening hatred it's been mired in for decades.
What if they had simply changed the intro? Instead of "our heavenly father" change it to something like "we strive to". Since the content of the statement itself makes no god references, this compromise would satisfied the desire to save the mission statement itself while removing the offending intro. This would more than satisfy me as an atheist but I'm not sure Christians would accept it any better than removing the plaque altogether.
@sweetsweatyfeet They would have to take out "our heavenly father", "amen", and "the school prayer". I would fully support that. I believe morality has a strong place in schools, but not religion.
well from the comments i just listened to from the internet ,i would say it is a perfect case of christians being christians again . i find it amazing these christians seem to think we were born a christian nation when our founding fathers were not christians . they had a good reason for writing in the seperation of church and state . maybe if schools would teach more of the writings of thomas paine and thomas jefferson they wouldnt be so ignorant about jessica's rights .
Thanks for bringing attention to this. I hadn't heard of this case. It's horrible the vitriol and pure hatred spilled from people who claim to believe in a "loving" God. The irony comes from the believers themselves... wishing death, injury and pain upon her, followed by #TeamJesus, or #TeamHeaven.
Really says a lot about what it means to be a Christian.
Wow i've just checked out Matt 26:11 (re your annotation) in the context of accepting expensive ointment rather than selling it to raise money for the poor. This is what it says:-"For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always."
a) Now we know why fundamenatlist Christians are so anti welfare
b) Isn't that the whole point of Christianity i.e. they DO have him always? Some even claim to speak to him.
Christianity, the religion that excels at contradictions and double standards.
@pilgrimpater In the 30's/40's you had to either be a Christian or pretend to be one if you wanted support. Politicians say what they think you want to hear.
@Mpromptu, you're welcome, Hemant. To others who read this: Mpromptu is Hemant Mehta, a math teacher like me (except that he does it in the classroom at age near 30?, and I do it in students' homes after 37 years in the classroom); and he is the Friendly Atheist at the website to which I refer in this video (saying that I visit it daily). Hemant, I'm still waiting patiently for your reaction to my very first math video, about Sheep Jumping Over a Fence, which generated much controversy:)
jesus was a very confused person...saying ...love your neighbour...love your enemies...does he love his enemies at the end...nope
jesus seems to just be intolerent of any other peoples beliefs..so how could he ever love anyone....again the end of the book tell you ...he kills everyone against him....as that is loving your enemy LOL
I can't help but quote this line from the video, and think 'that was a christian?'. o.o
~"when i take over the world there will be a holocaust of all atheists"~
Seriously if that was a christian that was one messed up self righteous bigoted elitist one for sure. And they wonder why they are losing more and more support every passing day.
True. I'm an atheist but the rest of my family is christian, and none of them act like that. They are fine with the path I took. They try to win me back every so often with kindness but I just go along with it to humor them.
@edwardtarte Well they do think that, but they don't try to force me to go to church or read the bible. They sometimes try to convince me to rejoin the religion by passing me some christian CDs and such, but I don't listen to them.
Thank you for posting this. I am not ashamed to be Christian, because I know I do not represent anything like those nasty horrific comments. I am a Christan who believes that prayer does not belong in public school (that is what privet school is for). I heard what you stated about the Jesus in scripture, I guess it is the perspective and view. I respect your view (even if I do not agree). I am very proud of this young lady that she fought for what she thought was right. Thanks for your post
Jessica's a good person, and doing what's right even when it's not the easy thing to do...Isn't that what we're supposedly taught as children? So then...where in life to we lose that? Oh wait, in schools where we make friends, and we don't want to LOSE those friends, so we do what is popular. Jessica lost friends because she did what was right, but she gained thousands of people who support and agree with her!
Thank you Mr. Tarte for being another support of an amazing young person!
@21BoomBoomWifey I agree with you over all except for the fact she lost NO Friends. Anyone who did not stat by her (even if they did not agree with her) were NOT her friends. Friends do not walk way from someone who is in the middle of a battle. She is a much stronger person for what she did.
Jessica Ahlquist has done as much, if not more, to defend the United States Constitution, than any soldier. She is a true American hero, and I fully support her fully.
Thanks to you, Edward, for showing us how compassionate and loving these christians really are.
Great video. Nice to see someone bothering to research and present facts, rather than just speak their opinion from the top of their head with no direction. This was presented very clearly and precise. Thanks.
I find it interesting that Christianity, a global religion, is so fragile that it's members believe that the removal of one prayer plaque threatens their very existence.
(continued) If any of you want to continue discussing with him, you can probably do it in personal messages. I am sorry if I am offending some of you, but that is my decision concerning the management of the comments section of this video of mine. Thank you. Sincerely, Edward Tarte
Some of you will probably agree with me;others probably not. There is some indication in comments that BloodTar is a troll.I have read the comments carefully and have given careful attention to his profile page.My decision is that I see him as a troll.My experience with trolls is limited.I am following the advice of an expert,PhilHellenes: I have blocked BloodTar and have removed all his comments and responses to him including my own. (continued)
@edwardtarte Don't be sorry about blocking a troll. That's the only way to fight them. They are basically like little children who are demanding attention.
So, you want your government to tell you when your views are acceptable and can be displayed in public? That’s scary. Maybe we should ask our government if it’s OK to display our school spirit. Tomorrow we’ll see if phys. ed. class really is Constitutional and Friday we can check to see if requiring students to attend school at all is Constitutional. How about this approach; “We as humans beings stand for nothing because we’re afraid someone might get their feelings hurt if we do.
@MerozCurse Views protected by your constitution should be supprted and defended by your leaders. Atheism like any that falls under this rubric deserves the same rights and protections. The religious however seem to feel that only their view deserves it. Considering the direction the US has taken with amending the NDAA, you should enjoy this freedom while you can.
@shkotay So, as long as somebody can stand up for their rights we should recognize their position as worthy of protection? What about those who can’t speak up for themselves? If we’re so just, won’t we speak up for them too? Where’s you justice, really? I wonder what the human fetuses would say if they could speak up for themselves?
@MerozCurse Who knows about fetuses? Finding that line to draw is a job for all of us, and especially our leaders, and medical professionals to decide on. I take it you are pro-life eh? On the other side of the coin what about thinking humans who's life is threatened by proceeding with a birth? You would eliminate their rights to decide what to do with their own bodies out of hand? Start to see the compeities involved here? Justice should be carefull thought out.
Having spent some time training to become an anglican priest I still have a belief in the possibility of some form of God but that is what I remain open to, the possibility of a God. I have never had conclusive proof that there is a God but then again no one can prove without a doubt there is no God to me either. That is the crux, can anyone truly prove either way? We all have the right to our views and regardless if I agree with someone or not I will respect their right to believe.
@stewartvcm We must first define "God." You know that Zeus is not real, and Thor and Apollo and 1000's of other gods. Likewise we can know that Yahweh and Allah are not real. Man has made 1000's of gods, that is what we do. The "god" that at least has a chance of being possible would be a god that we know nothing about. Also note that not being able to disprove something does not tell you the likelihood that it exists. A golden teapot half way to Andromeda cannot be disproved.
@WarmWeatherGuy That is my view, what is God? I hold science high in my regard but also remember the words of my old science teacher that a scientist will NOT disbelieve anything until they prove it is not true. The point of science is to this through reason, failure, experimentation and finding what is false by proof, not assumption. Can we prove that a form of God, be it supernatural or a more advanced species than humans exists? Then until that time I hold that it MAY exist.
As always Mr. Tarte you have taken this subject to the hoop and broke it off. I spent many years in seminary but never completed. It made me an atheist before I could complete it.
... Why is America so religious.. You would think a Secular country with a literate population would know better... Also I think I understand why Hitler used religion to gain support and secure power better now..
Gosh, after hearing the comments, I've had an epiphany! How could one NOT love Jesus after listening to the sort of people one will purportedly spend eternity with?
As a non-American, I have to admit I was not aware of this story. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Mr. Tarte. And... wow, the treatment that brave young girl is subjected to.. it literally made me cry.
Thanks Christians, for reminding us why Christopher Hitchens was right with writing the book ''god is not great, how religion poisons everything'', i remember reading about her winning this lawsuit, she had to be escorted out of the court with bodyguards, that's good old christian love there.
I'm an atheist and if they put up a plaque like that in my school I really wouldn't care. What would bother me though is how people are being such pricks to her for being an atheist as such. But I don't see the sign as an affront to her belief or that it's "unconstitutional." Meaningless, yes, but not unconstitutional.
@einLesenderArbeiter "Accordingly, the First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by the government but protects religious activity that is initiated by private individuals"
I wouldn't care to complain about it either if I was there. But it may be considered unconstitutional. Even though it's not an activity it's not private, it's placed for the entire school.
@raydredX What if they attached a disclaimer to it: "The thoughts and opinions expressed in this sign do not necessarily reflect that of the school's administration; they belong solely to the author of the sign, [Johnny Biblethumper]. Moreover the school's administration does not have an official religious belief or lack thereof, yet nevertheless feels that all individuals have the right to express their opinions, albeit stupid ones, in public." You can spin it any way you want.
@einLesenderArbeiter It's still put on the school. Can club people post things around? I guess they can so maybe they could use that excuse but they posted it as a school thing so not this one.
@einLesenderArbeiter I can admit that this was relatively mild compared to most of the violations I've witnessed. But, we don't all agree on the appropriateness or offensiveness of the same material and the mildness of a constitutional violation does not invalidate the violation. I wish I had the same guts as Jessica because there's a mild statute of an angel at the entrance to my school that is also in violation and offends the hell out of me.
@einLesenderArbeiter That angel at the door of my school is a constant reminder that the sufficiently homogeneous religion of the school's majority can be imposed on others in that school with a supposed impunity. It may seem a small symbol of religious intolerance and oppression but it is still a symbol of religious oppression.
Like rats on a sinking ship, Christians are becoming vicious toward those who call them out. The more we insist upon separation of church and state the more shrill and violent they become. I have been threatened with violence, subjected to the lowest caliber of filthy insults, and once, nearly run down and killed by a fanatic in a pickup truck as I drove my wheelchair down the road. They hate us with a passion because by comparison, they know we make their beliefs seem foolish. Great video!
Mr. Tarte, congratulations for your video. One question: have you already made a video about the passages in the Gospels in which Jesus says these bad things you referred to? I think it would be public utility to expose this "other face" of Jesus, especially because as a former catholic priest, you know all that very well. Greetings.
@sandrodecott, thank you so much for your comment. In other videos (e.g., my Slavery video, and my Was Jesus A Good Teacher video) I have alluded to some of them, but not all. In response to your comment, I have just inserted an annotation from 4:28 to 5:05 listing passages in the Gospels relevant to what I am saying. I hope you will approve of what I have done. Please watch that portion again. Thank you.
Excellent video, Edward.
xusmcguy 17 hours ago
I wouldn't be surprised if Jessica becomes a senator or a president, she's a really smart girl and a great speaker.
CODproR19 2 days ago
I was watching this and I heard the comment by a user read by you.
It is not. And I repeat NOT Jesus that said those things, the followers and the some of the wretched people who put the quotes in the bible did. Jesus never enforced his belief, rather offer it openly - since he never went people's houses to promote himself, he went to a hill and spoke to those who gave a listen to him.
And this is coming from a guy whose not religious whatsoever.
Absynthesiser 3 days ago
Excellent video Edward. I love how you point out the supreme irony of the banner's message. Brilliant.
urcritic 6 days ago
@edwardtarte love your video
dillinger9999 6 days ago
thanks edward, good job for standing up!
mlonster 1 week ago
Edward if your reading this message reply to it. Since you were a priest before, why were you a priest in the first place? If you didn't believe in God than why did you become a priest in the first place? Yes, the words that were expressed at Jessica by those mean kids are very hurtful. This is one reason that people deny Christianity or believe in Jesus. They were just taught wrong. A lot of people are taught wrong and that's why they don't believe. so what happens when u die? in athiest belief
4TheBiscuit 3 weeks ago
@4TheBiscuit, when I was a priest, I believed in the Christian god. Many years later I stopped believing in any god. What happens when I die? I have made arrangement for my body to be used by medical students in their study, if the medical school wants it. Eventually my body will be cremated. I do not find any credible evidence that there is any life after death.
edwardtarte 3 weeks ago 13
@edwardtarte okay so why did u stop believing?? you were a priest so you believed at first but than theres no god... so ur saying we just die after death thats it to life.. and since ur an athiest now how do u know that there isn't a god? do u have proof that there isn't? have u ever seen a billion dollars? probably not. does it mean that a billion doesn't exist?
4TheBiscuit 3 weeks ago
@4TheBiscuit Why don't you get it? Why does there have to be an 'after-life'? Is that like an after-party for death? It's no different than going the other way: before you were born. Do you remember that? No. That's because life is all about the here and now. Religion is a control mechanism that uses the invention of after-life to threaten you into obedience, nothing more.
silverlight68 2 weeks ago
It's also pretty shameful how people can become adults but because of the influence of religion, they are taught to accept and believe instead of learn and reason. They think what by defending their beliefs, they are reasoning, but it doesn't come close to what reasoning is. In order to reason, you need to use logic. If you understand what logic is, then you must be able to separate fact from myth. Believers lack the ability to see this difference. Case in point.
silverlight68 2 weeks ago
speaking as an athiest,while I agree that no religious banner of any kind should be in a publicly funded school,after reading the banner I don't see how it is religious because it enspouses what we all should strive for.Take out the heavenly father and amen parts and you have a good secular moral banner.
ranchai100 3 weeks ago
Thanks Edward. You and Jessica keep up the good work. You have lots of support here in the UK. We don't need to remind you not to waste your time rebutting the small fry. Bigoted, hateful 'trolls' and 'blog monsters' are in plentiful supply and will occupy all your time if you drop to their level. The heads of the religious establishments will use their unending supply of threatening pawn zealots to defeat you. Don't engage the small fry. Engage the leaders. You are good enough. Good luck.
asbosaurus 3 weeks ago
Thank you sir, you are a great service to humanity!
djdougdj 3 weeks ago 2
"... TO GROW MENTALLY AND MORALLY AS WELL AS
PHYSICALLY..."
"... HELP US TO BE GOOD SPORTS AND SMILE WHEN WE
LOSE AS WELL AS WHEN WE WIN..."
"...HELP US ALWAYS TO CONDUCT OURSELVES SO AS TO
BRING CREDIT TO CRANSTON HIGH SCHOOL WEST."
"Their prayer did not work. It is exclusionary prayer intended to separate the good guys from the bad guys - and it worked. It's a brag virtues that they implicitly claim, but do not possess and do not value."
-- A friend of mine wrote this. He is correct.
starg8t1 3 weeks ago
Congratulations for being strong enough to break free from the church.
What are your opinions on the Secret Gospel of Mark, The Infant Gospel of Thomas, and The 70 lead Codices that were found in Jordan?
I am an atheist myself btw.
thanks,
coynedogg 4 weeks ago
Great vid sir, glad you saw your former vocation for what it truly was. I will be following the you with interest.
karlmdennis 1 month ago
Those twitter comments are the sole reason I write anti-Judaeo-Christian extreme death metal. The hypocrisy is crippling.
6Vital6Remains6 1 month ago
I am Agnostic and a former fundamentalist Christian. The most common denominator I see in Christians is hypocrisy. It is the hallmark of the cross. Christians desperately want to turn the US into a theocracy because they feel they are defending themselves from attack. The reality is, that their goal is self-destructive and the protections afforded them in the US are due to that which they decry - human secularism. It's a shame when we have to protect them from themselves.
ScreamingByteBlog 1 month ago
Welcome to the club SIR you finally saw the light and we like that !
WeskerPG 1 month ago
I am jewish, but I'm not sure and the holocost comment was hurtful. Wh
nikkilove1023 1 month ago
One of comments was if I take over the world I would start a holocaust on the atheists? I think the Christians tried that on the Jews didn't go well for them. I rest my case.
keebut 1 month ago
The bible - the fastest way to Atheism!
MrDevilstreaker 1 month ago
Randomly stumbled upon this video, watched the entire video and did some research to see what the subject was all about. I feel sorry for her, and hopes nothing bad will happens to her.
Watching this as an European is strange, over here people would look funny at you when you say you go to church every sunday. In my city only 20% of the elderly still go to church and church-visiting youth is almost non existant.Hopefully more and more people will wake up from the shackles of religion.
Caelistas 1 month ago 2
@Caelistas Lucky son of a bitch over here in the United Christian States ......oops I mean the United States if your not Christian or at least some type of faith you are shunned and hated.
FR0STY0115 1 month ago
It depends on where you are living- there are religious pockets all over and they behave the same way, only they're more vocal in the USA. In either case, it's time the grip religion and superstition has on this world gets pried off humanity's throat.
silverlight68 2 weeks ago
@silverlight68 Yes very true.
FR0STY0115 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@silverlight68 I AM JESUS,
I AM THE 666 IN REVELATION,
I AM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH....
THE MARKS / NUMBERS FORMING UPON MY FACE WILL SOON BE TOTALLY UNDENIABLE..
ulived1969 1 week ago
@ulived1969 wait who are yuo again i didnt catch that.
youthXattack 1 week ago
I cant see how anyone could read the bible and still want to be a christian lol.
Stihl23666 1 month ago 3
I applaud Jessica Ahlquist for doing what was right. :O) And I too expected those responses from christians; as it seems to be their nature.
Katalyzt
Katalyzt 1 month ago 4
The School was offered the option of keeping the mural, as long as they removed the overtly religious aspects of it, such as the words 'School Prayer' 'Heavenly Father' and 'Amen'.
They stubbornly refused to compromise, and instead chose to contest the matter in court. The school board was playing for 'all or nothing' and lost.
dingodavid 1 month ago 5
You are a former preist?? Now atheist because you used the rational side of your brain and determined the existence of god to be impossible at this point?? People like you are what helps give me hope for the future...thank you Mr Tart
motorheadbanger90 1 month ago
When I see videos like this, hope for humanity goes up. It's nice that more and more Americans "come out", so to speak, as secularists/atheist/humanists/agnostics, despite the risk it involves in hostility from extreme religious fundamentalists. Maybe in the future, America will move towards becoming secular for real, with no bias towards religion from the government/states, and the religious people keeping religion as a private matter. Good luck (from Sweden).
0debug 1 month ago
A fantastic former Baptist, Sam Singleton is a fantastic evangelistic Atheist and if you have not listened to him consider it. He is short, sweet, and brilliant. Enjoy!
aedwardsss 1 month ago
@edwardtarte, thank you for this video. I especially love hearing from former preachers/pastors/priests who have deconverted, because it's harder for people to say you were never a true Christian. Many Protestants will say this about Catholics anyway, despite their own religion's Catholic roots, but I digress. This is the first video of yours that I've watched, but I'll be sure to watch more. Kudos!
LesignerGirl 1 month ago 2
I think everyone needs to lay off this chick.
lmsakaepizzle 1 month ago
Christians can be hateful and hypocritical as much as they want to be because in their minds, they're forgiven. Its no wonder why the religion is so appealing for so many.
melowar78 1 month ago 3
Continued:- man or a woman to lie with a woman. It also says you cannot eat shellfish. I wonder how many Christians realise that the oyster they ate is going to send them to hell.
Brusselpicker 1 month ago 3
@stewartvcm to quote Carl Sagan extraordinary proof requires extraordinary evidence.
I nor anyone else can prove a negative. As an atheist I say there is no credible evidence for a god. It is up to you and other people of faith to provide evidence. I suggest you look at the JREF channel for James Randi explaining exactly how negatives cannot be proven. You probably will not though as Mr Randi is an out homosexual and your bible says it is an offence in the eyes of god for a man to lie with a m
Brusselpicker 1 month ago
I put this on my Facebook and it was fine for a few days, until my CHRISTIAN mother yelled at me, and said to me you molested boys and that is why you quit and became an Atheist. I wanted to punch her in the face for trying to tell me such a lie. Edward, do you have any advice to people like me, who are nonreligious and have parents who force it down their throats and say that anyone who is Atheist is a bad person?
- Amanda.
mew2226 1 month ago in playlist Favorite videos 15
@mew2226,I have never molested boys or anybody else.I wish I could give you some good advice,but I don't know your mother.You could tell her that she should not make accusations unless she has evidence to back up what she says.I don't know whether saying that to her would do any good.She could get to know me better by watching some of my videos,including perhaps some of my piano and other music videos.If she has any interest in math,invite her to watch my Date-Names video.I am a good person.
edwardtarte 1 month ago 24
@mew2226
Please avoid putting a capital "A" in the word atheist.
saintpine 1 month ago
@saintpine why not?
lol479zzz 1 month ago
@mew2226 Some advice! Buy yourself a nice asbestos jumpsuit and prepare to spend eternity in a nice warm location. Your parents are trying to give you a guiding light that doesn't come from the government corrupt system. A little meatball like you thinks a freak like this guy can give you advice but your loving parents can't? You are lost. Maybe someday you'll see the truth, statism is communism. Communists are inherently atheist and evil. Public schools don't tell you that. Research it!
PhilAOFish 1 month ago
@PhilAOFish Lol i disagree with the bible so i am gay?! silly small minded phil that evolved from a fish ;) I am not against homosexuality.It isnt something man needs to worry about.It happens throughout nature and humans have never been "gay" free.Live and let live.I do not hate the bible or christians i am just not stupid enough to worship a fictional piece of literature.Plenty of nice christians out there despite their ignorance. Religious people are generally more hateful.I love family guy;)
MrImmobile 4 weeks ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
@mew2226 I AM JESUS,
I AM THE 666 IN REVELATION,
I AM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH...
ulived1969 1 week ago
Dear Edward, don't normally spend the time to sit and watch a 7 minute long video having a thumbnail of a bespectacled, middle aged man, but I had to leave a comment to let you know that you've done a really great job in bringing your observations to light. This is really a fantastic story of Courage and Fortitude. Many girls her age have their hands full with worrying about their hair, pimples and weight.
Jessica is an AMAZING person and has brought a lot of truth into the open.
RESPECT!!
silverlight68 1 month ago 2
I urge everyone to try and research medieval history as well. It unravels the development and strategy of Christianity and its uses. I had to the opportunity to study the Dark Ages and it only strengthened my reasons for being an Atheist.
eelexa 1 month ago
Thanks for making this video man. I'm 23 and am losing all hope in anything good for my country. I grew up with the idea that children are bully's and adults are more mature, but the more my life unfolds...the more I realize that adults are the worst bullies. Anyway, you've restored my hope slightly. It's not often one of the older generations thinks the way I do(Im sure living in Texas isn't helping either).
teamhex 1 month ago
Thank you Edward, it's allways nice to have my own thoughts double checked by another ex-catholic.
annoyed001 1 month ago
wow just wow
>was a priest
>turn atheist
>like classic music
>played gustav holst jupiter ( « I Vow to Thee, My Country » are my two favorite from Hoslt) they give me hope for humanity when i listen to them you are a model sincerly,Canada
rodgod82 1 month ago
You're pretty cool!
bismarket 1 month ago in playlist Watch Later Playlist
Great video. Thanx Mr Tarte
XXSPOTZXX 1 month ago
Nicely put.
I think the people who made these comments would be filled with hate regardless of religion. But without it they would not be so enabled to express it.
SKELTER1SKELTER 1 month ago
My Highest Praise to you. Ave Edward Tarte
TheEarl666 1 month ago
As far as I can tell, the 'Christians' who wrote those horrible messages about Jessica, violated just about every principal their beloved plaque exhorted them to follow. I also have no doubt that the mind-numbing irony of the situation is completely lost on them.
dingodavid 1 month ago
Woooowwww...lmao @ responses by so-called "Christians".
Voidsworn 1 month ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I hope people understand that most, if not all of the hateful remarks towards Jessica were from High school students. I think all of us adults can understand, and relate of how immature they can be at times.
Edward you have been blinded by the world. I hope you can find yourself once again some day.
Good luck sir
xXxTinyBigfootxXx 1 month ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx,besides shorter hateful remarks,probably mostly from high school students,there have been a huge number of longer hateful remarks,probably mostly from adults.As for me,I base my view of reality on evidence.A person who does this is not being blinded.If I would revert to a view of reality based on religious faith in the absence of evidence,I guess you would say that I have 'again found myself'.I see that as a perversely erroneous use of our language.
edwardtarte 1 month ago 30
@edwardtarte Take it as you will. Simply stating my opinion. As are you.
xXxTinyBigfootxXx 1 month ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx
But your view is in fantasy ..so it isnt relevant
devante11 1 month ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx You're either delusional, short-sighted, or plain ignorant. There's nothing scarier than a religious nut teenager who's grown up into a religious nut adult. The only difference is age, the attitude is just as dangerous and aggressive. Time to wake up.
silverlight68 2 weeks ago
@silverlight68 Nice of you to make those assumptions. I'm not even that religious. I can't even remember the last time I went to church. At least say something that's useful in a debatable conversation please.
xXxTinyBigfootxXx 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx I AM JESUS,
I AM THE 666 IN REVELATION,
I AM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH...
ulived1969 1 week ago
@edwardtarte Good for you, Edward- keep your chin up!! Doing an excellent job of providing intelligent rebuttals and not stooping to the idiot comments some people leave here. Proud of you!
silverlight68 2 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@silverlight68 I AM JESUS,
I AM THE 666 IN REVELATION,
I AM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH....
ulived1969 1 week ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@edwardtarte I AM JESUS,
I AM THE 666 IN REVELATION,
I AM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH....
ulived1969 1 week ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx Blinded by the world? Can you elaborate for someone who's interested?
Unflexablegrace 1 month ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx there are a lot of older people behind those children. Look on any yahoo discussion
iliveon 1 month ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx What you fail to realize is that the threat from someone of high school age is probably more likely to be carried out than with more mature adults. Belief motivated hate and violence, besides, of course greed, are among the most sinister and senseless attitude that exist among people.
This is a form of terror mentality that exists within our own borders, not in Iran or in Afghanistan.
There's a whole world watching and we're proud of her!!
silverlight68 1 month ago
@silverlight68 I would have to disagree. I think that a hate filled adult is more likely to do something violent, or disrespectful.
I agree that there is terror within our own borders. Everybody, and i mean everybody, has a form of hate in them. That's just the simple fact. I think people here who have been pointing out the hatred that some people have been giving to Jessica, need to realize that they too, at one point in time have hated, and been disrespectful.
xXxTinyBigfootxXx 1 month ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx idiot.
espnfan54 1 month ago
@xXxTinyBigfootxXx I hope you find some sense. Your delusion may lead you to waste what appears to be the only life you get. You can happily enjoy the technology this modern world has given you including medicine and yet deny what science has discovered that was discovered with the same scientific method as the one that allowed to write that youtube post. Science is science. It did not set out to show the bible untrue. It just did. You do not even know yourself. We are all animals. Gd luck.
MrImmobile 1 month ago
@MrImmobile Did I ever say I believed everything the bible has said? I believe in god not religion. You don't know my believe's so don't try and pester me about them.
xXxTinyBigfootxXx 1 month ago
@MrImmobile Well you want to put your beliefs on edward telling him hes misguided. Even without religion going by the evidence you are the misguided one. In this day and age a god is not needed. If we found evidence then fair enough but all religions are man made and we are having no problem explaining what up until recently was the work of god(s). I guess we have deep seeded ties to faith and to know our place. Well we are apes and we share a common ancestor with everything alive. Amazing:)
MrImmobile 4 weeks ago
Mr Tarte, I couldn't agree with you more. I could only stomach a handful of the comments from the "victims" before I had to close the page. Otherwise, I would've begun swearing at the computer.
Jessica is a brave and courageous young woman. When I was her age, I wasn't even close to having the courage that that young woman has.
Kokopilau77 1 month ago
Good job, wish if we had girls like her in Pakistan.
johnsh3r 1 month ago
@cheapshot well said,took the words right out of my mouth.
soilworker85 1 month ago
The US was not founded as a secular nation, read the document. The Declaration of Independence is the foundational document. The Constitution is the "how we govern" document. Being "uncomfortable" is just a part of life. Our modern view of "separation of church and state" isn't the original view of those who founded the country. Most of the states who signed the new 1787 Constitution had "state religions." Wise up people. You're letting the dishonest rewrite history.
savemyretirement 1 month ago
@savemyretirement
The Treaty of Tripoli.
Checkmate.
bowlsallbroken 1 month ago
good video Mr. Tarte, i really enjoy seeing christians act like this and then "moderates" saying "well it dosent represent jesus and the bible!", but as you pointed out, they clearly represent the bible more accurately than the moderates could ever hope to, and thats sad, thats not what america is about.
Cheapshot420420 1 month ago
Thank you, Edward, for the well researched and thoughtful comment. I stand with Jessica and hope that this world will become a better place for my own loving and caring atheist family. I feel truly sorry for every young child being indoctrinated into the Christian fantasy of "loving hate". The bible has never been and will never be anything more than a hateful document written by men pretending to be 'God'.
strangenesscharm1230 1 month ago
Your support of Jessica and her cause is admirable ! Your courage to speak against the venom and hysterical hatred of religious fanatics, should be one ideal example of patriotism, to everyone who believes in the rights, of all individuals, that are granted to us by our Constitution.
curiousgeorge1940 1 month ago
Catholic priest, eh? Now an atheist? Good for your bravery you have saved your soul!
Hillsillverr 1 month ago
I just spent an hour reading comments directed at Jessica. My god, some crazy christians even found HER ADDRESS and now they post all over the internet...
rangergxi 1 month ago
Ed, finding no evidence for a god, might suit the position of being an Agnostic.
I'd like to think of myself as an Agnostic, but most often in arguments with religious people I'm coming across as an Atheist because the arguments they most often make are so ludicrous and they refuse to accept anything that contradicts or challenges their doctrine.
a1mint 1 month ago
@a1mint Agnostic or Gnostic means whether or not you think it is possible to know whether or not there is a god. You can be both atheist and agnostic or gnostic.
PointlessSteel 1 month ago
My hat is off to you, sir.
ReligionIsBULLSHlT 1 month ago
You sir, you, are fucking BRILLIANT.
hoskinskid48 1 month ago
~Giggles~ Christians are so amusing. The moment you rule in favour of atheists, or another religion, they kick up a fuss and claim persecution. I'm glad I live in Britain, where in 2008 a judge declared that religion has no place in British law making. Finally America seems to be growing up out of this...miasma of sickening hatred it's been mired in for decades.
LichQueenKathie 1 month ago
That was particularly well thought out and well said. I don't think I've heard anyone quite sum it up so succinctly.
BdrLenny 1 month ago
What if they had simply changed the intro? Instead of "our heavenly father" change it to something like "we strive to". Since the content of the statement itself makes no god references, this compromise would satisfied the desire to save the mission statement itself while removing the offending intro. This would more than satisfy me as an atheist but I'm not sure Christians would accept it any better than removing the plaque altogether.
sweetsweatyfeet 1 month ago
@sweetsweatyfeet They would have to take out "our heavenly father", "amen", and "the school prayer". I would fully support that. I believe morality has a strong place in schools, but not religion.
deathbird1202 1 month ago
There's something extremely likeable about you Edward.
leffehoegaarden 1 month ago
well from the comments i just listened to from the internet ,i would say it is a perfect case of christians being christians again . i find it amazing these christians seem to think we were born a christian nation when our founding fathers were not christians . they had a good reason for writing in the seperation of church and state . maybe if schools would teach more of the writings of thomas paine and thomas jefferson they wouldnt be so ignorant about jessica's rights .
MrTony696936 1 month ago
As always Mr. Tarte, we are lucky to have your wisdom. Thank you for sharing it! :)
iversonmatthew 1 month ago
You're a good man, Ed, and Jessica is a good girl.
Shows once again how loving and caring and forgiving Christians are.
Cheers
ekhaat 1 month ago
"Help us be good sports and smile when we lose"
Doesn't exactly sound like they're smiling, eh?
bowlsallbroken 1 month ago
Thanks for bringing attention to this. I hadn't heard of this case. It's horrible the vitriol and pure hatred spilled from people who claim to believe in a "loving" God. The irony comes from the believers themselves... wishing death, injury and pain upon her, followed by #TeamJesus, or #TeamHeaven.
Really says a lot about what it means to be a Christian.
TheSkepticalAtheist 1 month ago
Good video Edward.
ModerateMartian 1 month ago
Solid and to the point video! 'Nuff said.
Regards,
Rhysz
Rhysz1 1 month ago
Wow i've just checked out Matt 26:11 (re your annotation) in the context of accepting expensive ointment rather than selling it to raise money for the poor. This is what it says:-"For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always."
a) Now we know why fundamenatlist Christians are so anti welfare
b) Isn't that the whole point of Christianity i.e. they DO have him always? Some even claim to speak to him.
Christianity, the religion that excels at contradictions and double standards.
pilgrimpater 1 month ago
"when i take over the world there will be a holocaust of all atheists"
Why any surprise? After all Hitler was a Christian, as were most of his chums.
Great vid btw, Edward.
pilgrimpater 1 month ago
@pilgrimpater In the 30's/40's you had to either be a Christian or pretend to be one if you wanted support. Politicians say what they think you want to hear.
ModerateMartian 1 month ago
Thanks for bringing these points to light ET.
A world without religion is a peaceful world.
citizen762 1 month ago
Well, that's genuine christian love for you!
phoenixbrew 1 month ago
Thanks for contributing to the scholarship fund, Edward!
Mpromptu 1 month ago 19
@Mpromptu, you're welcome, Hemant. To others who read this: Mpromptu is Hemant Mehta, a math teacher like me (except that he does it in the classroom at age near 30?, and I do it in students' homes after 37 years in the classroom); and he is the Friendly Atheist at the website to which I refer in this video (saying that I visit it daily). Hemant, I'm still waiting patiently for your reaction to my very first math video, about Sheep Jumping Over a Fence, which generated much controversy:)
edwardtarte 1 month ago 9
@edwardtarte
jesus was a very confused person...saying ...love your neighbour...love your enemies...does he love his enemies at the end...nope
jesus seems to just be intolerent of any other peoples beliefs..so how could he ever love anyone....again the end of the book tell you ...he kills everyone against him....as that is loving your enemy LOL
devante11 1 month ago
I can't help but quote this line from the video, and think 'that was a christian?'. o.o
~"when i take over the world there will be a holocaust of all atheists"~
Seriously if that was a christian that was one messed up self righteous bigoted elitist one for sure. And they wonder why they are losing more and more support every passing day.
wolfeedarkfang 1 month ago
@wolfeedarkfang Because they shout louder than the ones who talk civilly of forgiveness.
VideoMask93 1 month ago
@VideoMask93
True. I'm an atheist but the rest of my family is christian, and none of them act like that. They are fine with the path I took. They try to win me back every so often with kindness but I just go along with it to humor them.
wolfeedarkfang 1 month ago
@wolfeedarkfang, you say they are fine with the path you took. They don't think you're headed toward hell?
edwardtarte 1 month ago
@edwardtarte Well they do think that, but they don't try to force me to go to church or read the bible. They sometimes try to convince me to rejoin the religion by passing me some christian CDs and such, but I don't listen to them.
wolfeedarkfang 1 month ago
Thank you for posting this. I am not ashamed to be Christian, because I know I do not represent anything like those nasty horrific comments. I am a Christan who believes that prayer does not belong in public school (that is what privet school is for). I heard what you stated about the Jesus in scripture, I guess it is the perspective and view. I respect your view (even if I do not agree). I am very proud of this young lady that she fought for what she thought was right. Thanks for your post
TheHilltop45 1 month ago 2
Jessica's a good person, and doing what's right even when it's not the easy thing to do...Isn't that what we're supposedly taught as children? So then...where in life to we lose that? Oh wait, in schools where we make friends, and we don't want to LOSE those friends, so we do what is popular. Jessica lost friends because she did what was right, but she gained thousands of people who support and agree with her!
Thank you Mr. Tarte for being another support of an amazing young person!
21BoomBoomWifey 1 month ago 2
@21BoomBoomWifey I agree with you over all except for the fact she lost NO Friends. Anyone who did not stat by her (even if they did not agree with her) were NOT her friends. Friends do not walk way from someone who is in the middle of a battle. She is a much stronger person for what she did.
TheHilltop45 1 month ago
OOOOOOHHHHHHH im wishing those haters would post thier names, and addresses. lets see how long they remain like that when we show up at thier door.
divasyn1 1 month ago
Jessica Ahlquist has done as much, if not more, to defend the United States Constitution, than any soldier. She is a true American hero, and I fully support her fully.
Thanks to you, Edward, for showing us how compassionate and loving these christians really are.
TotallyUselessVideos 1 month ago 2
2 dislikes. those people must be christian.
divasyn1 1 month ago
Great Video. I made a donation to her scholarship fund.
ExistentialAthiest 1 month ago
This guy for President!
RationalArtist 1 month ago
Gotta love the Christian "love." Of course without religion we wouldn't be moral right?
mikedamat 1 month ago
Makes me proud to be a fellow Rhode Islander. She's one in a million, literally since the population here is a million!
disrxt 1 month ago
Great video.
TheKittenCommander 1 month ago
I like you Edward Tarte. You seem like a highly intelligent person.
fettimagical 1 month ago
I love how Edward says, "Christian love," at 5:29 XD
HEDGurrection 1 month ago
Death threats. From Chirstians. Because Christianity is about forgiveness, right?
nitoro81 1 month ago
Great video. Nice to see someone bothering to research and present facts, rather than just speak their opinion from the top of their head with no direction. This was presented very clearly and precise. Thanks.
Best wishes from Norway.
fjoo 1 month ago 20
I find it interesting that Christianity, a global religion, is so fragile that it's members believe that the removal of one prayer plaque threatens their very existence.
chrisose 1 month ago
(continued) If any of you want to continue discussing with him, you can probably do it in personal messages. I am sorry if I am offending some of you, but that is my decision concerning the management of the comments section of this video of mine. Thank you. Sincerely, Edward Tarte
edwardtarte 1 month ago 5
Some of you will probably agree with me;others probably not. There is some indication in comments that BloodTar is a troll.I have read the comments carefully and have given careful attention to his profile page.My decision is that I see him as a troll.My experience with trolls is limited.I am following the advice of an expert,PhilHellenes: I have blocked BloodTar and have removed all his comments and responses to him including my own. (continued)
edwardtarte 1 month ago 9
@edwardtarte Don't be sorry about blocking a troll. That's the only way to fight them. They are basically like little children who are demanding attention.
andromidius 1 month ago
@edwardtarte "I am following the advice of an expert,PhilHellenes..." You can't go wrong with his advice!
AlanCFA 1 month ago
Ah - Christian love!
T0X0PHILUS 1 month ago
Now those wonderfully charitable people will probably try to recall the judge of that ruling.
bvwatcher2 1 month ago
So, you want your government to tell you when your views are acceptable and can be displayed in public? That’s scary. Maybe we should ask our government if it’s OK to display our school spirit. Tomorrow we’ll see if phys. ed. class really is Constitutional and Friday we can check to see if requiring students to attend school at all is Constitutional. How about this approach; “We as humans beings stand for nothing because we’re afraid someone might get their feelings hurt if we do.
MerozCurse 1 month ago
@MerozCurse Views protected by your constitution should be supprted and defended by your leaders. Atheism like any that falls under this rubric deserves the same rights and protections. The religious however seem to feel that only their view deserves it. Considering the direction the US has taken with amending the NDAA, you should enjoy this freedom while you can.
shkotay 1 month ago
@shkotay So, as long as somebody can stand up for their rights we should recognize their position as worthy of protection? What about those who can’t speak up for themselves? If we’re so just, won’t we speak up for them too? Where’s you justice, really? I wonder what the human fetuses would say if they could speak up for themselves?
MerozCurse 1 month ago
@MerozCurse Who knows about fetuses? Finding that line to draw is a job for all of us, and especially our leaders, and medical professionals to decide on. I take it you are pro-life eh? On the other side of the coin what about thinking humans who's life is threatened by proceeding with a birth? You would eliminate their rights to decide what to do with their own bodies out of hand? Start to see the compeities involved here? Justice should be carefull thought out.
shkotay 1 month ago
Having spent some time training to become an anglican priest I still have a belief in the possibility of some form of God but that is what I remain open to, the possibility of a God. I have never had conclusive proof that there is a God but then again no one can prove without a doubt there is no God to me either. That is the crux, can anyone truly prove either way? We all have the right to our views and regardless if I agree with someone or not I will respect their right to believe.
stewartvcm 1 month ago
@stewartvcm We must first define "God." You know that Zeus is not real, and Thor and Apollo and 1000's of other gods. Likewise we can know that Yahweh and Allah are not real. Man has made 1000's of gods, that is what we do. The "god" that at least has a chance of being possible would be a god that we know nothing about. Also note that not being able to disprove something does not tell you the likelihood that it exists. A golden teapot half way to Andromeda cannot be disproved.
WarmWeatherGuy 1 month ago
@WarmWeatherGuy That is my view, what is God? I hold science high in my regard but also remember the words of my old science teacher that a scientist will NOT disbelieve anything until they prove it is not true. The point of science is to this through reason, failure, experimentation and finding what is false by proof, not assumption. Can we prove that a form of God, be it supernatural or a more advanced species than humans exists? Then until that time I hold that it MAY exist.
stewartvcm 1 month ago
As always Mr. Tarte you have taken this subject to the hoop and broke it off. I spent many years in seminary but never completed. It made me an atheist before I could complete it.
IzzySpeaks 1 month ago
@IzzySpeaks, I don't know what the phrase means: 'taken this subject to the hoop and broke it off.'
edwardtarte 1 month ago
@edwardtarte It is a basket ball term for slam dunk
IzzySpeaks 1 month ago
@edwardtarte "'taken this subject to the hoop and broke it off" Basketball.
RollioPolleaous 1 month ago
... Why is America so religious.. You would think a Secular country with a literate population would know better... Also I think I understand why Hitler used religion to gain support and secure power better now..
rangergxi 1 month ago
@rangergxi
Who says the US has a literate population?
chrisose 1 month ago
Gosh, after hearing the comments, I've had an epiphany! How could one NOT love Jesus after listening to the sort of people one will purportedly spend eternity with?
WildwoodClaire1 1 month ago
"God" save Jessica from His fellows!
Zecastronomo 1 month ago
As a non-American, I have to admit I was not aware of this story. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Mr. Tarte. And... wow, the treatment that brave young girl is subjected to.. it literally made me cry.
XheraPhine 1 month ago
Thanks Christians, for reminding us why Christopher Hitchens was right with writing the book ''god is not great, how religion poisons everything'', i remember reading about her winning this lawsuit, she had to be escorted out of the court with bodyguards, that's good old christian love there.
ironhead696 1 month ago
I'm an atheist and if they put up a plaque like that in my school I really wouldn't care. What would bother me though is how people are being such pricks to her for being an atheist as such. But I don't see the sign as an affront to her belief or that it's "unconstitutional." Meaningless, yes, but not unconstitutional.
einLesenderArbeiter 1 month ago
@einLesenderArbeiter "Accordingly, the First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by the government but protects religious activity that is initiated by private individuals"
I wouldn't care to complain about it either if I was there. But it may be considered unconstitutional. Even though it's not an activity it's not private, it's placed for the entire school.
raydredX 1 month ago
@raydredX What if they attached a disclaimer to it: "The thoughts and opinions expressed in this sign do not necessarily reflect that of the school's administration; they belong solely to the author of the sign, [Johnny Biblethumper]. Moreover the school's administration does not have an official religious belief or lack thereof, yet nevertheless feels that all individuals have the right to express their opinions, albeit stupid ones, in public." You can spin it any way you want.
einLesenderArbeiter 1 month ago
@einLesenderArbeiter It's still put on the school. Can club people post things around? I guess they can so maybe they could use that excuse but they posted it as a school thing so not this one.
raydredX 1 month ago
@einLesenderArbeiter I can admit that this was relatively mild compared to most of the violations I've witnessed. But, we don't all agree on the appropriateness or offensiveness of the same material and the mildness of a constitutional violation does not invalidate the violation. I wish I had the same guts as Jessica because there's a mild statute of an angel at the entrance to my school that is also in violation and offends the hell out of me.
gotrootdude 1 month ago
@gotrootdude If you get bent out of shape over an angel statue, then you got to admit your life really ain't all that bad.
einLesenderArbeiter 1 month ago
@einLesenderArbeiter That angel at the door of my school is a constant reminder that the sufficiently homogeneous religion of the school's majority can be imposed on others in that school with a supposed impunity. It may seem a small symbol of religious intolerance and oppression but it is still a symbol of religious oppression.
gotrootdude 1 month ago
Like rats on a sinking ship, Christians are becoming vicious toward those who call them out. The more we insist upon separation of church and state the more shrill and violent they become. I have been threatened with violence, subjected to the lowest caliber of filthy insults, and once, nearly run down and killed by a fanatic in a pickup truck as I drove my wheelchair down the road. They hate us with a passion because by comparison, they know we make their beliefs seem foolish. Great video!
Christheatheist1 1 month ago
Ah .. how believers can be such assholes. Look everybody can be an asshole.. but religion makes it allot easier!
masticina 1 month ago
Mr. Tarte, congratulations for your video. One question: have you already made a video about the passages in the Gospels in which Jesus says these bad things you referred to? I think it would be public utility to expose this "other face" of Jesus, especially because as a former catholic priest, you know all that very well. Greetings.
sandrodecott 1 month ago
@sandrodecott, thank you so much for your comment. In other videos (e.g., my Slavery video, and my Was Jesus A Good Teacher video) I have alluded to some of them, but not all. In response to your comment, I have just inserted an annotation from 4:28 to 5:05 listing passages in the Gospels relevant to what I am saying. I hope you will approve of what I have done. Please watch that portion again. Thank you.
edwardtarte 1 month ago 2