The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture

[NaturalSelection101]

this is one of my favorite books in my library. I'm getting a kick out of the atheists who are against this book, but I think using the term Virus instead of Meme is brilliant.

[gigihentz1]

So much hunger, death, wars, blood on the streets, poverty, diseases...etc and all this just because a fucking apple ?!?!?. Also...if god exist, then why em i an atheist. Wake up people and stop believing and worshiping something that does't evidentialy exist and never did. Im so hapy that i know that my mom will never be tortured in hell because she never believed and worshiped god.

[gigihentz1]

The person in this small clip is without doubt wiselly right. Also if god exist then why em i a atheist ? The bible ...after a big research i have made it resulted in having none sens also there are many contradictory paragraphs in there too. The bible is nothing but a hugh bad lie, prouven made by humans.

[derekjanet]

If Jesus Christ is the son of God, and knows everything there is to know then he is a criminal of the worst kind!

No miracles necessary, Just theses few words could have saved millions of babies, "Please wash your hands after using the lavatory--boil contaminated water. Beware the cursed germs that you can not see they bring death. I will show to you how to make disinfectant that will save many loved ones. Amen!"

Jesus holding back this life saving information is a crime against humanity.

[cmpresents]

Atheist, you may fool the world, but you can't fool God, and you can't fool me. Your war against religion is only a diversion. Your war should be against sin, not against religion. You are all God DAMM hypocrites, you don't want to talk about the real problem, because u all know, that u will be found guilty of sin. I'm watching you.

[bambam12345678910]

Even if you don't believe in Jesus, he believes in you. God bless

[MsAgnosticatheist]

Excellent!!! Scientist, psychologist, Historians, PHD, MD, etc. are not being honest with us about religion and the harm it does psychologically and even physically on others. The sexual repression and guilt trips are nothing but harmful to healthy sexual beliefs and development. With the damage religion does to humanity, the least thing people that know of this can do is admit it and not hide or deny it.

[geskoi]

Sexual control by circumcision to generate guilt, but what is the guilt? Having harmed your own child?

[expatted]

Religion fucks up your brain (if you have one).

[Ebuverthebicepcurler]

Religion practically made me insane, and it had a harsh withdrawal. It's good you are making this book.

[cacherry1]

A big "thank you" from a former fundie (raised, went to seminary at 17, left the church at 20). We need more thoughtful and well-informed voices in the community showing that there is a better way. I look forward to reading your book in the (hopefully) not too distant future. I'm writing essays now and hope to have something in print as well someday.

[damon132]

@cacherry1 Glad to hear you escaped. Life is so much less complicated when you don't have to worry about invisible friends. All the best to you.

[lisamaria1972]

Great book!

[manu5671]

hi Darrel I said many months ago i would purchase this book and I've finally ordered it off amazon! looking forward to reading!

[damon132]

Great, let me know what you think.

[manu5671]

will do

[SalvoBrosEnt]

We believe that by controlling humanities most fun and natural of instincts, Religous Inquisitors could control freethinking!?

[ShadowofProclimaton]

I recently, through logical discussion, converted a teenage homosexual catholic who was going through extreme confusion due to his sexuality mixed with his religion. Its been a few weeks now and he reckons he has never felt so free. Amazing the effects that curing the virus can have on someones life in such a short period of time.

[kekvirag1]

If you check the criminals motivations, the first reason to do crimes is lack of sex and plesure.

[damon132]

I would suggest that it is a little more complex than that.

[errskin]

the world would be a much better place if we all got laid more

[damon132]

Nicely said.

[badakita]

The need for attachments and an identity are the root cause, these needs inevitably bring about crisis. Crisis leads you to explore a world of duality. This will perpetuate the cycle of thoughts until it is either recognized or you die. Imagine a train, with multiple stops on a circular track. It matters not where you get on, your destination will always be the same.

[Andie1384]

What does unbelief do? It robs you of your joy, and it makes you dumb. You wont be sharing, witnessing, rejoicing, singing, or praising. Your lips will be sealed, if your heart is cynical. But if you are one who embraces with child like simplicity the messenger, the scripture, the promises of the father that has been given to you will come to you but only if you embrace it and you will speak and rejoice. So dont tell me there is no god if you havent even gone looking for him

[damon132]

Your comment reminds me of George Bernard Shaw's famous quote: "The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality." Remember the Moslems, Hindus, Mormons and Scientologists are just as happy as you are in their respective delusions. Enjoy being a child, I prefer adulthood myself.

[wordavee]

@Andie1384

You mean, ignorance is bliss?

"Unbelief" as you call it does not rob you of joy, it frees you from guilt and the constant worry of sin.

"It makes you dumb"?? It seems that theists are filfully ignorant, ignoring scientific facts that do not agree with the sctiptures.

"You wont be sharing, witnessing, rejoicing, singing, or praising." Once you get rid of all that, you will be free to go out and enjoy your short life, go and do something useful, charity work for example.

[awatson945]

@Andie1384

I was a Mormon and believed in god. I was happy. I shared, witnessed, rejoiced sang and praised. I served a two year mission and spent many hours on my knees praying to god and asking for guidance.

Now I know the truth and it has set me free (John 8:32). I'm very happy as an atheist. So are my wife and kids. :-) Very happy.

[awatson945]

As a Mormon I shared, witnessed, rejoiced, sang and praised.

I now know the truth and it has set me free and made me far less neurotic. I'm happy and atheist. So is my family.

:-)

[MaggieLovesJimmy]

I'll have to read the book. I was also thinking about writing about religion...though as a tool that people can use for good or bad..or perhaps a powerful extension of their own convictions. Something like that. Arguing against its absolutism.

[PowerSprinter]

that sounds like a very intellgent idea for a book

[stevendurr]

i was just about to write somthing exactly like this book

[lnstrumentalist]

Subscribed.

[nathanomgnathan]

200th rating, it was a 5 star

[y0nd3r]

Wow, this is the first time I have run across this guy. I like the way he talks.

[willgarrow]

I ordered your book from Amazon and enjoyed it very much. After being immersed in fundamentalism for decades, I can attest you are right on in all your observations! As a recovering religionist though, I have only one question: Why is there something rather than nothing?

[jimbrown257]

This is seemingly the best argument for a god. However, if you think about it, it makes no sense to answer the question with god. It is also a science and learning stopper.  Since the beginning of time people have been using god as an answer for anything that they didn't understand. It is only when we cast the idea of a god aside that we are able to actually learn anything. Everything we have learned about the world has shown us that there is no god behind the curtain.

[jimbrown257]

Religious people ask that a lot and they say that god has always existed but they never wonder why there should be a god; what is the reason for the existence of a god?

[damon132]

I'll answer your question with another. Is god an atheist? Does he deny that he was created by another god or more supreme being? Fun little conjecture for the Christianists and Islamists.

[PowerSprinter]

conjecture?

no

straw man? yes

it makes no sense, the thing that seperates God from us is that he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end

therefor he needs no creator as human restrictions dont apply to a diety outside of human time/law/universe

i am honestly suprised that an intelligent man like yourself would make such a silly comment

[Spectre11B]

I'm not surprised you misunderstood the question. You're not even using the word straw man correctly.

If you admit that God is the Alpha, then he is by default an atheist with regards to believing in a more supreme being.

The question wasn't rocket science.

[sum1unxpected]

"the thing that seperates God from us is that he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end. therefor he needs no creator as human restrictions dont apply to a diety outside of human time/law/universe"

in other words, god exists because he just does. you can believe that if you want, but it's just a tautology.

[DogmaDebunker]

i'm definately getting the book! It looks like there's a 5th horseman ;)

[damon132]

Well, maybe just mule rider, but gets me there just the same. Thanks for the complement. Let me know if you still think so after you read it.

[fetalbetal]

"mule rider" thats effin hillarious i agree ... thank you

[siciliano29]

This is pretty much a ripoff of "The Virus Of Faith" by Dawkins.... but I guess the more videos and books we have on this topic, the better, so I'll excuse the similarity! ;)

[damon132]

As I say in the intro of the book, I owe a lot to Dawkins for the idea. I do not rip him or anyone else off. At the same time, he is not a psychologist and neither are the other atheist authors. None cover the territory that I explore. After reading them you still don't know how to deal with your religious mother, boss, child or neighbor. There is a whole realm to be explored in what it means to deal with those who are infected with religion.

[siciliano29]

I apologize, I haven't read the book so I didn't know...and thus, probably shouldn't have commented! lol ;) Regardless, we do need ALL the books we can get on this topic, so before even reading it, I commend you for writing it.

Great videos too!

[damon132]

Accepted. Hope you will read the book and thanks for watching the video's. I started doing them because I realize that most people won't read my book or any other book, yet they need to hear the message as well. Videos can't capture all the message, but hopefully, enough that people can get immunity from religious indoctrination or at least recognize their infection.

[Saktoth]

I wouldnt say sex is just about guilt and repression, if you look at the history of religion as a moral code it makes a lot of sense to not screw around when you dont have contraception. Contraception is what really makes these laws totally irrelevant.

[VesusSheist]

"infected with religion"

hehe.

[johnstall5350]

when you talk about the statistic that evangelicals have a higher divorce rate than agnostics and atheists, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that 'it is shown that religion does not successfully keep couples together, and in more stable families than the non-religious, who show a lower rate of divorce.' I say this because religion may not be the direct cause for divorces, but maybe correlates with something that makes people more likely to get divorced.

[damon132]

You are correct, correlation is not causation. The evidence, however does point to my conclusion from other data that I do not have time to discuss in the video. I go into detail in the book. For example, the most religious and least married group in the US is Black women. That is another nail in the coffin for the myth that religion helps marriages and relationships. I could site more. Thanks for your comment and you are correct.

[thefakeyeti]

I love how you say very offensive things, like it is a simple fact of life, and you appear to be GENUINE!

(Mainly when it comes to the "imaginary friend" comments)

[Cissy2cute]

Don't you wish that YouTube would actually put replies to comments UNDER the comments that people are replying to???

Anyway, to the poster who wrote that maybe this should be called "The Religion Virus"--there will be a book of that title coming out next year by another author. Sounds like we will have two great companion books to enjoy!

[Cissy2cute]

I haven't read the book yet but as an atheist I am familiar with the usual--Dawkins, Hitchens etc. I have been looking for information on how religion takes hold so early and esp. how otherwise rational people seem to turn off the thinking part of their brains when it comes to this belief system.

I believe there have been some studies on how the brain structure is actually altered over time when people become highly religious. I'm definitely buying this book and open to further suggestions.

[BobbyColePopMusic]

I am so thrilled as an ex christian, now approaching 50 years old, that religion is running out of breathing room and people in large numbers are finally speaking out, writing books, taking out bus ads .....

Nothing is making me happier than watching these people squirm and they don't know where to turn. It makes a few more decades but truth and reason will win out.

It's about time.....

[manu5671]

will do! im very interested in pyscology especialy wen it comes to religion as i am an ex catholic

[manu5671]

im buying this book!

[damon132]

Thanks for the comment. Let me know what you think of the book when you are finished.

[Foxplayz]

The only pity I have is the children of all the sheeple who have done nothing wrong but to be born into a religous family of people who cannot think past the sermon given to them every sunday.

Religion is without a doubt the biggest thing in the way of humanity as a whole unifying for the comman good. Donating extra money for the community and being a good person on the surface sound's great.

Idealism, Holy war's (both current and historic), seperatism, and more, far outweight's the good

[Sargo197]

Perhaps you should have not titled your book The God Virus, and instead used "The Religion virus."

[damon132]

I do not care if someone has a god belief, I just want them to be aware of the very earthly manipulations of those who would claim to have a direct line to a god. There are scientific and psychological explanations for religious phenomenon. Each year, even more are explained. There is less and less room for traditional god belief if one simply looks at the evidence. 1500-2500 year old holy books are not much evidence for anything except the workings of a primitive and superstitious culture.

[Sargo197]

I think a personal concept of God is OK.

The problem is what religion does. And the kind of God it teaches. The jealousy, the anger, the need to be worshipped - all seem to be characteristics of man and not an all powerful creator.

[2SLipo]

If God doesn't exist, I guess demons, evil spirits, and other supernatural stuffs should not exist too, right? If not, give me your best explanation why these supernatural things should exist but not God. BTW, I got first hand encounter with demon possessed persons.

[damon132]

You are correct, demons and spirits do not exist except in the minds of those who have little scientific understanding of how the human brain works. Despite great efforts, none of the so-called paranormal investigators have been able to establish any empirical evidence for demons, etc. Just take a look at primitive societies that see demons and spirits everywhere as did our ancestors. We now know these were often easily explained by natural processes. Grow up, learn about the real world.

[2SLipo]

I did not say they do not exist. In fact, I know they do exist because I've witnessed them with my own eyes. Can you explain me scientifically how a teenage girl would temporarily have a man's voice, be stronger than ten grown up men, read your mind, be able to summon snakes from nowhere?

[Cissy2cute]

2SLip-we are barely scratching the surface of knowledge as to what our minds are capable of. People shouldn't turn to mystical interpretations without exhausting scientific ones. And because of our knowledge of the brain (or lack of it) rational explanations cannot be ruled out.

About summoning snakes etc--learn about the tricks people have pulled in order to con others into believing in their "performance". I would check with a magician first before assuming a magical origin.

[newplayer120]

U grow up and learn about the real world. For God exist, and Demons do exist. One time, i woke up and there was literally a man who i didn't even know and i blinked and he was gone. Now lets hear about your poo exuse of how it "our little minds"

[Cissy2cute]

@newplayer120--yes, it is our mind. What you experienced is called "hypnagogia" and is a well documented and common phenomenon. This occurs when the brain is either entering sleep or waking up (as in your case). The brain is partially still in a dreaming state and complete waking up has happened but remnants of the dream are still held in memory.

Many people experience this as seeing ghosts upon awakening. It can also affect the other senses, including smell, as well.

[damon132]

Atheists decompose just as surely as you will. A little science education would go a long way, read more science and get rid of your holy books and have a good life while it lasts. Invisible friends don't have the power of science and medicine. Nobody lives forever, now or after death. Get used to it, it is liberating to recognize this simple fact and leave the brainwashing you received. Grow up in the universe and you will be amazed. It is far more interesting than your holy book.

[rchiefnbn]

Lean not on OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING......

Who put the Earth? or the UNIVERSE? Can a MAN do it?

If there are creations, who created it?

[RussianAssassin21]

Why is it immediately phrased as a "who" question?

[rchiefnbn]

If an Atheist die?

Are they going nowhere?

[damon132]

You are correct, and you go nowhere as well. You will be dust as much as your dog or the dead ant. Get used to it, it is a very liberating idea. No longer tied to imaginary friends who tell you crazy things to do. Neither Allah, Yahweh, Zeus, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster are going to greet you when you die. Have fun and enjoy the only life you have.

[trknadam]

My aunt now hates my guts. Which is very christian of her. She's a Sunday school teacher and her son is gay. I talked to him about being true to himself & I helped him to deconvert from christianity. My cousin is now ok with who he is thanks to your book. It seriously saved him from wanting to end his life. It's helping me out a lot as well. You help prevent a tragic consequence of religion and I can't thank you enough. My life mission is to help deconvert as many people as possible.

[gblueslover2]

God is as real as one's imagination is...

[pammer12345]

Thank you for speaking out on the harm of religion. I was raised in an evangelical home, and it was terribly damaging to me. It took me years of therapy to get over the dysfunction of my background. I am now a guilt-free atheist, for the most part, but the scars remain. Now, there is something creepy to me about religion. Any religion, but I'm mostly triggered by christianity. I'm so glad that now I have the freedom to question, and believe that there is no god.

[trknadam]

Good for you. It takes a lot of willpower, intellegence & strength to get out of that. I too am atheist and I was brought up in a Luthern family. Only a few in my family know about my beliefs. You really should be proud that can now think clearly. If you would like I have a lot of Atheist humor saved to my channel that you may check out.

[MishaVargas]

If, say, atheists are, on average, more educated or wealthy, it seems this could be responsible for the difference in divorce rates. Not to mention that divorce is not necessarily always a bad thing.

The fact that Catholics have a relatively low divorce rates could actually be a sign of people denying themselves opportunities in life in deference to strong dogma from the church.

These bare numbers Do very little to persuade me of anything.

[damon132]

Very good question. While hypnosis has only been called that for about 100 years, it has been known for thousands of years. Priests, Shaman, Medicine Men and preachers learned the skill from their teachers. Humans can go into trance from simply dancing for a long period to the beat of a drum. Almost every culture on earth knows how to do that. Today, we know it as hypnosis. Speaking in tongues is the result of hypnotic trance and is 2000 yrs. old.

[boumar19721972]

And of course don't forget drugs.Today it's taboo but back then it would be used for "spirituality".Take some magic mushroom and you will see angels for sure.

[Grak70]

There's a theory floating around in anthropology that this might have been how the practice of brewing was preserved. Someone leaves their millet out in the rain and then tries to dry it out (malting), then notices it makes sweet bread. People start doing it on purpose and someone leaves it out AGAIN (mashing). If you drink it a week or two later, it makes you feel funny. The priests get wind of the mind altering properties and the rest is history. :-)

[sparetimevideomaker]

there is one question i have. I honestly don't believe that the people who organized the church over a 1000 years ago could have thought of hypnosis and all of those things.

[theoryac]

you have to think a bit further back, the folks who organized the church were a huge corp marketing a meaning of life. the ideas in scriptures are thousands of yrs older than that. + they were eating mushrooms and stuff. then tryin to explain the spiritual experience to each other. there was mixing of culture and spiritual ideas, its never explained well, but the major religions are just rewrites of older stories, + ideas were shared from the east, who are well documented in meditation.

[grimbitter]

Sure they could have! Get a group of people together, around the fire at dinner, and have one person start clapping rhythmically. Everyone will join in, right? Put a chant, or a song, on top of that clapping, and the repetition makes it easier for everyone to remember. Call and response, plainchant, singing (like with the psalms)... they're all forms of hypnosis.

[damon132]

I think you fail to see that all are perversions. That each makes a claim to be pure or have a pure version which others cannot know or achieve. The argument falls far short. There is no pure faith, only common delusion from which some do benefit disproportionately.

[villefan09]

Damon, atheists make several good points concerning christians, however, have you ever seperated the "ideal type" from its perversions. Built into any institution are relations of power, where the few benefit. Many christians are brainwashed into a religion they dont understand i.e. tulip. There is practical logic to christian life. If you dont look objectively at the faith, and seperate it from its perversions, you will validate (as you have) all claims against faith.

[damon132]

Thanks for the comment, but man, you are about as infected as you can get by the god virus. The way you look at the world is like the lottery, your betting your god is going to beat all the other gods. You better hope it isn't the Mormon, Sunni, Shiia, Zoarastrian or Scientology god that shows up on that day. You will be toast.

[ChristianTULIP]

Forget this Video!

God has appointed a day of Judgment in which all sinners will be condemned

2Peter3:7

But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men

Faith in Jesus is the only way of escape:

John3:18

He that believes on him is NOT condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the..only begotten Son of God

Repent &Turn to JESUS!

[MyUsernameIsFuckyou]

God is just an imaginary friend for adults. Everyone is born Atheist until their religious brain dead parents and stupid society destroy their innocence and individuality and turn them into obedient god fearing sheep. Religion ruins lives.

[bearchewtoy75]

You mean you don't believe in a talking demonic snake who made a naked lady eat a bad apple causing all suffering in the world?

Then, hundreds of years later sent a Jewish Zombie to make everything all better?

Oh, yeah and don't forget about the boat! It was a REALLY BIG boat!

[lamarjlp914]

Let's not forget the massive jewish exodus from Egypt that no one can find evidence for.

[lamarjlp914]

You're right on. Of all the usernames I've seen on youtube, yours is by far the best.

[dkw12002]

The techniques they all seem to employ is to make sure that you understand that their particular religion is the ONLY valid one. The Muslims call Mohamad the Last profit..hence, no newer religions are valid and of course there is no god but Allah, whoever that is. You are to have no other gods before the Judeo/Christian god either. The Christians of course believe that only through Jesus can you get to heaven, so all those others are headed for hell for not seeing the obvious necessity of JC.

[iliacus]

Faith is believing what you know ain't so.

[Ultimist]

He's not an enemy of god. He's an enemy of bullshit.

[vesiu5]

Perfect example of reductionism. For example, he reduces worship and love for God to "hypnotism." He reduces faith to "religion," as if its just a category like politics. You will always notice that a enemy of God will only see "religion" and never faith. Please stop talking about what you will never understand. Try having faith first than arguing.

[Theronguardaaah]

Because faith is religion.

[damon132]

Sir, you are among the most infected. Does your church know that you are on the internet? Do they approve of you viewing YouTube?

[MysteryAC]

This is why I follow the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Hate them all you want, they've shown me more than the world has ever offered.

People hate them solely because they go door to door.

christiandom is responsible for murdering mass amounts of people, Catholicism has boy hungry pedophile ministers, and yet people hate witnesses because they go door to door.

I don't get it.

[Ultimist]

MysteryAC, you don't get it because you are mis-stating the facts. We don't hate JW's *just* because they go door to door. I don't hate the Fuller Brush man.  What we hate is the idea that you have so little respect for others' beliefs that you feel you must impose your beliefs upon them. What we hate is that you come at inconvenient times, wanting to consume far too much of our time, and for what? To shove your bullshit down our throats?

[Ultimist]

You're not out there just to visit or be a part of the community or to make friends. You're out there to infiltrate neighborhoods and whole communities with your garbage. I wholeheartedly believe that you'd actually *recruit* more to your following simply by staying home and allowing people to decide for themselves whether they want to know more about your beliefs or your church.

[kwanjin1]

I've heard that Jehovah's Witnesses were more successful at surviving in Nazi prison camps than some other groups because they stayed together and helped each other. I've never particularly hated Witnesses for knocking on my door any more than I've hated other people for doing the same thing. If I don't wan to talk I just say no thanks. So not everyone hates you guys.

[PenItFoMeYo]

Dude..they go door to door TALKING about religion. God damn, dont follow anyone. Think for your own self.

[BedsideBandit]

Because they're trying to sell their religion like a vacuum cleaner...Never mind vacuum cleaners have a practical purpose.

[damon132]

I am aware of these studies, they do focus on the US mostly. What of the higher health and lower religiosity in Sweden or other European countries? Correlational studies are interesting but say nothing about causality. Other hypotheses need to be tested. Perhaps it is more difficult for a non-believer to live happily among so many religionists. Reduce the level of overall religion and health improves for the non-religious as well. One must always be careful not to infer causality.

[seanboy360]

George LK, Ellison CG, and DB Larson. 2002. Explaining the relationships between religious involvement and health, Psychological Inquiry 13(3): 190-200.

Hummer RA, Rogers Rg, Nam CB, and CG Ellison. 1999. Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality, Demography 36(2): 273-285.

Koenig HG, McCullough ME, and DB Larson. 2001. Handbook of Religion and Health. New York: Oxford University Press.

These are meta data studies that show religious people are healthier, happier and live longer. :)

[thisguysajerk]

happy is subjective. i'd also like to point out most stupid people are really "happy", because they just don't know any better.

[damon132]

We might add that some studies show a negative correlation between IQ and happiness. Atheists on the whole are well above average in IQ 5-10 points .5 to 1.0 SD. One might conclude that low IQ leads to religiosity and greater happiness. The higher the IQ the less religious is a pretty universal result in all studies. Once again, it is dangerous to make causal inferences from correlation studies.

[gph61]

Just some anecdotal observations.

I was raised with no religious teaching one way or the other. I didn't know what "atheist" meant until I was in my 20s.

I've always been fascinated with the religious mind set and even more so with people that break the bonds. I seek out de-conversion stories.

In my experience there is no correlation between religious belief and intelligence. It does seem to me, however, that people that break the bonds tend to be above average.

[Theronguardaaah]

Heres mine in a nut shell. I saw aliens. I astral travel and see ghosts. Wheres god in that? Not once was there an observable tenet that depicts any god.

[knutsondc]

Ever heard the expression "fat, dumb and happy"? Some people are happy because they live in a world of delusion.

People in majority social groups do tend to be happier - they wield power and tend to marginalize minorities. That might explain why Christians report themselves to be happier than unbelievers. As one who has lived his entire conscious life as an atheist in the USA, I can verify that there are plenty of sources of unhappiness for atheists that are caused by Christian bigotry.

[Wytchfinde]

"I can verify that there are plenty of sources of unhappiness for atheists that are caused by Christian bigotry."

True.

[Wytchfinde]

"These are meta data studies that show religious people are healthier, happier and live longer. :) "

Why don't you find other longitudinal studies in later years---I've noticed a great increase in drug and alcohol usage in nearly every religious person I've come across, and before you denounce it as anecdotal, I'm far from the only one. I'm certain such behavior will aid in decreasing life expectancy.

[FreshandTolly]

Im a recovering christian.... wish me good luck!

[xXmafia77Xx]

good job dude!

[sintochan]

Keep up the good work! :) it's hard to get past brainwashing.

[7thDayAtheist]

Great vid. Wonderful to hear you voice your questions and concerns in nothing but a rational, inquisitive fashion (as opposed to many YouTubers). Can't wait to watch the rest of the sessions that you have posted.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

They teach you to conform. There is not logic in religion. No empirical proof. Science had to prove that the sun was the center of the universe. Good Luck with your vision, but you might have a better chance teaching a dog to recite the lord's prayer than to get a Christian to lay down his Bible. People are willing to die or kill for this shit. They feel obligated to act this way. They don't have a choice. They gave that freedom away.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

We enter the stream and follow the current. Fitting in, is very powerful stuff. Even if you are fortunate enough to wake up and see it clearly, you become a candle in the wind; a target. Remember they crucified Jesus because he said he was the son of God. Maybe one day people will see that they too are truely Gods and then we can let it go and just go about living day to day. Most people don't understand how their minds work! They don' t teach that in school.

[KeniLeeBurgess]

The problem is not exclusive to religion. Place the responsibility on the individual not the religious institution. Most, if not all people are raised within some system of religion, or no religion at all; which is also an ideology. We comparison shop for toaster ovens with more intensity than we investigate different religions. This is my point. We are Sheep. Followers. We give away the control of our lives to be governed by the motives and direction of a chosen few.

[1CountryIndivisible]

"We give away the control of our lives to be governed by the motives and direction of a chosen few."

Respectfully, bull shit. I have always been skeptical about everything I was told. I did not always concider myself a-----theist, I just always was. Now that I see a common sense alternative to religion that makes sense to me (evolution thru natural selection), I am home. I arrived at that conclusion for no one but me, pal.

Yeah, bull shit. You have it wrong.

[tinkabella83]

When children are told "god is real" as a fact like "water is wet" they believe.  Continual exposure to the meme through sunday school, youth group, etc. support the belief. It takes active effort to seek other views (at least for me it did and many other atheists I know)

[Meekseek]

Lets face it religion is at the core of the powers that rule this world. It was once the Law, now it's hidden a wee bit hidden but it's there just a powerful as ever.

Religion brings together cliques of people (the everso holy ones ) separates them from the bad ones.. it's insidious in it's quiet little way.

[damon132]

Thanks for the comment, we catch religion from our parents, in most cases. When they behave in ways that call their beliefs into question, it can lead to productive questioning and elimination of the infection. Sounds like that is what happened in your case. Read The God Virus, I think you will find a lot that explains how we can better expose religion.

[1CountryIndivisible]

Damon,

Let's talk. I agree with you, but have some ideas worth sharing. Like world population and religions fixation on sex and birth control. Over population. We need to talk.

Larry

[neoMetallica]

Well Damon I must say I really enjoyed the video. Personally, the only way I think people can truely combat religion is through facts and research. I, myself was raised to be a christian and only after I had a real bad run-in with my dad did I start questioning my religion. I'm not going to say I beleive that there is a God, though I have a big doubt that there is one.

[Razor223311]

Wow, "cippy2k" represents himself/herself as not being a part of ANY school with those comments. It wouldn't even do any good trying to explain anything to a mind so numb. Just go lock yourself in a dungeon with no computer so you don't feel the urge to come online and contaminate people with your stupidity.

[beachtalk]

#3- Actually, as time passes, we are actually "disproving" more of what the Bible has to say.

#4- People die for ideas and their values all of the time. This does not guarantee that their ideas are right, or good, or valid. Because religion is so precious to believers, they are often ready and willing to die for their religious ideals and values. Dying for an idea or belief does not make it real or true.

[damon132]

Your ignorance of science is astounding. I assume you are a product of some fundamentalist school. You certainly have bought some fundamentalist party line lock stock and barrel. I would only ask that you read something that might challenge your assumptions #1-4. A very small amount of research will give you pause to rethink your assumptions - if you are so inclined. Thanks for your comment.

[cippy2k]

well now #1 There are no athiests on the battlefields

#2 our earth is tilted in such a way as to give us the correct amount of sunlight and is situated just so in the heavens..by the way how do you explain the miracle of birth??? acording to studies od ancient history the more they try to diprove the bible the more the artifacts show what was said was true

#4 would you dDIE for a fictional character?

How do you explain the BIBLE staying power despite the many attempts to destroy it

[Killer0fTheSun]

#1. Pat Tillman was an atheist who died in a battlefield so this one was driven home with nails.

#2. Our earth isnt tilted at all.Miracle of birth?Exaplain Jospeh Merrick please.

The bible disproves itself every passing day as the flood and moses exodus are simply fables.

#4. Many muslims also die for their religion.

The bible's staying power?Each year its been re-written and edited for the catholic churches desires to manipulate weak minded people.

[nixonfanatic]

I almost choked reading his list. Good job on your 4, I just felt the need to add a bit more flesh to 'em.

Your #4 is a clincher for me too. If folks of different spiritual bent achieve the same 'bliss' or act the same in the name of different faiths, how can one seriously postulate the 'truth' of one or the other.

Well put, sir.

nix

[nixonfanatic]

Seriously, I'm with KIller0fTheSun here. All four of these are patently false.

1) My father and brother = atheist soldiers.

2) Birth = genetics, easily explained. Well not easily for laymen, but it's all research-prone and makes perfect sense. Miracle? How about cancer, birth defects, and so on?

3) The gospels contradict each other on the events of 'the resurrection', and other gospels were rejected by the church.

4) See #3. The book has been culled and rewritten numerous times.

nix

[damon132]

I actually went through seminary in my 20's and decided to get out of that trap but it gave me much of what I needed to resist religious infection.

[DrNevaluvaho]

soon one day atheism will take over and crime will lower

[mikesinner69]

Religion is a cancer.

[Valetudo21]

I am a believer in Christ, but I am going to be open minded while I listen to your videos.

[orangearky13]

Wow, how you have progressed above your HypoChristian peers. To openly admit that you are willing to open your mind. Tell us, was it a difficult decision?

[Gustaveman6]

Pete puma, thankyou for not being ignorant, you are so right. Ther is o way to comprehend how everything began, thousands of possiblities for it to. Might as well beleive something to an extent were you can still enjoy life and make your own choices, so you wont be restless

[PetePuma00]

Although I agree with much of what you said, I am religious, and do my "religion" cafeteria style. I take what I want, and ignore the rest. It works fine for me. I don't necessarily confine myself to one particular religion either. Why should I? I don't feel a need to discuss my beliefs with others either. It's really none of their business, nor is it my business to "spread the word" I figure.

[skylineaddict]

I wish there were more religious people like you. The spread-the-word quality of most religious people is what makes me hate them so much.

[damon132]

I am not religious. I am an atheist who was raised in a fundmentalist home. I know the damage of all religions and wish to demonstrate the manipulations and infection techniques common to all religions.

[skylineaddict]

You misunderstood me. I was referring to a comment by PetePuma00.

[trknadam]

I'm one of the few family members my homosexual cousin feels comfortable around. I'm an atheist and not brainwashed to be a bigot by religion like most of my family. Most religions make their believers think its ok to be a bigot towards gays, athiests and people of other creeds and ethnicity. It also causes war & terrorism(A bunch of people fighting over who has the best imaginary friend)! How many times have you heard of athiests violently attacking gays & bombing abortion clinics?

[julianalmasude]

This book sounds like it is really good.

Consider it on my wish list. :-)

[ChuckyJesus666]

Very well put!! Thanks for the videos!

[selinakyle]

I think the message is more important than the technical quality of the videos. Low budget doesn't equal 'crack-pot', sheesh!

I appreciate authors like Daniel Ray. I used to be very religious and the analysis that he gives on the psychology used to manipulate and control is very informative. It works, it worked on me for many years.

[VirginAthena2]

Nice serie. thanks for uploading.

[damon132]

Thank you for the feedback, unfortunately, I am not independently wealthy with resources to devote to professional production quality video and have a full time job to attend to. I put these videos up with the hope that the message is sufficiently valuable.  I will put some lecture pieces up as I have time and resources to create them. I too, prefer that format.

[foolsbetrippin]

keep it up. i was enthralled. : ) i really feel isolated where i am. how can i get in touch with more atheists?

[xlioilx]

youtube =DDDD but why feel isolated just Go out and be a person stop thinking with labels I hang out with anyone I just don't talk about religion and you never know I've been in situations where people have just come out and said FUCK RELIGION out of no where its strange how that works anyhow ENJOY!

[BraveUlysses01]

This is brilliant. I've read a lot of stuff (such as by Daniel Dennett) on the nature of religion as an infectious meme, but this sounds magnificent. I'm definitely hunting this one down!

[Uncle5cary]

High divorce rates among evangelicals? It seems people who live in a fantasy world make bad decisions. Religion works on the two strongest human emotions: conceit and hatred.

[damon132]

Thanks for your kind comment. Glad you enjoyed the book. I think it is very important to talk objectively and psychologically about this very "man made" phenomenon we call religion.

Darrel

[comicus59]

Get this book, it will give you an entirely different way to look at religion, how it works on the mind, and what it really is!!