Xian Caller: Atheist Evangelism Part 2 - A.E. #585

[GuacamoleKun]

Matt is really a great guy, he obviously spends so much of his free time trying to help people who are confused, and he's smart enough that he does it really well. He could have been harsh with this girl but he recognized that she was reaching out despite her tone of voice and he reached right back.

[milkmankennedy]

why is it that christians act like they're being forced at gunpoint to watch this show or something? You hate waht the mean ol' atheists say, then don't fucking watch it!

[rumsonale23]

Wow, what's with all the emotional, ad hominem comments on this video? The chick is confronting 35 YEARS of indoctrination and is probably freaking out, which is why she's so defensive. It'd be a nicer world if more people learned to sharpen their ability to empathize and their comprehension skills.

I'm glad they didn't hang up on her and remained patient with her because they potentially helped another person drop the shackles of religion.

[powabiatch]

@rumsonale23 Definitely agree. Martin jumped on her too early, when she clearly was trying to tell them that she was struggling with her faith (but he talked over her). Understandable, because 9 out of 10 theist callers go the other way. But still, he needs to learn to recognize when to encourage questioning rather than immediately going into fight mode. It worked here because eventually they were patient and so was she. Also, Matt is the best host.

[dborg321]

@rumsonale23 You know what - Im an atheist and I have to totally agree with you - well put. Guys I know you are passionate - but you are dealing with people (Like myself) who have grown up in Christian households -and all their lives have had this crap put on them. Give the guys a chance - if they start to see the light -recognise it and encourage it. Its so frustrating when you sometimes alienate our christian friends who quite possibly could be "starting to see the REAL light!!!"

[rumsonale23]

@dborg321 Thank you. That's exactly what I'm saying. Give people a chance. I come from a religious background as well, and my deconversion process was long and difficult. There were times I felt just like this caller. If we as atheists want to promote what we feel is the truth, then we should be more understanding with people like this. By "people like this", I mean people who may be on the verge of deconverting.

[sansdeity420]

fucking dumb bitch. should have just hung up on her ignorant ass

[Cerulean0987]

@photolitherland One of the primary reasons for "hang on, hang on" is that it the atheism vs. belivers debate is so complex that sometimes people without disapline bring into the argument multiple elements. To put a full stop to this is to decrease the complexity and to take on one issue at a time. It makes these arguments less "muddy".

[cherylsalo]

Xians believe that "I don't know" = God

Just because we don't know something yet, does not make God the default answer.

[GHBTHCLSD]

This woman is so dense!

[MWcrazyhorse]

ah come on give the woman a break. after 35 years of christianity she obviously feels she has no time to loose to find some truth and thus is a lil' pushy.

[HelmutVonSphincter]

In order to begin to understand, she needs to STFU. She had some decent questions, but has a major listening problem and quite possibly a booze problem, slurring her words and interrupting.

[ninjajesus81]

@HelmutVonSphincter Some women talk like that; loud and long and not ceasing until they're done, no matter if someone else is trying to say something.

She is probably a drunkard, though.

[carpnter2000]

This bitch is sloppy drunk and called this show as a joke on a dare from someone. IMO

[oraclecrank]

35 years old?

Based on her argument and knowledge of science, I thought she was like 15.

[greyman000]

Well, thats the problem. Many religious persons never grow up as they kling to their "space-daddy" in the same way children cling to their parents.

[omnissient]

She was probably a really nice girl before she was brainwashed into a lying dieshonest piece of sh1t

[rickelmonoggin]

She's drunk.

[newcoyote]

You could be right. But it does sound like she is genuinely trying to understand. Unfortunately her argumentativeness is getting in the way. Good thing the hosts are so patient.

[oraclecrank]

4:30 on a Sunday afternoon is as good a time as any for a Christian to get shittrashed, I guess.

[Xavier350]

Fail

[boorens18]

hes saying that by finally listening seriously to the arguments against his religion (aka broadening his mind) he realised he couldnt justify religious belief.

[wehavebiscuits]

Argh, why don't they show the atheist experience in Sweden?

[xxdjsethxx]

Because it's a Public Access show in Austin, TX They do have UStream's which are live webcast of the show. You can check their website for more info, and search youtube, Plenty of videos!!

[andytoz]

I love what he said in the last minute. You need to be ok with saying "I don't know"

[BrellK]

It's true, but unfortunately I think it gets religious people all upset because they aren't allowed to say that. After being brainwashed, they are made to believe that it is wrong to say "I don't know" and it automatically turns some people off. How sad :(

[weepaul666]

@BrellK

True. They're told if they even begin to question god, they're going to hell. So they don't even begin to question it. Pretty genius idea in a sick way

[RLF777]

"evangelical militant atheism" is used by theists as an epithet for the "militant evolutionists who want to silence the idea of creation". It is sometimes used pejoratively to describe people who are considered to campaign too actively, in your face and outspokenly or militantly for atheism and against religion: "those who advocate the elimination of religion" as opposed to "progressive, enlightened people who are simply 'nonbelievers'.

[wehavebiscuits]

Elimination of religion?

Not really. My ideal society would be a society of rationalism. Religion would be completely ok if people believed in it on rational and logical grounds, and not because of indoctrination or other such reasons.

That would automatically eliminate alot of beliefs, and the ones which would be left would be vague and not close to as detailed as the bible says.

We do not want to silence religion. We want it to talk logically, instead of stupidly with authority

[RLF777]

YouTube Search:

"Evangelical Atheism"

Great Video on the Topic...

[euspun]

I'm lost somewhere in the Ouachita (Washita) National Forest in Arkansas. Right after this I saw a Bald Eagle fly right overhead, first time Id seen one for almost a year! Im still lost, could somebody send a rescue group. Dont ask how Im using a computer, I dont even know!

[pyrix]

It's called sarcasm.

[joeloud1]

I hope she made it to Threadgill's.

[shuffenhauser]

Sweet, I'll be in good company.

[RayetWolf]

She was raised for 35 years. Huh, is she that slow? Most I know are finished being raised at around 18.

[a68rebel]

Listen to the answers dumb bitch.

[1secondabs]

Wow...Good call from Drew Barrymore.

[TheConciseStatement]

I love Drew Barrymore but she sounds like the type of person who might come out with, "I'm a very spiritual person".

[Pelonetillo]

LOL

[daddyleon]

And how can you guys... !CUT!

Aww, I wanted to see & hear more.

That woman seemed to have trouble with it, and kept struggling to find answers.

Too bad it's been cut off. :S

[ruin3r]

Can you blame them? arguing with a creationist/bible literalist is like arguing with an mentally ill/insane person who doesn't grasp simple facts about reality, you tell them there's evidence the earth is billions of years old, they say "no it's not, pink unicorn in the sky made it 6000 years ago". You show there is evidence of evolution, they say "no, pink unicorn in the sky did it". It's like debating a 4 year old who knows nothing about scientific evidence, they are intellectual midgets.

[daddyleon]

Blame who for what?

[kyokumajr]

That's a pretty harsh way of putting it.

[ruin3r]

I don't see it as being harsh.. It really does feel like debating someone who is mentally ill because no matter what you say you can't get them to accept proven scientific facts, they deny or ignore everything, yet in their mind, if the bible said 2 + 2 = 5 they'd go to their grave claiming that to be true. Religion flies in the face of all intellectual thought. would you be less harsh to someone who wanted to dictate morality based on their belief in the tooth fairy or loch ness monster?

[kyokumajr]

You have a good point; though not all theist I talked to are like that when it comes to debating about theology/god/etc wise.

[daddyleon]

No, that's not what happened.

Anyway, I think it was brave of her to step up to her own convicton. That's really hard; like Matt said, you have to revise everything you believed, that's not easy.

I never had to do that, and I'm happy for that.

She's prolly told that as a young kid, and thought that was the truth, and raised her kids in that way because you want to teach yuor children important lessons. If you realise you've done it wall wrong... your whole world collapses.

[daddyleon]

That's prolly why they knit together that well. They are strapped together with fair, not just for what their sins will geve them in the end, but also what if they would be wrong. So, rather save than sorry. Avoiding something you dislike is a strong 'reinforcer', that's how phobias work too.

People avoid them as much as they can so they won't experience the fear (+ what they are afraid of; pain, death, unpleasantness,etc).

That's why I think it's brave she seeks truth - a life changing event.

[kyokumajr]

lol it's not cut off. The conversation pretty much ends after it. The woman asks when they are broadcasting, wishes happy holidays & they move to next caller.

[daddyleon]

Well she said: "And how can you guys..."

And then the video stopped - it was cut.

If you thought I meant that they cut her off, no that's not what I meant.

I was just interested in what she had to say. - I started to care for her, and her (inner)struggle.

[kyokumajr]

She asks "How often can you guys broadcast?" or smth like that, they answer. Then she basically thanks them & the conversation ends.

They haven't cut her off/neither did I; it's just she ended the discussion herself.

[daddyleon]

Yes, yes, I understand.

I just thought the convo wasn't over, that she still had a little question (might have been interesting).

[Ncturnal]

You can see the entire episode on Google Video.

[daddyleon]

Thanks Ncturnal!

I'll search as soon I've got enough spare time, 'cause they broadcast quite long, don't they?

[Ncturnal]

The clips have the episode number posted at the beginning. Each show is about an hour and a half but you can skip through pretty quick and find what you are looking for. Go to atheist-experience (dot) com (slash) archive and pull up episode 585 (the most recent one as of today).

[daddyleon]

Cool, muchas gracias sinyor. xD

[Ncturnal]

This clip starts at 56:45 of that episode.

[daddyleon]

lol!

Thanks for finding it mate, greatly appreciated. ;"-}

[mccote]

Are these clips on YouTube supposed to be the 'best part' of the show? If so, then I'm ok with just watching these clips. Otherwise, I will like to look up the entire episodes on Google Video as you said...

[Ncturnal]

I watch the show live whenever possible. If you notice the episode numbers, there are quite a few from the same episode typically posted and you can catch the majority of the show on YouTube. The point point of the YT clips is they are single subject specific and short. I personally recommend the entire episode if you are able.