Deconversion & Atheism

[ExplodingYak]

before i say anything just like to say my family is very Religous Hey nice veiw i subbed, im actually 13 anyways, Im athiest. becasue, i think.. That we will never understand it like ants wont understand how to speak english Im not saying i give up, its ok to think and try to figure it out, But atm i've just come to that conclusion who knows im only 13 I might end up liek my friends and family

[PerthPete1]

Hi,

Congratulations for having the courage to question & to think for yourself. Having done that, & found that the belief in the imaginary flying spaghetti monster does not provide the answers, you are to be commended for holding to those views, in the face of your family's opposition.

I think that once you have made the conclusion that you believe in real things, you won't be able to accept believing in things which can not be proved. I do not think you will end up like your family.

Peter.

[AuntieDiluvian]

Hey Pete - I hadn't realised you were a proclaimed atheist!! I see we have some subbers/subees in common too.

I've joined Perth Skeptics and Perth Atheists on-line and hope to go to a few of their 'dos'.

Once again, thanks for your comments, this was a very good video!

[PerthPete1]

Hi Roz,

I found you via xxxThePeachxxx. I thought you might be interested in one of the reasons that I subscribed, that we are atheist and your videos speak to me about that, in a fun, enlightening manner that I could never hope to match.

I was not aware of Perth Sceptics or Atheists. It seems that I will need to research some more.

Thanks for your comment.

Peter.

[TheraminTrees]

It was good to watch this again. I remember that spurious statistic you draw attention to, counting people as believers who were just defining themselves in a 'passive' way — they simply hadn't considered refining their self-definition. I think you voice contradictions that many of us — even for the time we continued going through religious motions — held somewhere in our brains. Maybe initially with just a muffled alarm bell — before flinging the doors open! ;8)

[Projoiner1]

I always wondered about that myself mate, all these religions saying they are better than the next, most of them with the same set of rules that they seem to break whenever they see fit, much to the dismay of my grandparents I had to finally say "you know what, this organized religion stuff is a load of crap" How can all these groups preach loving thy neighbor tolerance and peace, and then promote or defend violent actions or reactions to events.... just be nice people, it's so easy....thank you

[PerthPete1]

Hi Daryl,

Thanks for your comment. If you have not done so already, check out some of the comments on this video made by other users.

Peter.

[PerthPete1]

Without watching the videos, I do not see the link between a political system and a belief, (or non belief) system.

Thank you for your comment.

[ExplodingYak]

Lol your pretty funny

[hairyreasoner]

You are a bit of OK--of great--Pete.

Thanks for the video. Wonderful.

[PerthPete1]

Hi, Thanks for your comment and praise.

I hope you have checked out Laci's (gogreen18) series on her doconversion and the channels I mentioned. Their videos are much more impressive than mine.

Peter.

[sy1234]

I always like to hear these stories, thanks for sharing.

[PerthPete1]

No worries, thanks for your comment.

Did you check out the video by Laci, gogreen18. Her story of deconverting from the Mormon church is a much bigger one.

[sy1234]

> Did you check out the video by Laci, gogreen18.

Yep, the word on her got out some time ago and I've been a subscriber ever since. =)

[PerthPete1]

She is great. I have been subscribed to her for about 9 months, but went back and checked all of her videos. Pretty courageous young woman, still living with parents who are still members of the Mormon church.

[sy1234]

> Pretty courageous young woman, still living with parents who are still members of the Mormon church.

But they think this is a phase that she'll grow out of. How insulting.

Also, her dad knows about her YouTube channel.

Awkward!

[ParsonBaiter]

You're allright.

[PerthPete1]

Thanks.

[gogreen18]

3:55 absolutely 1000000% agree, it's quite difficult to come to terms with that in a young mind. you and i are very very similiar. thanks for the wonderful and interesting story, pete! you're a good person. totally favorited :]

[PerthPete1]

Hi Laci,

Wow, favorited, too much! "blush" Thank You!

Thank you, once again, for inspiring me to talk about my experiences. Your courage and bravery to deconvert, at the age of 13, from the Mormon church, a much more full on church than the bland Anglicanism I was raised in, is pretty amazing.

Thanks for your comment.

Peter.

[kberka]

You welcome! We have a large fan base in your great country. We get calls and emails from our shows from Down Under all the time.

[PerthPete1]

Would you therefore have information about Gwaithmir's question (from above) about whether Atheists holds conventions in Australia? You are welcome to respond directly to Gwaithmir. Thank you.

[kberka]

Great job! The Atheist Community of Austin also has great stuff. Look up atheist experience on Google. Over 200, 90 minute videos posted on Google so far. A new show every week.

[PerthPete1]

Thanks for the information although 90 minute videos sound a bit long for me.

Thanks for your comment.

Peter.

[QualiaSoup]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Pete. It's interesting to hear that the situation in Oz is much like that in the UK. No real drama over not believing in gods. The multitude of religions/divisions within religion was a big factor for me too in my questioning process.

Thanks also for your kind words about my channel. They're most appreciated.

[PerthPete1]

part 1

Hi Doug,

I think we are lucky to live in countries where religion is not important. It's a mystery how many religions there are & how they all fight in the name of god, even the same god. What hypocrisy? If there was a god, surely it would say "no fighting over me, or what somebody guessed that I meant when somebody wrote a down an ancient fable that existed long before Christianity" (Did you see the video about "horus" the Egyptian god)

part 2 >>>

[QualiaSoup]

"If there was a god, surely it would say "no fighting over me"

That would be very helpful wouldn't it? Lol!

I'd not seen the video about Horus. Is it on YouTube?

And whether people view my channel or not, I'm still appreciative of what you've said, Pete. Cheers, Doug.

[PerthPete1]

<<< part 1

part 2

Yours, and Theramin's, videos, have helped me to clarify my definition of myself. I probably recognised it many years ago but am much more certain of it now. There is no going back.

I apologise for stumbling over my description of your videos. It would be more correct to say that your videos rebut religion, proving that it is a myth. I hope people get the gist.

Don't expect too many more views, I have only 17 subscribers & some are subscribed to you already.

Thanks,

Peter

[TheraminTrees]

Isn't it remarkable how an open examination of the question 'what does my christianity actually consist of?' can quickly identify a more precise/comfortable self-definition as agnostic or atheist. Your video's a great reminder of all the degrees in between — where there's sometimes a sense of division almost akin to the old 'one drop rule'. Always a delight.

[PerthPete1]

Hi Theramin,

Yours, and Doug's, videos, have helped me to clarify my definition of myself. I probably recognised it many years ago but am much more certain of it now. There is no going back.

My questioning was not a sudden realisation. In the end, the accumulation of the hypocrisy that I saw and the contradiction between facts and a multitude of theories from differing religions, all claiming to represent "The God", saw me step into the world of Atheism, the world of logic and rationality.

[unbeliever1000]

hey!

another atheist from beyond the non-event horizon!

cheers from another perth-ite!

[PerthPete1]

Hi fellow Perth-ite and Atheist.

I quickly checked your channel page. It appears Atheism is a big thing for you. Do you agree with my comments about Atheism not being such a big deal for Australians?

Have you checked out any of the other channels I recommended. They are much better at rebutting religion.

Thanks for your comment.

Peter.

[unbeliever1000]

sort of, it is more correct to say that science is a big thing for me. the reason i got into this was mainly due to the dover trial. but outside of youtube i don't really care that much, i just find pleasure in debate reasoning and thinking in general.....i'm a smartarse i guess.....and i use youtube to express that side of me.

as for the other channels, not yet but i will.

[unbeliever1000]

also yeah religion is not as big a thing here, insofar as much as i have been reading into it there are a few key issues behind that:high levels of education and an open political system with accessible secular labor based positions.

[Gwaithmir]

A couple of questions for both PerthPete1 and unbeliever1000: How is church/state separation in Australia compared to the USA? Do churches and ministries have to pay taxes? Do atheists hold conventions there?

[unbeliever1000]

well i can't say that i have been to the USA but from people i have spoken to it would (i think) be safe to say that even for the believers church plays a smaller roll in life as compared to the USA, and i'm pretty sure they don't pay tax but the separation of church and state is pretty good if not in legislation then in practice.

perthpete1, you have the floor.

[PerthPete1]

Hi. I do not know about the situation in America. From afar, I sense that religion plays a much greater role in politics in the United States than it does here in Australia. The recent controversy over Barak Obama's ex priest/bishop suggests that it is a requirement that your political leaders be practising Christians and be serious about it.

Whereas, here in Australia it is no big deal if a member of parliament is practising religion.

[PerthPete1]

The church is separated from the state in Australia. I do not know if it is the law, but there are no ministers of religion who are members of parliament. Ministers of religion have no direct say about who is a member of parliament, other than there one vote. Nor is it common for parliamentarians to consult religious leaders (exclusively) for direction.

I understand that religions are exempt from tax but that the definition of a religion, for taxation purposes is extremely restrictive.

[Gwaithmir]

My thanks to you both for your attention. I'll check out the channels you mentioned earlier.

[PerthPete1]

Hi,

After all this time, I have found another Perth Atheist. Please check out Auntie Diluvian, see above for her comment on this video.

Peter.

[Gwaithmir]

Would you happen to know if the artist Norman Lindsay was an atheist?

[PerthPete1]

No, I do not know. Sorry I cannot help.

[Gwaithmir]

Just the same, you might want to check out the Australian film "Sirens" starring Hugh Grant, Elle MacPherson, Tara Fitzgerald and Sam Niell. Lindsay's art was a bit anti-clerical, as was his philosophy. It's well worth watching.

[PerthPete1]

Yes, I have seen the film.

[PerthPete1]

I am sure you will enjoy the other channels. They produce great videos which rebut religion and god in a manner way better than I can hope to.

Thanks for your comment.

[Danmill23]

Nice one Pete. I'll check the links.

[Katalyzt]

★★★★★

[PerthPete1]

Yeah, fair enough, sometimes my discussion gets a bit sidetracked. Check out the channels I recommend for more thorough and logical discussion.