Lol at "coming out" as atheist. I don't even know if my parents are religious or not, we have NEVER talked about our personal beliefs in our family. We have never gone to church either.
Feels weird that someone actually has to "confess" to their parents that they are atheist.
Atheism has become much more prominent in the last decade. This thought is comforting, because the likelihood that I'll marry an atheist woman is higher than ever, and I wouldn't have to abide to teaching my future children about God as I would if I had a religious wife. Having an atheist family would give me much more time to be productive, and it would also give me a lot more free time, since I wouldn't be wasting it going to church and kneeling for nothing.
all you atheists fear for eternal condemnation! there is God, he is the bottomline there was no more before him, you know that we all know that! sorry but my english is bad
i remember when i "came out", my parent said she felt like a failure for raising to "lost" people...(my other sibling is a rastafarian), she obviously does'nt know what rastafarianism is, but my family continues to challenge me but what i found most annoying was when i start winning the argument they claim i'm prosecuting them...
i don't understand why families in the US get destroyed because someone in the family is an atheist. When my parents realized that my brother was an atheist, there wasn't any of the stuff mentioned in this video, not even a confrontation. Now my father always implicitly tries to make him believe in god again because in his mind his son is going to hell and he wants to save him but that's pretty much it
@jonsabbagh92 Well, imagine if your father took religion much more seriously. Suppose his beliefs were so crazy and so strong that he thought your brother was doing the work of Satan, and couldn't stand to live with him if he's not a Christian. Your father would then refuse to speak to him, avoid him, and kick him out of the house as soon as legally possible. That happens in the US sometime.
Then in the middle east they take it to extremes, people get beheaded for leaving religion
@bobdonda Well that's my point, that type of ignorance doesn't seem to happen in Lebanon. It only seems to happen in the US or in very extreme middle eastern countries like Saudi or something. The reality I guess is that the problem might not be the religion but rather lack of education and therefore lack of critical thinking, but that's just a guess. I mean my father even though is a very devout Christian didn't do what you mentioned because he's a smart sensible person.
@jonsabbagh92 Yeah it's definitely a cultural thing. And that's something that I've never really understood, how all these unwritten rules of what's acceptable and what's not grow and take hold in a society.
It's just like how in some low-income areas, you'll be ostracized if you try to learn things in school, become educated, and get a good job. What kind of sense does that make, where did that even come from?
The US is great, it's a shame insane cultural quirks have to ruin it
I'm so glad I live in a secular country where people aren't hardcore religious. My father is an Atheist and my mother isn't quite religious per se, but she believes in some kind of higher spirit that governs humans one way or another. However she doesn't believe in Hell, and her belief isn't centered around Jesus as the saviour of mankind, and she rarely goes to church.
Obviously, I've never had any trouble speaking out my Atheism.
I was never "in the closet" about being an atheist, but I'm beginning to wonder if, in some ways, it was easier for me because it was the 1960's, and there weren't a lot of atheists selling books and making public appearances, so I probably confused people, more than anything, when I told them I didn't believe in any gods. One aunt, upon my telling her I'm an atheist, said, "But you believe in god, don't you?" After I stopped laughing, I told her, "No. That's what atheist means."
It's always hard to come out telling people that. I suppose building up your own personal confidence by surrounding yourself with people who have similar views helps you so you don't feel suffocated from withholding information and like Matt said that feeling of being alone. It's not an easy thing all the time depending on the family. I feel for this girl.
I really relate to this caller - I was raised in the Deep South with all the guilt and constant talk of eternal hell and suffering and it is increadibly hard to get rid of that lingering fear. With my mind I know religion is bullshit but the fear of being wrong is always there. I also relate to seeing the constant hipocrisy of the "religious". The good thing is I also see more and more people who are really questioning what they were taught and finding it false. Also - RIP Christopher Hitchens.
This is exactly the kind of person for which this show is made.
My advice is that it is not necessary to stand out as an atheist, but it is important to represent yourself as a person who realizes that vicarious redemption, divine dictatorial power, and ostracizing others are not moral stances. Make it clear you have a firm moral foundation. Slowly you can make it clear that your moral foundation is not dependent on a god or gods.
@sculpt2live so would i be right in guessing that you kind of have multiple popes and multiple HUGE churches? all off differing right wingyness? that sounds like mass child abuse to me. and i guess the size of the US means you have about as much communication from one church to the next as i do with anyone from Norway. the more faiths step on each others toes, the easier it is to see through them all. to be honest im optimistic about the US, still a HUGE problem as you say, but not for long
All the problems "Christians" have with admitting their atheism to themself and others - is astounding to a first-born atheist like me, born in secular Norway.
i feel for you american atheists, the uk isnt nearly as bad. i dont know but i think the way we did it is by ignoring the nut case ones, and getting moderate liberal christans plenty of attention. these guys are much easier to deal with and i their schools are better than state ones. moderate christianity schools in the uk are pumping out atheists because they have to talk openly and allow debate. stop arguing with fools and start working with those who can be kept in check by your constitution.
@callumnik117 Actually, how you in the U.K. did it was by booting all the nut-bags out...and those nut-bags sailed away and became the Pilgrims and that's why America has been half psychotic with religion-rage since.
Not that I blame the peoples of the U.K. in any way. I assure you, had I been there I'd've done exactly the same and, frankly, envy you for having done so. Lucky bastards the lot of ya. =p~
@83redrose83 I don't believe something coming frm nothing, so gods don't cut it for me u might say. Fully atheist??? If you believe in any god(s), you are a theist. If you do not believe in any god(s), you are an atheist.. If the Big Bang Theory is true, it does not mean something came from nothing.
I seem to have it surprisingly less difficult than I thought with even some of my religious extended family. Some of them haven't had it shown to them explicitly, but if they ask at the next family get together, I feel like I can do something about it now. I'm not any different than I was before, and for most of the family members that I distinctly recall, I've been an atheist since I really identified with them as family
You know how Matt said that those people who can have their guilt absolved effortlessly are those that will go out and do it again? I was exactly like that when I was a Catholic! I think I have more morals now that I'm atheist then when I was a Catholic...
@kalajel i have a question for you ,is there a difference between cahtholic atheists and protestant atheist. ie are there traits that persist from your former beliefs.
@Doversreturn Being a former catholic, I cannot speak for the former protestant side of things... my best guess would be the main difference would be our loosing faith stories.
Mankind is due for moving to a higher consciousness plane. The same way the suffering of gazelles killed by lions make the species stronger, the suffering of mankind will help us move to the next consciousness level. A greater good comes for the species. The next level is the rejection of greed, materialism and selfishness. Our current capitalist system need to collapse in order to achieve this. If you're not ready spiritually, and doesn't move up, you'll suffer. This is happening now, seek God.
@MultiGreenpen Sorry bud, I didn't word it very well....I was agreeing with you. I should have said 'someone' not 'you' as I didn't mean 'you' directly.
It's crazy that in 21st century America you "come out" to your parents as an atheist, like you "come out" as a homosexual. How sad it must be to live in a country where atheists are a minority, and are afraid of "coming out".
@gjaddajg Yeah man I agree,Its like In my own mind,deep down Inside Im not a believer. But its like I would feel so alone in life now that people see me for who i am,cuz I think Differently. And I"ll admit even so that Ive had that guilty transition of christian to atheist,where Im guilted into believing just cuz I"ll go to hell If i dont.Why should I live that way?Feels good to have heard this...
@gjaddajg especially in the bible belt. When you have to worry about coming out in the sense of being both an atheist and homosexual. :( I dunno which to do first lol.
From what I hear it's actually more detrimental to your social relationships to come out as an atheist (in certain parts of the US) than if you come out as gay.
@gjaddajg Boy you said it! I'm actually ashamed to live in this country now with 65-70% of the population believing in talking snakes over evolution! -One day I may move to fucking Sweden and stay there
@Lennon4ever1 not that sweden's the land of milk, honey and rationality. you'd be surprised how many people don't understand how evidence works. pharmacies sell "alternative medicine" last i checked. and mustard, but that's because it's yule time :D
Maybe not as bad, sometimes worse (execution?) but we're def in the minority =\
I'm an Aussie and thankfully, my close family are rather loose in their belief, but my extended family, jeez. They still hound me any chance they get after I (accidentally) came out thanks to my mum blurting out I didn't believe in a god.
I spent an hour defending myself from my entire extended family, probably more. Worst day of my life.
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I had not been a Christian for quite a while hen I went to find out about paganism and satanism. I went through a 'black mass' and after saying the Lords Prayer backwards, even though I had not been christian for years I felt a shudder expecting some retribution, nothing happened.
That cleared all the ingrained Christianity out of me.
1. The Gospel (if you now reject the Gospels as a historical account, I know you are a quack).
2. “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus” (Tacitus, Annals, 15:44 [A.D. 119]).
3. “`The darkness that occurred when Jesus was crucified, nothing like it happened before....'' (Thallus, [ca. A.D. 52]).
3. As a social scientist, I know what misappropriation of science is and you are doing it. Do you need a quote that scientists do not know everything?
1. Not only are there numerous miracles written about in the Gospels: "But there are also many other things that Jesus did: if every one of [the things] Jesus did were written down, I do not think that the world itself could contain that books that would be written."
2. You asked me "So, why do you believe in it?" Not "What scientific evidence do you have?"
@MultiGreenpen It is spelled Psychology. Check your spelling.
1. "Based in Washington, D.C., the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States" (APA website).
2. I do not need a scientific study to know what I experienced. I guess that invalidates your childhood, because it was your personal experience.
What's wrong with all of you Atheist below me, you are all disgusting. Respect other people faith and religion. Don't act like an ignorant bastard enshrouded in your vanity. Act like a human being, not a king. Otherwise you're just bigots and ignorant. The very same thing you complain about.
@RMinecraftworld Why should we respect peoples faith and religion when it clearly has negative consequences for so many people.If anything we need less respect and tolerance of faith because faith and religious dogma is irrational.But maybe your right because we all know what happens if you dont respect peoples religious beliefs,their kill you.I respect peoples right to believe whatever they want to believe but i will not respect people who try to force their beliefs on others.
@DastardlyDereK Have you even read the top two comments on this video. It's repulsive. Also if you can't respect a belief that a person clings to then why do you demand people no force their beliefs on you? It's hypocritical.
@RMinecraftworld Having religious faith automatically makes you ignorant and a bigot. You are ignorant of science, logic and rationality the very fabric of truth. And you are a bigot because you believe some supernatural being has put you on a pedastal and created the entire universe just for you.
When it comes to arrogance, ignorance and bigotry, Religion is by far the leader and will be for a very long time.
@youbetzler How the hell did you fabricate this bullshit. You seem to be confusing the Christian Fundamentalists with the Average Christian. Also, I see nothing wrong with believe the Universe was created just for "us". Does it impede with your way of life, does it displace or halter science. No, Christians generally have accepted science, and logic. Hence why we're not in the dark ages and all of the Western World is rich and powerful. You are the one being arrogant and ignorant.
@RMinecraftworld "No, Christians generally have accepted science, and logic. Hence why we're not in the dark ages and all of the Western World is rich and powerful"
You're joking, right? Christians CAUSED the dark ages. RIGHT THIS MOMENT there are christians impeding the progress of stem cell research, based on ridiculous ideas about human souls. You're seriously naive if you think that christians aren't affecting my way of life or impeding scientific advancement.
@VesusSheist You're joking right? Catholic corruption caused the Dark Ages at the most, there really is no exact link between the start of the Dark Ages and the Rise of the Catholic Church to begin with. Don't bias information to benefit yourself. If you honestly think that the "common man" is affecting your way of life and not greed and corruption in our government and positions of power world wide you are naive. Also, again you confuse the average Christian with a Fundamentalist or extremist.
@VesusSheist Actually, Christians aren't Catholics... They represent a group of people who follow the "no symbols of God" and such. Catholicism is one of the branches of Christianity. So in no means does Catholicism represent the Christian majority. Also, it was the few Catholic's at the top, such as the priests, cardinals and popes that were corrupt. Not the Catholic majority.
@RMinecraftworld Actually christianity has hindered scientific process. A lot of scientists were murdered purely for suggesting things (that were true) that weren't in accordance with the bible. Why do you think that since the 19th century (the rise of secularist states) scientific discoveries and advancement has grown exponentially quicker than the previous 18 centuries.
And the fact that you don't see the problem with such supreme arrogance only outlines your bigotry
@youbetzler The common Christian would not hinder progress, you keep blaming Christianity as a whole, when it was the Catholic branch, that was filled with corruption that hindered scientific advances. There was a correlation between advances and secularist states because of a cause and effect of a series scientific discoveries and a massive amount of wars. War has always lead to advances, and combustion was a "single" major discovery that lead to hundreds upon hundreds of other discoveries.
@RMinecraftworld Ok combustion was discovered by man tens of thousands of years ago if not more. So i don't see how that is reflected. And there have been far more war torn periods than the previous century. Not to mention the better part of Africa has been in a state of conflict for the majority of the last century yet it is way behind the rest of the world in technological development. Bottom line is without the pressures and restrictions of religion and religious governments science benefits
@RMinecraftworld (cont) and ergo mankind benefits. Perfect example is stem cell research. Christians, not just catholics but all christians kick and scream about stem cell research because they somehow think a zygote has a soul, meanwhile creating an enormous hindrance to a potential cure for tons of diseases and disorders. Religion is dead weight to society and is a burden, bottom line.
@RMinecraftworld And the way you pawn off all the evils of religion onto fundamentalist is cowardly, it is the "average" christian that elects these maniacs into power, it is the "average" christian that stand around and does nothing while these atrocities are being committed in the name of god. Grow up and take accountability
You forget though. Believing in god is the ultimate way of shoving off any form of responsibility. They (theists in general) don't want it. Can't take it and don't know what to do with it.
So asking them to take responsibility is like asking them to see the light and see how stupid all religions (including theirs) are.
@thedutchman01 Yeah this video brings out some good ones from me. I scrolled back to review the whole educated as a rock episode and had a good chuckle. I still have a theory that we're going to have an evolutionary split soon between atheists and theists. If religion is disposed of soon eventually the smarter members of society will segregate and create intelligent offspring while all the morons will be left out of the loop eventually creating 2 new species. My only fear is the idiots will out
@thedutchman01 breed the intelligent species and overwhelm them with numbers and basically push the reset button on society. Also i meant to say if religion isn't disposed of soon. i need to go to sleep
We dislike the fact that not only do theists think that we will suffer for eternity because their god cannot give any proof to his existence, eventhough he loves us all and is all powerfull and therefore easily could and should.
What we dislike more though is that theists actually think that we deserve that faith when we die. You think it is okay to tell the majority of humans on this planet that they will suffer for eternity. That pisses us off.
@thedutchman01 Did you read what I said, I just said what's wrong with Atheists, and yet again you fail to see that not everyone thinks like that. You stereotype so damned hard it's horrid. Stop disgracing atheists world wide, gays started out the same as atheism and look at where they are now. They never talked shit about straights. You shouldn't be talking shit because it makes you look bad.
@thedutchman01 You fail to see why you should show respect because you've drowned yourself in your own arrogance. But here let me quote what you said in reverse so you realize how ignorant you're acting. "I fail to see why I should show and respect to something (atheism) that insults me without knowing me, my situation, or my way of life. I have little problem with skepticism, but atheism to is the evil of our time and needs to be fought at any point." Do you hear yourself? You're arrogant.
How does atheism insult you? Do we go round doors to prohecise about things we don't know about?
All atheism is is the lack of belief in a god. I donot hear how I am being arrogant. I know peoplke have trouble seperating themselves from their religion, but I am attacking the religion not themselves. even if they have trouble seeing that.
Besides that. Atheism doesnot say that if you disagree with us you should burn for etenrity. We just say you are wrong on a certain issue.
Religion is arrogant enough to think they know everything eventhough they clearly donot. They are far more arrogant then any atheist, who will always acknowledge that there are things we donot know. And we are not cowardly enough to then just fill in the blanks with even mopre stupid and far reaching idea with a god.
Besides. Do I as a humanbeing not have the right to fight any form of injustice in this world whenever I see it? Is that not something we should all do?
And then if that is so, then why does that suddenly stop at religion? Why would I not have the right to call religions out on their inherent injustices? I call major bullsh*t on that. We all have a right to attack injustice, and that right doesnot stop at religious borders.
OMG this caller is so me,to be honest i turned from religion because of you tube from what i watch,and even now i sometimes question if i am wrong,the bible is a fantasy and evil book,but there is still something always that happens that causes me to question if leaving religion is wrong,and unfortunately i am unable to put it in words.
@johndebbra There's nothing wrong about leaving a religion that is based around a book of fantasy and evil, as you describe it. Enjoy your life and help others enjoy theirs...no religion necessary.
@VesusSheist I agree i guess i meant to say what if i am wrong maybe there is a religion that is right as i said i am not able to put it in the "right" words as there are things that had happen which i have no way to logically describe it of course it may just be my own ignorance in not knowing why somethings happen that seem to have no explanation,you are one hundred percent right in what you said,maybe i am looking for answers that just aren't there.
I feel her pain. I don't think I'll ever be able to come out atheist to my family. Especially because my sister gave birth to a still born at 8 months pregnant. This tragedy cemented my atheism, but cemented her faith.
Seeing her praise god "I don't know how anyone could go through this without faith" and then holding her as she suffered with repressed anger for the loss and the "Why Me?!" torture she was going through killed me.
I listened and cried with her. This is all I could do. Not o
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household." - Matthew 10:34-36
I feel so lucky to have grown up in 80's and 90's Ireland when the paedophiles in black didn't have so much say in peoples lives as they did previously. I had no trouble coming out as atheist, in fact I don't even consider it as 'coming out'. With one exception, my Father. We had some heated exchanges about religion, he was a devout Catholic. But everyone else just didn't give a shit as long as I wasn't a dickhead. I hope this woman can find some acceptance in her area, live and be happy.
Matt, your words are so true, except that Austin has beautiful weather. Come to Redondo Beach for five seconds and you will see the error of your ways.
I can totally relate to this. I have been trying to convince myself to believe in god all my life but I just can't It's too ridiculous. I recently came out as a non-believer to my mother. I'm 28. My entire family are Christians. I just feel like I don't belong but I'm sick of being ashamed and hiding who I am. I'm a great mom a contributing member to society and I altogether good person. i just think the bible is fictional and that religion is based in fear and used to control.
@JLMomma1124 Look' you cant know what you cant see' to think that someone else knows what you cant can question your own capacity in knowledge' what you know is what you experience wshile seeking any sense in guidence which can question your own intuition' read some philosophy' like Karl Marx' and the like' there is a book coming out real soon called "What Is?" and it is based upon Einstiens quest in quantum mechanics' simply a term; this book will be an ebook so you will need kindle'
@JLMomma1124 -I would also strongly recommend that everybody check out the the article "The Old, New Atheism" by Jackson Lears in the May 2011 issue of the New Republic. Just a brilliant, insightful well-reasoned polemic all around
@JLMomma1124 Keep cool, just practice and keep practicing to teach your children to be more intelligent then yourself..this is natural selection, and evolution of species..Just remember that your previous family have relinquished the ability to learn,,compare hundreds and even thousands of factual books are available, read them and give them to your kids when they are old enough..Trust me your life will get better and better for a long time to come..Keep up the good work,
These people call themselves atheists when they should be calling themselves anti-theists. Atheism is very open to interpretation. Atheists just want this name to stick so they can pool more people into their belief system.
@aegisgfx lol a-theism means lack of theism. Theism, at least from what ive heard, has been defined many ways. Atheism could also mean youre a polytheist based on certian definitions. The problem is an atheist is more accurately described as an anti-theist. Atheists call themselves atheists so they can try to add more people to their belief system of anti-theism (which is a belief that god doesnt exist, not just a lack of a belief). LOL @ ad hominem attacks by weak minded fools.
LOL!!!. No matter how you slice it and mince your words, you cannot portray atheism as a 'belief system', and you are a retard because only a retard would say baldness is a hair color.
@aegisgfx Retard...im not portraying atheism as a belief system. Im portraying anti-theism as a belief system. Learn to read and then you might be able to understand people and not make a fool out of yourself. "Atheists" who are really anti-theists are trying to lump more people into their belief system (OF anti-theism) by calling themselves atheists. K?
@aegisgfx LOL if youre going to quote, at least do it right you fucking retard.
The REAL QUOTE:
"Atheists call themselves atheists so they can try to add more people to their belief system of anti-theism (which is a belief that god doesnt exist, not just a lack of a belief). "
key words = "of anti-theism". You pull what I say out of context and then interpret it in a new context. WTF really?
Hey not trying to misrepresent you, but you do understand that this sentence makes NO sense right?
"Atheists call themselves atheists so they can try to add more people to their belief system of anti-theism"
I don't think anti-theists (or atheists) have a 'belief' that there is no gods, both groups are unconvinced by the arguments put forth from theists who claim gods are real. Belief for us does not enter into the equation, either theists have proof for their claims or not.
@aegisgfx anti anything implies that you believe in the opposite. theists have an affirmative belief in god(s) and anti-theists have a negative belief or disbelief in god. An atheist means to lack a belief in gods existence. To lack a belief and to believe the opposite mean two different things. The sentence makes perfect sense. Both groups may be unconvinced but that doesnt make an atheist the same as an anti-theist. An anti-theist DOES have a belief. His belief is god doesnt exist.
@vidfreak56 you make a valid point. but i think anti-theism and atheism can coincide in one person. It could be that his lack of belief in a theism has led to his disbelief in theism. At least that's the way i see it. So i think at least matt dilahunty is both an atheist and an anti-theist. And considering theism is a bunch of mythological mental pollution destroying the minds of everyone that takes it in, i see nothing wrong with anti-theism anyway
@youbetzler Sure, an atheist can be both an anti-theist or what is called an agnostic. Both persons lack the same belief, but this hardly characterizes either very well. Its like saying, "oh so you lack a belief that god does exist, so what do you believe?" Calling yourself an anti-theist from the start saves a lot of confusion.
@vidfreak56 You're the only person i've seen to recognise the difference between atheism and anti-theism so i don't think there is a lot of confusion at all, and if you didn't take them so literally there wouldn't be any confusion for you, it's not that hard to look at the situation see and understand it for what it really is rather than taking it %100 on it's merits, something these guys do a bit too that bugs me, they know what the caller is getting at but still wait for them to say it
@PaperShishigami antipasto means "before a meal". Anti in this case is derived from the latin 'ante', meaning before. The greek anti(and is the meaning when used in antitheist) means against, opposed, or opposite. Pasto as you might guess (or know) means food, and is a connotation for a meal or dinner. Not to say that you cant have a belief in not eating a meal to come...i just dont know a word for believing that youll eat a meal.
@vidfreak56 Haha, I was actually just being a bit of a smartass with you, but I do thank you for the explanation. Just couldn't resist the opportunity.
I am in this same situation, except I need to come out as an atheist to my in-laws. It really worries me because I don't mind cutting ties with people if the relationship becomes irreconcilable, but it will have a huge effect on my wife's relationship with her mother. I just don't know that I can do that to my wife.
Matt was a dyed in the wool Christian for 25 years before becoming an Atheist. Surely if there is an after life and he eventually goes there that those 25 years will be worth some credit. Otherwise he wasted 25 years of his life on a fairy story. That would piss me off.
Telling my family was the most freeing feeling for me. And while, yes, there was a little fear, I felt it worth being true to myself. You have to make a choice; Your life or their hurt. Maybe I'm lucky, but my family wasn't all the surprised. In the end, it wasn't a big thing. Yeah, there were a few "I'm going to hell" at first, but saw that had no effect, so they dropped it. I hope Amy has gotten over her fear and has been able to tell her family.
@redeemerslove lol encouraging people to think for themselves using reason and logic is a bad thing? WOW. Are you serious? I'm sooooooooooo glad atheism is on the rise! : D
@Darius135gease I'd prefer they just remove teh religious symbols and furniture. Make them community centers, homeless shelters, indoor basketball courts. Put them to REAL societal use! =)
@fourtywpm -I would also strongly recommend that everybody check out the the article "The Old, New Atheism" by Jackson Lears in the May 2011 issue of the New Republic. Just a brilliant, insightful well-reasoned polemic all around
Even when I "kinda sorta" believed in heaven, I never had a feeling about it. Actually, I never really FELT any of it was true. I just weakly THOUGHT it was true because people said it was true, but even as a young child I realized that people could say weird things and it might be dangerous to question people saying weird things around you, especially when you are a small child. (Also, I NEVER felt guilt go away because "Jesus forgave me". I never felt nor understood that whatsoever.)
Amy in Panama, Fl. I can TOTALLY relate to everything you've said. I also feel robbed of my imagination at an early age because of the fierce indoctrination. I feel like my scientific understanding was retarded by at least 10 years. I stayed in the atheist closet for about 6 years out of fear of breaking my parents hearts. One Easter, after missing church and meeting up at the restaurant, my Dad made one too many credulous remarks about evolution and I just couldn't hold back anymore.
"...lack of religious involvement has been related to an increased risk of mortality even after controlling for the effects of various demographic, physical health factors, and other social support indicators" (Oman & Reed, 1998; Strawbridge et al., 1997).
@MiamiSteve07 Well there are less religious fools in Australia than perhaps in the USA. But we still have them unfortunately. Why do you think our current labor government are afraid to enact same gender marriages? Who do you think is stifling stem cell research here? What about our tax dollars putting evangelical chaplains into public schools? Most surprisingly the guy who built that laughable creation "museum" in the USA is an Australian.
Lol at "coming out" as atheist. I don't even know if my parents are religious or not, we have NEVER talked about our personal beliefs in our family. We have never gone to church either.
Feels weird that someone actually has to "confess" to their parents that they are atheist.
pedarikarhu 3 days ago
Atheism has become much more prominent in the last decade. This thought is comforting, because the likelihood that I'll marry an atheist woman is higher than ever, and I wouldn't have to abide to teaching my future children about God as I would if I had a religious wife. Having an atheist family would give me much more time to be productive, and it would also give me a lot more free time, since I wouldn't be wasting it going to church and kneeling for nothing.
HammerOfNul 3 days ago
I can totally relate to this girl.
herpderpmonkey 5 days ago
all you atheists fear for eternal condemnation! there is God, he is the bottomline there was no more before him, you know that we all know that! sorry but my english is bad
peej0625 5 days ago
@peej0625 Can you introduce me to God? I've never met him.
JamesHLanier 5 days ago
@peej0625 we don't fear it because we don't believe it's real, is it so hard to understand this simple thing?
linkuei83 3 days ago
i remember when i "came out", my parent said she felt like a failure for raising to "lost" people...(my other sibling is a rastafarian), she obviously does'nt know what rastafarianism is, but my family continues to challenge me but what i found most annoying was when i start winning the argument they claim i'm prosecuting them...
naturalistmind 1 week ago
You just turned me into a Calvinist. Thank God!
harvestsoulfly 2 weeks ago
i don't understand why families in the US get destroyed because someone in the family is an atheist. When my parents realized that my brother was an atheist, there wasn't any of the stuff mentioned in this video, not even a confrontation. Now my father always implicitly tries to make him believe in god again because in his mind his son is going to hell and he wants to save him but that's pretty much it
jonsabbagh92 3 weeks ago
@jonsabbagh92 Well, imagine if your father took religion much more seriously. Suppose his beliefs were so crazy and so strong that he thought your brother was doing the work of Satan, and couldn't stand to live with him if he's not a Christian. Your father would then refuse to speak to him, avoid him, and kick him out of the house as soon as legally possible. That happens in the US sometime.
Then in the middle east they take it to extremes, people get beheaded for leaving religion
bobdonda 2 days ago
@bobdonda Well that's my point, that type of ignorance doesn't seem to happen in Lebanon. It only seems to happen in the US or in very extreme middle eastern countries like Saudi or something. The reality I guess is that the problem might not be the religion but rather lack of education and therefore lack of critical thinking, but that's just a guess. I mean my father even though is a very devout Christian didn't do what you mentioned because he's a smart sensible person.
jonsabbagh92 1 day ago
@jonsabbagh92 Yeah it's definitely a cultural thing. And that's something that I've never really understood, how all these unwritten rules of what's acceptable and what's not grow and take hold in a society.
It's just like how in some low-income areas, you'll be ostracized if you try to learn things in school, become educated, and get a good job. What kind of sense does that make, where did that even come from?
The US is great, it's a shame insane cultural quirks have to ruin it
bobdonda 21 hours ago
I'm so glad I live in a secular country where people aren't hardcore religious. My father is an Atheist and my mother isn't quite religious per se, but she believes in some kind of higher spirit that governs humans one way or another. However she doesn't believe in Hell, and her belief isn't centered around Jesus as the saviour of mankind, and she rarely goes to church.
Obviously, I've never had any trouble speaking out my Atheism.
flensdude 3 weeks ago
I was never "in the closet" about being an atheist, but I'm beginning to wonder if, in some ways, it was easier for me because it was the 1960's, and there weren't a lot of atheists selling books and making public appearances, so I probably confused people, more than anything, when I told them I didn't believe in any gods. One aunt, upon my telling her I'm an atheist, said, "But you believe in god, don't you?" After I stopped laughing, I told her, "No. That's what atheist means."
YY4Me133 3 weeks ago 4
Who else is Godphobic here?
Mcgif21 3 weeks ago
I am just so happy I never DID believe in a god.
XplosivCookie 1 month ago
It's always hard to come out telling people that. I suppose building up your own personal confidence by surrounding yourself with people who have similar views helps you so you don't feel suffocated from withholding information and like Matt said that feeling of being alone. It's not an easy thing all the time depending on the family. I feel for this girl.
darkchibicosmos 1 month ago
I love Tracie's smile...great show.
TravisVadon 1 month ago
I really relate to this caller - I was raised in the Deep South with all the guilt and constant talk of eternal hell and suffering and it is increadibly hard to get rid of that lingering fear. With my mind I know religion is bullshit but the fear of being wrong is always there. I also relate to seeing the constant hipocrisy of the "religious". The good thing is I also see more and more people who are really questioning what they were taught and finding it false. Also - RIP Christopher Hitchens.
damrak1969 1 month ago
I believe having a soul has nothing to do with religion :) Everyone has a soul, everyone KEEPS their soul throughout their life untill they die.
Emlis16 1 month ago
I'll come out to anyone and I don't care what they think! But I'm an atheist with attitude! -Fuck 'em if they don't like it
Lennon4ever1 1 month ago
This is exactly the kind of person for which this show is made.
My advice is that it is not necessary to stand out as an atheist, but it is important to represent yourself as a person who realizes that vicarious redemption, divine dictatorial power, and ostracizing others are not moral stances. Make it clear you have a firm moral foundation. Slowly you can make it clear that your moral foundation is not dependent on a god or gods.
drfoxcourt 1 month ago 2
@sculpt2live so would i be right in guessing that you kind of have multiple popes and multiple HUGE churches? all off differing right wingyness? that sounds like mass child abuse to me. and i guess the size of the US means you have about as much communication from one church to the next as i do with anyone from Norway. the more faiths step on each others toes, the easier it is to see through them all. to be honest im optimistic about the US, still a HUGE problem as you say, but not for long
callumnik117 2 months ago
All the problems "Christians" have with admitting their atheism to themself and others - is astounding to a first-born atheist like me, born in secular Norway.
petkol 2 months ago
i feel for you american atheists, the uk isnt nearly as bad. i dont know but i think the way we did it is by ignoring the nut case ones, and getting moderate liberal christans plenty of attention. these guys are much easier to deal with and i their schools are better than state ones. moderate christianity schools in the uk are pumping out atheists because they have to talk openly and allow debate. stop arguing with fools and start working with those who can be kept in check by your constitution.
callumnik117 2 months ago
@callumnik117 Actually, how you in the U.K. did it was by booting all the nut-bags out...and those nut-bags sailed away and became the Pilgrims and that's why America has been half psychotic with religion-rage since.
Not that I blame the peoples of the U.K. in any way. I assure you, had I been there I'd've done exactly the same and, frankly, envy you for having done so. Lucky bastards the lot of ya. =p~
TomVodkaCollins 1 month ago in playlist More videos from AtheistExperience
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83redrose83 2 months ago
@83redrose83 I don't believe something coming frm nothing, so gods don't cut it for me u might say. Fully atheist??? If you believe in any god(s), you are a theist. If you do not believe in any god(s), you are an atheist.. If the Big Bang Theory is true, it does not mean something came from nothing.
Strangerinasland 2 months ago
I seem to have it surprisingly less difficult than I thought with even some of my religious extended family. Some of them haven't had it shown to them explicitly, but if they ask at the next family get together, I feel like I can do something about it now. I'm not any different than I was before, and for most of the family members that I distinctly recall, I've been an atheist since I really identified with them as family
ToHoldNothing 3 months ago
You know how Matt said that those people who can have their guilt absolved effortlessly are those that will go out and do it again? I was exactly like that when I was a Catholic! I think I have more morals now that I'm atheist then when I was a Catholic...
kalajel 3 months ago
@kalajel i have a question for you ,is there a difference between cahtholic atheists and protestant atheist. ie are there traits that persist from your former beliefs.
Doversreturn 3 months ago
@Doversreturn Being a former catholic, I cannot speak for the former protestant side of things... my best guess would be the main difference would be our loosing faith stories.
kalajel 3 months ago
I can total relate to how this woman feels. It is definitely a process, but well worth it !
justjulie37 3 months ago 3
echo echo
electorg 4 months ago
"If I believe everything's for the greater good, why would I bother asking?"
...doesn't the Sermon on the Mount touch on this?
IoEstasCedonta 4 months ago
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Mankind is due for moving to a higher consciousness plane. The same way the suffering of gazelles killed by lions make the species stronger, the suffering of mankind will help us move to the next consciousness level. A greater good comes for the species. The next level is the rejection of greed, materialism and selfishness. Our current capitalist system need to collapse in order to achieve this. If you're not ready spiritually, and doesn't move up, you'll suffer. This is happening now, seek God.
dejesusluisx 4 months ago
@MultiGreenpen Sweet dreams!
wesmatron 4 months ago
@MultiGreenpen Some of the funniest women I've ever met have been women.
;)
wesmatron 4 months ago
@MultiGreenpen Almost wet myself reading that
wesmatron 4 months ago
@MultiGreenpen LOL...In all honesty, if I was marking my own paper, I'd probably give myself an A
:)
wesmatron 4 months ago
@MultiGreenpen Sorry bud, I didn't word it very well....I was agreeing with you. I should have said 'someone' not 'you' as I didn't mean 'you' directly.
wesmatron 4 months ago
@MultiGreenpen In all honesty if you cited the Bible as evidence on a history paper, I'd be inclined to fail you.
wesmatron 4 months ago
I live in Europe, no one cares. I genuinely sympathise with people who have to "come out".
squeezycheeseypeas 4 months ago
@squeezycheeseypeas im from europe too, where i live its actually strange to meet someone who is a true believer in a god and actually admits that.
doombow666 4 months ago
@doombow666 it's almost an embarassment for many believers, and quite rightly so.
squeezycheeseypeas 4 months ago
@squeezycheeseypeas indeed.
doombow666 4 months ago
It's crazy that in 21st century America you "come out" to your parents as an atheist, like you "come out" as a homosexual. How sad it must be to live in a country where atheists are a minority, and are afraid of "coming out".
gjaddajg 4 months ago 94
@gjaddajg Yeah man I agree,Its like In my own mind,deep down Inside Im not a believer. But its like I would feel so alone in life now that people see me for who i am,cuz I think Differently. And I"ll admit even so that Ive had that guilty transition of christian to atheist,where Im guilted into believing just cuz I"ll go to hell If i dont.Why should I live that way?Feels good to have heard this...
MayhemFan666 4 months ago
@gjaddajg especially in the bible belt. When you have to worry about coming out in the sense of being both an atheist and homosexual. :( I dunno which to do first lol.
TheLoudale 3 months ago
@gjaddajg
We're here - with no fear - get used to it!
Callirgos1 3 months ago
@gjaddajg It's sad that atheists, homosexuals, or any other minority has to "come out."
MagisterPridgen 2 months ago
@gjaddajg I can't remember who (Pat Condell?) but someone came up with a good way of "coming out".
You first tell your parents that you're gay, then once they've calmed down a little say "Nah, just kidding. I'm only an atheist now."
Xanatos712 2 months ago 3
@gjaddajg
From what I hear it's actually more detrimental to your social relationships to come out as an atheist (in certain parts of the US) than if you come out as gay.
I find that very telling (and sad).
Seymour13 1 month ago
How much more sad is it that in some countries you come and and the government WILL KILL YOU, for either one.
JaytheOstrich 1 month ago
@JaytheOstrich How is that relevant?
gjaddajg 1 month ago
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@gjaddajg said: It's sad that atheists, homosexuals, or any other minority has to "come out."
I'm just saying it's ridiculous that governments feel they have to execute people for being in minorities.
JaytheOstrich 1 month ago
@gjaddajg Boy you said it! I'm actually ashamed to live in this country now with 65-70% of the population believing in talking snakes over evolution! -One day I may move to fucking Sweden and stay there
Lennon4ever1 1 month ago
@Lennon4ever1 not that sweden's the land of milk, honey and rationality. you'd be surprised how many people don't understand how evidence works. pharmacies sell "alternative medicine" last i checked. and mustard, but that's because it's yule time :D
skorvskrov 1 month ago
@gjaddajg Any type of coming out existing is bad.
Graynumber 1 month ago
@gjaddajg I live in Mexico, and we have Roman Catholics making up 82% of the population.
Ebvardh 4 weeks ago
@gjaddajg It's like that everywhere though.
Maybe not as bad, sometimes worse (execution?) but we're def in the minority =\
I'm an Aussie and thankfully, my close family are rather loose in their belief, but my extended family, jeez. They still hound me any chance they get after I (accidentally) came out thanks to my mum blurting out I didn't believe in a god.
I spent an hour defending myself from my entire extended family, probably more. Worst day of my life.
WirlWind494 3 weeks ago
@gjaddajg
Indeed.
4me2cclearly 1 week ago
Fuck.. Matt is so good with analogys, one would say he's an analo-G
donotfront525 5 months ago 52
@donotfront525 Yeeeaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!
inb4loss 1 month ago
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NEW BOOK (Donated) For Debates And Governance
Topics: WINNING ARGUMENTS FOR CREATIONISM-EVOLUTIONISM DEBATE (See Subchapter 10.2.2, Chapter 10, of Part Two.), The Issue On The Criminal Liability Of Foretelling The END OF THE WORLD, Other Debated Issues, Terrorism, War, Law, Politics, Religion, Philosophy, Science, Others.
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TheServiceWeb 5 months ago
There is nothing to fear but fear itself.
QuestionRenee 5 months ago
@YodaLN It is not my job to impress you. Take care.
redeemerslove 5 months ago
I had not been a Christian for quite a while hen I went to find out about paganism and satanism. I went through a 'black mass' and after saying the Lords Prayer backwards, even though I had not been christian for years I felt a shudder expecting some retribution, nothing happened.
That cleared all the ingrained Christianity out of me.
ozweblogs 5 months ago
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@MultiGreenpen You are a liar.
redeemerslove 5 months ago
@MultiGreenpen
Historical Evidence:
1. The Gospel (if you now reject the Gospels as a historical account, I know you are a quack).
2. “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus” (Tacitus, Annals, 15:44 [A.D. 119]).
3. “`The darkness that occurred when Jesus was crucified, nothing like it happened before....'' (Thallus, [ca. A.D. 52]).
Mara Bar Sophian, Suetonius, Lucian, etc.
redeemerslove 5 months ago
@MultiGreenpen
3. As a social scientist, I know what misappropriation of science is and you are doing it. Do you need a quote that scientists do not know everything?
4. I combined my answers. Get with the program.
redeemerslove 5 months ago
@MultiGreenpen
1. Not only are there numerous miracles written about in the Gospels: "But there are also many other things that Jesus did: if every one of [the things] Jesus did were written down, I do not think that the world itself could contain that books that would be written."
2. You asked me "So, why do you believe in it?" Not "What scientific evidence do you have?"
redeemerslove 5 months ago
@MultiGreenpen It is spelled Psychology. Check your spelling.
1. "Based in Washington, D.C., the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States" (APA website).
2. I do not need a scientific study to know what I experienced. I guess that invalidates your childhood, because it was your personal experience.
3. I said reason not science (see Dictionary).
4. What about the historical record?
redeemerslove 5 months ago
This is the perfect example of what it is to be a homo/bisexual in society - word for word, experience for experience.
CrudOMatic 5 months ago
What's wrong with all of you Atheist below me, you are all disgusting. Respect other people faith and religion. Don't act like an ignorant bastard enshrouded in your vanity. Act like a human being, not a king. Otherwise you're just bigots and ignorant. The very same thing you complain about.
RMinecraftworld 6 months ago
@RMinecraftworld Why should we respect peoples faith and religion when it clearly has negative consequences for so many people.If anything we need less respect and tolerance of faith because faith and religious dogma is irrational.But maybe your right because we all know what happens if you dont respect peoples religious beliefs,their kill you.I respect peoples right to believe whatever they want to believe but i will not respect people who try to force their beliefs on others.
DastardlyDereK 5 months ago
@DastardlyDereK Have you even read the top two comments on this video. It's repulsive. Also if you can't respect a belief that a person clings to then why do you demand people no force their beliefs on you? It's hypocritical.
RMinecraftworld 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld Having religious faith automatically makes you ignorant and a bigot. You are ignorant of science, logic and rationality the very fabric of truth. And you are a bigot because you believe some supernatural being has put you on a pedastal and created the entire universe just for you.
When it comes to arrogance, ignorance and bigotry, Religion is by far the leader and will be for a very long time.
youbetzler 5 months ago
@youbetzler How the hell did you fabricate this bullshit. You seem to be confusing the Christian Fundamentalists with the Average Christian. Also, I see nothing wrong with believe the Universe was created just for "us". Does it impede with your way of life, does it displace or halter science. No, Christians generally have accepted science, and logic. Hence why we're not in the dark ages and all of the Western World is rich and powerful. You are the one being arrogant and ignorant.
RMinecraftworld 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld "No, Christians generally have accepted science, and logic. Hence why we're not in the dark ages and all of the Western World is rich and powerful"
You're joking, right? Christians CAUSED the dark ages. RIGHT THIS MOMENT there are christians impeding the progress of stem cell research, based on ridiculous ideas about human souls. You're seriously naive if you think that christians aren't affecting my way of life or impeding scientific advancement.
VesusSheist 5 months ago
@VesusSheist You're joking right? Catholic corruption caused the Dark Ages at the most, there really is no exact link between the start of the Dark Ages and the Rise of the Catholic Church to begin with. Don't bias information to benefit yourself. If you honestly think that the "common man" is affecting your way of life and not greed and corruption in our government and positions of power world wide you are naive. Also, again you confuse the average Christian with a Fundamentalist or extremist.
RMinecraftworld 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld So catholics aren't christians? I had no idea.
VesusSheist 5 months ago
@VesusSheist Actually, Christians aren't Catholics... They represent a group of people who follow the "no symbols of God" and such. Catholicism is one of the branches of Christianity. So in no means does Catholicism represent the Christian majority. Also, it was the few Catholic's at the top, such as the priests, cardinals and popes that were corrupt. Not the Catholic majority.
RMinecraftworld 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld Actually christianity has hindered scientific process. A lot of scientists were murdered purely for suggesting things (that were true) that weren't in accordance with the bible. Why do you think that since the 19th century (the rise of secularist states) scientific discoveries and advancement has grown exponentially quicker than the previous 18 centuries.
And the fact that you don't see the problem with such supreme arrogance only outlines your bigotry
youbetzler 5 months ago
@youbetzler The common Christian would not hinder progress, you keep blaming Christianity as a whole, when it was the Catholic branch, that was filled with corruption that hindered scientific advances. There was a correlation between advances and secularist states because of a cause and effect of a series scientific discoveries and a massive amount of wars. War has always lead to advances, and combustion was a "single" major discovery that lead to hundreds upon hundreds of other discoveries.
RMinecraftworld 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld Ok combustion was discovered by man tens of thousands of years ago if not more. So i don't see how that is reflected. And there have been far more war torn periods than the previous century. Not to mention the better part of Africa has been in a state of conflict for the majority of the last century yet it is way behind the rest of the world in technological development. Bottom line is without the pressures and restrictions of religion and religious governments science benefits
youbetzler 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld (cont) and ergo mankind benefits. Perfect example is stem cell research. Christians, not just catholics but all christians kick and scream about stem cell research because they somehow think a zygote has a soul, meanwhile creating an enormous hindrance to a potential cure for tons of diseases and disorders. Religion is dead weight to society and is a burden, bottom line.
youbetzler 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld And the way you pawn off all the evils of religion onto fundamentalist is cowardly, it is the "average" christian that elects these maniacs into power, it is the "average" christian that stand around and does nothing while these atrocities are being committed in the name of god. Grow up and take accountability
youbetzler 5 months ago
@youbetzler
You forget though. Believing in god is the ultimate way of shoving off any form of responsibility. They (theists in general) don't want it. Can't take it and don't know what to do with it.
So asking them to take responsibility is like asking them to see the light and see how stupid all religions (including theirs) are.
thedutchman01 5 months ago
@thedutchman01 I don't forget, i'm just in denial about having to share the same species title with such pathetic ly incompetent life forms
youbetzler 5 months ago
@youbetzler
Haha! comment of the week for me :D
thedutchman01 5 months ago
@thedutchman01 Yeah this video brings out some good ones from me. I scrolled back to review the whole educated as a rock episode and had a good chuckle. I still have a theory that we're going to have an evolutionary split soon between atheists and theists. If religion is disposed of soon eventually the smarter members of society will segregate and create intelligent offspring while all the morons will be left out of the loop eventually creating 2 new species. My only fear is the idiots will out
youbetzler 5 months ago
Comment removed
youbetzler 5 months ago
@thedutchman01 breed the intelligent species and overwhelm them with numbers and basically push the reset button on society. Also i meant to say if religion isn't disposed of soon. i need to go to sleep
youbetzler 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld
What's wrong with us atheists?
We dislike the fact that not only do theists think that we will suffer for eternity because their god cannot give any proof to his existence, eventhough he loves us all and is all powerfull and therefore easily could and should.
What we dislike more though is that theists actually think that we deserve that faith when we die. You think it is okay to tell the majority of humans on this planet that they will suffer for eternity. That pisses us off.
thedutchman01 5 months ago
@thedutchman01 Did you read what I said, I just said what's wrong with Atheists, and yet again you fail to see that not everyone thinks like that. You stereotype so damned hard it's horrid. Stop disgracing atheists world wide, gays started out the same as atheism and look at where they are now. They never talked shit about straights. You shouldn't be talking shit because it makes you look bad.
RMinecraftworld 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld
I fail to see why I should show any respect to something (religion) that says that I shoulkd be tortured for eternity.
I have little problems with faith, but religions to me are the evil of our time and need to be fought at any point.
thedutchman01 5 months ago
@thedutchman01 You fail to see why you should show respect because you've drowned yourself in your own arrogance. But here let me quote what you said in reverse so you realize how ignorant you're acting. "I fail to see why I should show and respect to something (atheism) that insults me without knowing me, my situation, or my way of life. I have little problem with skepticism, but atheism to is the evil of our time and needs to be fought at any point." Do you hear yourself? You're arrogant.
RMinecraftworld 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld
How does atheism insult you? Do we go round doors to prohecise about things we don't know about?
All atheism is is the lack of belief in a god. I donot hear how I am being arrogant. I know peoplke have trouble seperating themselves from their religion, but I am attacking the religion not themselves. even if they have trouble seeing that.
Besides that. Atheism doesnot say that if you disagree with us you should burn for etenrity. We just say you are wrong on a certain issue.
thedutchman01 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld
Religion is arrogant enough to think they know everything eventhough they clearly donot. They are far more arrogant then any atheist, who will always acknowledge that there are things we donot know. And we are not cowardly enough to then just fill in the blanks with even mopre stupid and far reaching idea with a god.
thedutchman01 5 months ago
@RMinecraftworld
Besides. Do I as a humanbeing not have the right to fight any form of injustice in this world whenever I see it? Is that not something we should all do?
And then if that is so, then why does that suddenly stop at religion? Why would I not have the right to call religions out on their inherent injustices? I call major bullsh*t on that. We all have a right to attack injustice, and that right doesnot stop at religious borders.
And screw you for implying that! Arrogant? Me?
thedutchman01 5 months ago
OMG this caller is so me,to be honest i turned from religion because of you tube from what i watch,and even now i sometimes question if i am wrong,the bible is a fantasy and evil book,but there is still something always that happens that causes me to question if leaving religion is wrong,and unfortunately i am unable to put it in words.
johndebbra 6 months ago
@johndebbra There's nothing wrong about leaving a religion that is based around a book of fantasy and evil, as you describe it. Enjoy your life and help others enjoy theirs...no religion necessary.
VesusSheist 6 months ago
@VesusSheist I agree i guess i meant to say what if i am wrong maybe there is a religion that is right as i said i am not able to put it in the "right" words as there are things that had happen which i have no way to logically describe it of course it may just be my own ignorance in not knowing why somethings happen that seem to have no explanation,you are one hundred percent right in what you said,maybe i am looking for answers that just aren't there.
johndebbra 6 months ago
@johndebbra I recommend you keep looking for those answers...but don't ever accept an answer simply because someone else says it is so.
VesusSheist 6 months ago
Does Tracie have a blog I want to talk with her.
azzy314159 6 months ago
I love you Tracie Harris. You have an inner beauty. It shines out of your face. I can almost see a halo around your head.
azzy314159 6 months ago
I feel her pain. I don't think I'll ever be able to come out atheist to my family. Especially because my sister gave birth to a still born at 8 months pregnant. This tragedy cemented my atheism, but cemented her faith.
Seeing her praise god "I don't know how anyone could go through this without faith" and then holding her as she suffered with repressed anger for the loss and the "Why Me?!" torture she was going through killed me.
I listened and cried with her. This is all I could do. Not o
WaitingAtheist 6 months ago
Christianity was designed to tear families apart.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household." - Matthew 10:34-36
He did a damned good job of it, too.
TeapotMullah 6 months ago
Spirit of the Radio, awesome song.
o0oSolidSnakeo0o 6 months ago
congrats guys i really dont blame you for becoming athiest, u come from a christian background ...
MikeRighteous 6 months ago
god---> security blanket invented time and time again throughout history to make us feel better about dying
drche420 6 months ago
turns out people back in medieval times actually made chistianity for power...the pope could over throw a damn king!!!
endlessconflict89 6 months ago
I feel so lucky to have grown up in 80's and 90's Ireland when the paedophiles in black didn't have so much say in peoples lives as they did previously. I had no trouble coming out as atheist, in fact I don't even consider it as 'coming out'. With one exception, my Father. We had some heated exchanges about religion, he was a devout Catholic. But everyone else just didn't give a shit as long as I wasn't a dickhead. I hope this woman can find some acceptance in her area, live and be happy.
Pazma1 6 months ago
pascals wager is fun
SanguineBullet667 6 months ago
@SanguineBullet667 as in the lmao i can't believe someone would use this to convert someone phun?
TheLoudale 3 months ago
Matt, your words are so true, except that Austin has beautiful weather. Come to Redondo Beach for five seconds and you will see the error of your ways.
reliableNference 7 months ago
I think the title should be "The fear of coming out as an atheist"
rickg22 7 months ago 2
@rickg22
Seconded.
Pazma1 6 months ago
Stay strong converters! I've been going through these same problems, and matt's right. don't feel bad or like you are missing out on anything
LOGIC42369 7 months ago
well said Matt, those words are SO true.
more Matts are needed in this world
Mikeybetts 7 months ago 2
@YodaLN I also have a bachelors equivalent certificate in electronics technology. Nice try.
redeemerslove 7 months ago
I can totally relate to this. I have been trying to convince myself to believe in god all my life but I just can't It's too ridiculous. I recently came out as a non-believer to my mother. I'm 28. My entire family are Christians. I just feel like I don't belong but I'm sick of being ashamed and hiding who I am. I'm a great mom a contributing member to society and I altogether good person. i just think the bible is fictional and that religion is based in fear and used to control.
JLMomma1124 7 months ago 49
@JLMomma1124
When you come out to your family I hope they will be able to accept (and hopefully understand) your decision.
Goodluck.
thedutchman01 5 months ago
@JLMomma1124 Look' you cant know what you cant see' to think that someone else knows what you cant can question your own capacity in knowledge' what you know is what you experience wshile seeking any sense in guidence which can question your own intuition' read some philosophy' like Karl Marx' and the like' there is a book coming out real soon called "What Is?" and it is based upon Einstiens quest in quantum mechanics' simply a term; this book will be an ebook so you will need kindle'
DrFruedienslip 5 months ago
Comment removed
shieldsff 5 months ago
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@JLMomma1124 -I would also strongly recommend that everybody check out the the article "The Old, New Atheism" by Jackson Lears in the May 2011 issue of the New Republic. Just a brilliant, insightful well-reasoned polemic all around
shieldsff 5 months ago
@JLMomma1124 Keep cool, just practice and keep practicing to teach your children to be more intelligent then yourself..this is natural selection, and evolution of species..Just remember that your previous family have relinquished the ability to learn,,compare hundreds and even thousands of factual books are available, read them and give them to your kids when they are old enough..Trust me your life will get better and better for a long time to come..Keep up the good work,
timdnwd 4 months ago
I can strongly relate to this
ganon840 7 months ago
These people call themselves atheists when they should be calling themselves anti-theists. Atheism is very open to interpretation. Atheists just want this name to stick so they can pool more people into their belief system.
vidfreak56 7 months ago
@vidfreak56
um.... atheism is a lack of belief, not its own belief system. You are retarded and need to get your shit together before you comment.
aegisgfx 7 months ago
@aegisgfx lol a-theism means lack of theism. Theism, at least from what ive heard, has been defined many ways. Atheism could also mean youre a polytheist based on certian definitions. The problem is an atheist is more accurately described as an anti-theist. Atheists call themselves atheists so they can try to add more people to their belief system of anti-theism (which is a belief that god doesnt exist, not just a lack of a belief). LOL @ ad hominem attacks by weak minded fools.
vidfreak56 7 months ago
@vidfreak56
LOL!!!. No matter how you slice it and mince your words, you cannot portray atheism as a 'belief system', and you are a retard because only a retard would say baldness is a hair color.
aegisgfx 7 months ago
@aegisgfx Retard...im not portraying atheism as a belief system. Im portraying anti-theism as a belief system. Learn to read and then you might be able to understand people and not make a fool out of yourself. "Atheists" who are really anti-theists are trying to lump more people into their belief system (OF anti-theism) by calling themselves atheists. K?
vidfreak56 7 months ago
@vidfreak56
allow me to quote you;
"Atheists call themselves atheists so they can try to add more people to their belief system"
I'm not sure how else to Interpret this.
aegisgfx 7 months ago
@aegisgfx LOL if youre going to quote, at least do it right you fucking retard.
The REAL QUOTE:
"Atheists call themselves atheists so they can try to add more people to their belief system of anti-theism (which is a belief that god doesnt exist, not just a lack of a belief). "
key words = "of anti-theism". You pull what I say out of context and then interpret it in a new context. WTF really?
vidfreak56 7 months ago
@vidfreak56
Hey not trying to misrepresent you, but you do understand that this sentence makes NO sense right?
"Atheists call themselves atheists so they can try to add more people to their belief system of anti-theism"
I don't think anti-theists (or atheists) have a 'belief' that there is no gods, both groups are unconvinced by the arguments put forth from theists who claim gods are real. Belief for us does not enter into the equation, either theists have proof for their claims or not.
aegisgfx 7 months ago
@aegisgfx anti anything implies that you believe in the opposite. theists have an affirmative belief in god(s) and anti-theists have a negative belief or disbelief in god. An atheist means to lack a belief in gods existence. To lack a belief and to believe the opposite mean two different things. The sentence makes perfect sense. Both groups may be unconvinced but that doesnt make an atheist the same as an anti-theist. An anti-theist DOES have a belief. His belief is god doesnt exist.
vidfreak56 7 months ago
@vidfreak56 you make a valid point. but i think anti-theism and atheism can coincide in one person. It could be that his lack of belief in a theism has led to his disbelief in theism. At least that's the way i see it. So i think at least matt dilahunty is both an atheist and an anti-theist. And considering theism is a bunch of mythological mental pollution destroying the minds of everyone that takes it in, i see nothing wrong with anti-theism anyway
youbetzler 7 months ago
@youbetzler Sure, an atheist can be both an anti-theist or what is called an agnostic. Both persons lack the same belief, but this hardly characterizes either very well. Its like saying, "oh so you lack a belief that god does exist, so what do you believe?" Calling yourself an anti-theist from the start saves a lot of confusion.
vidfreak56 7 months ago
@vidfreak56 You're the only person i've seen to recognise the difference between atheism and anti-theism so i don't think there is a lot of confusion at all, and if you didn't take them so literally there wouldn't be any confusion for you, it's not that hard to look at the situation see and understand it for what it really is rather than taking it %100 on it's merits, something these guys do a bit too that bugs me, they know what the caller is getting at but still wait for them to say it
youbetzler 7 months ago
@vidfreak56 ..does that mean antipasto means a belief in not eating the meal to come? =/
PaperShishigami 6 months ago
@PaperShishigami antipasto means "before a meal". Anti in this case is derived from the latin 'ante', meaning before. The greek anti(and is the meaning when used in antitheist) means against, opposed, or opposite. Pasto as you might guess (or know) means food, and is a connotation for a meal or dinner. Not to say that you cant have a belief in not eating a meal to come...i just dont know a word for believing that youll eat a meal.
vidfreak56 6 months ago
@vidfreak56 Haha, I was actually just being a bit of a smartass with you, but I do thank you for the explanation. Just couldn't resist the opportunity.
PaperShishigami 6 months ago
@vidfreak56 what an awkward argument.... XP
no i dont believe in the spaghetti monster XP
antipasto
azmanabdula 6 months ago
@azmanabdula Ok then...thanks for the pointless post... ill just pretend i didnt read it and feel like i have the last 2 minutes of my life back.
vidfreak56 6 months ago
@vidfreak56 sorry i wrote that before i understood what you 2 were going on about....
i assumed you were talking about the spaghetti monster.........
dont worry about me.......
azmanabdula 6 months ago
@LetJimiT8keOver
at least his parents don't have him honor killed.
Anon12356 7 months ago
I am in this same situation, except I need to come out as an atheist to my in-laws. It really worries me because I don't mind cutting ties with people if the relationship becomes irreconcilable, but it will have a huge effect on my wife's relationship with her mother. I just don't know that I can do that to my wife.
dustonchupp 7 months ago
Matt was a dyed in the wool Christian for 25 years before becoming an Atheist. Surely if there is an after life and he eventually goes there that those 25 years will be worth some credit. Otherwise he wasted 25 years of his life on a fairy story. That would piss me off.
FistOfTheNorthStar82 7 months ago
Telling my family was the most freeing feeling for me. And while, yes, there was a little fear, I felt it worth being true to myself. You have to make a choice; Your life or their hurt. Maybe I'm lucky, but my family wasn't all the surprised. In the end, it wasn't a big thing. Yeah, there were a few "I'm going to hell" at first, but saw that had no effect, so they dropped it. I hope Amy has gotten over her fear and has been able to tell her family.
christallh24 8 months ago
Religion is so disgusting.
fourtywpm 8 months ago 44
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@fourtywpm Atheism is the most disgusting of all.
redeemerslove 7 months ago
@redeemerslove lol encouraging people to think for themselves using reason and logic is a bad thing? WOW. Are you serious? I'm sooooooooooo glad atheism is on the rise! : D
fourtywpm 7 months ago 20
@fourtywpm Same bro! I hope I can see the day when they tear down all the churches!
Darius135gease 6 months ago 2
@Darius135gease I'd prefer they just remove teh religious symbols and furniture. Make them community centers, homeless shelters, indoor basketball courts. Put them to REAL societal use! =)
over18irish 6 months ago
@over18irish I guess that would be smarter...
Darius135gease 6 months ago
@fourtywpm YEAH! Praise Cheesus!
Grey13Human 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@fourtywpm -I would also strongly recommend that everybody check out the the article "The Old, New Atheism" by Jackson Lears in the May 2011 issue of the New Republic. Just a brilliant, insightful well-reasoned polemic all around
shieldsff 5 months ago
Even when I "kinda sorta" believed in heaven, I never had a feeling about it. Actually, I never really FELT any of it was true. I just weakly THOUGHT it was true because people said it was true, but even as a young child I realized that people could say weird things and it might be dangerous to question people saying weird things around you, especially when you are a small child. (Also, I NEVER felt guilt go away because "Jesus forgave me". I never felt nor understood that whatsoever.)
greyeyed123 8 months ago
Amy in Panama, Fl. I can TOTALLY relate to everything you've said. I also feel robbed of my imagination at an early age because of the fierce indoctrination. I feel like my scientific understanding was retarded by at least 10 years. I stayed in the atheist closet for about 6 years out of fear of breaking my parents hearts. One Easter, after missing church and meeting up at the restaurant, my Dad made one too many credulous remarks about evolution and I just couldn't hold back anymore.
4tabula2rasa0 8 months ago
"...lack of religious involvement has been related to an increased risk of mortality even after controlling for the effects of various demographic, physical health factors, and other social support indicators" (Oman & Reed, 1998; Strawbridge et al., 1997).
Enjoy your early deaths.
redeemerslove 9 months ago
@redeemerslove Correlation =/= Causation, Third variable problem.
Failed Psychology is fail. Fail Logic is fail.
Enjoy your early departure from academia.
101Pilgrim 9 months ago
@redeemerslove Shut up you gimp.
That paper is only worth it's pulp weight.
Read some real academic papers and try to leave all your religious beliefs to one side.
Open your closed and narrow mind to finally see the world you have denied yourself for so long.
Lawlessuk 9 months ago
@redeemerslove I'd rather live a shorter life of reason than a longer life of ignorance and delusion.
SickMouth 9 months ago
@redeemerslove I think it's because the theists are going around killing everyone.
halonone 8 months ago
@halonone That is not what the study showed. Study science and get back to me.
redeemerslove 8 months ago
Just move to Australia, there are few religious fools here
MiamiSteve07 9 months ago
@MiamiSteve07 I may just move there. Or Canada!
SickMouth 9 months ago
@MiamiSteve07 Well there are less religious fools in Australia than perhaps in the USA. But we still have them unfortunately. Why do you think our current labor government are afraid to enact same gender marriages? Who do you think is stifling stem cell research here? What about our tax dollars putting evangelical chaplains into public schools? Most surprisingly the guy who built that laughable creation "museum" in the USA is an Australian.
ornitorrinco01 6 months ago