I feel somewhat silly leaving a comment to such an ancient video but I have to say that this thing goes for everyone as what you put up as ante and what you have to win is pretty much the same for everyone and everyone makes their own decision on something this big so they better be right.
You call yourself "preacherman" and use YouTube to broadcast your religious views and yet you’re baffled by people who have the energy to write vehemently! I find it baffling that you have so much energy to dedicate to such unsound views.
You then provide your version of Pascal's wager: an almighty hedging of bets that is one of humanity's weakest arguments for having faith.
There are many rebuttal's to Pascal's wager but my favourite is on YouTube: Richard Dawkins - "What if you're wrong?"
Has anyone explained Pascal's Wager to you? It is a viewpoint/argument, the very one you came to via your thought process described in the video. I'll be happy to explain it to you, showing you the pitfalls in that way of thinking. I'm an atheist, but a nice one. Cheers.
@SubconsciousGatherer Pascals wager is similar to his logic, but it isn't the basis of his faith, nor should it be, he's saying that he hasn't and won't lose anything no matter the circumstance, on the other hand athiest could pottentially go to hell, between only christ and atheism this is the situation, but of course you should probably factor in the other religions this is no longer but if he believes that christianity is right and he is sure of it why attack his beliefs? he is losing nothing
@goregrindmonstrosity I care about what is true, and his position (Christianity/God) has no proof that it's based in reality. People tend to act on their beliefs, so if you believe in a lie, you're likely to act out, based on a lie. I'd rather live in a world where people accepted reality and acted accordingly. Religious atrocities would cease if people would only accept that faith is dangerous. Even if *this* guy is not dangerous, he perpetuates a belief system that encourages the fanatics.
@SubconsciousGatherer Most religions tend to preach against materialism, I would say almost all human evil is rooter in materialism, and the reasons society is so fucked up is because of materialism, and there is no proof? look up the daniel 9 prophecy, or any other of the predicted prophecies, I can't gaurantee it will sway your views but they did mine, and lots of other things encourage fanatics, and christianity doesn't actually encourage or condone the religious atrocities of which you speak
@goregrindmonstrosity "christianity doesn't actually encourage or condone the religious atrocities of which you speak" Please read the Old Testament for a contradicting view on what you've just said. God (who is also Jesus, right?) instructs, orders, insists and condones slaughter, genocide, war, rape & slavery (to name a few). It's all in your holy book, so either you haven't read it, you missed those parts, or you approve of a god who does such things. Which is it?
@SubconsciousGatherer I've never read a passage where the bible condones rape, the war slaughter and genocide were all in the old testament though, I admit this and I while I don't like any of these things, I believe they were all done for a reason and a lot of those people that were killed were practicing other pagan religions in which brutal human sacrafice and other violent acts would you want this to continue But the bible never in any part says "kill and discriminate those who are different
@goregrindmonstrosity "I've never read a passage where the bible condones rape" Really? Is your Bible missing Judges 21:10-24, Numbers 31:7-18, Deuteronomy 20:10-14, Deuteronomy 22:23-24, 2 Samuel 12:11-14, Deuteronomy 21:10-14, Judges 5:30, Exodus 21:7-11 & Zechariah 14:1-2? I'll ask again: Do you agree with the god character that this is OK, or do you agree with me that rape is a horrible crime, never to be condoned?
@goregrindmonstrosity "the war slaughter and genocide were all in the old testament though" What does that have to do with ANYTHING? Are you suggesting that rape, slavery & genocide are OK, as long as it was a long time ago? You do realize that the OT god character is the same NT god character, right? Don't forget, Jesus is God, so all those atrocities were supposedly done at Jesus' command. Do you support these horrible acts, or denounce them as I do?
@goregrindmonstrosity "the bible never in any part says 'kill and discriminate those who are different' " It clearly *does.* Read your Bible again, and if you have time you should check out evil bible dot com. You'll find all the horrible stuff you've been missing all this time.
What do have to lose by believing something that is false? The chance to live believing something that is true. Most faiths are wrong. So if you believe you are saved by true faith then the stakes are very high for you too. If you have the wrong faith you aren't saved. As an atheist I am damned no matter what if there is an afterlife presuming salvation depends on faith. Believers must be certain you believe the truth, or it's hell for you. So the truth of your faith ought to be important.
No offense preacherman, but you, and any other pseudo-christians, who do not follow the bible word for word would be going to hell if it actually exists. You say if Atheists are right, then you lose nothing, but IF (big if) you are right, then you gained nothing because you didn't do as you were supposed to. The mere fact that you listen to us Atheists and don't stone us to death is a sin. The bible doesn't teach kindness, it teaches intolerance, so quite frankly, you're wasting your time.
I'm an atheist, and I certainly don't feel the need to be right. I'm very accepting that people have different belief systems to my own, whether it be Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Scientology, whatever floats your boat is fine by me. What I WILL object to is disrespect for my own beliefs from people of faith telling me I'm wrong not to believe in God and that I should, and rubbish like the infamous 'Atheist Test'. In that situation, I'll become defensive about my own beliefs and fight my corner.
if you tell a christian or a person of any religion there is no god will they submit to it no they will try to back up there theory if you tell an atheist there is a god the atheist will back up there theory this video is basiclly saying that only athriests are the only ones who will back up there believes
Wow, all the comments are by atheists. I feel bad responding now. You are totally right. We seek you out to combat you. I have no idea why that is. Maybe atheists are contrarians at heart? Anyway, I would like to apologize for myself and my ilk.
Actually, pity and disdain is a big part of it. It also just riles me. I get the same way about people that are all uppity about believing in homeopathy and astrology and moon seances and such. I try not to do it, but I can understand responding to disdain with disdain.
And yes partly it is because of the high price. There really could be no more important discussion (whoever is right) than what the purpose of life is and why it exists.
Everyone thinks everyone else is wrong (and often are willing to tell them so). I only get drawn into it because of creationism. I'm cool with Christianity, but thinking the Earth is 6000 years old and that evolution is a scientific conspiracy is on par with believing in a flat Earth. It just riles me when people are so very wrong. And so proud of it.
BTW belief is not a choice, at least not for me. I could no more believe in God than in the Force.
Christians love to paint themselves in an all-loving, all-accepting way. This is not what Christians have done all the way through history. Even today, people like Kirk Cameron are pushing their beliefs on people by making up slanderous lies about Charels Darwin. Maybe atheists have had enough of this?
I don't think it's about being right. Dogma has held us to ransom, in a state of fear for centuries. Science, in the last few hundred years, has given us incite into more and more thing that just fell into the category of " god did it."As the gaps are filled god phases out. That fire and brimstone preaching just doesn't feel that intimidating now.
lol im an atheist so i think theres no god but i have a weird hobby i like to argue! lol, mostly gid vs no god but i think of it this way 1 group is right and everyone else is screwed or theres nothing.....u die ur in a hole dead....i like #2 cuz i like privacy. oh and btw saying we need to be right i feel like slugging u but i wont.recently a friend of mine came to me and said atheist think its ok to commit crimes cuz they think theres no god.....him i slugged
It might help you to know that I was not talking about all atheists. Just the ones who feel the need to seek out Christians on You Tube and do everything they can to try and prove to them that their faith is bogus. I believe they do that out of an insecurity in their own beliefs. And make no mistake, if they asserting that there is no God, they do have beliefs.
I can see where you're coming from, but an atheist would have no trouble in finding believers in any numbers of religions who would also be dementedly intent on being right about their world-view.
That just boils down to people - some are cool, some are bent all out of shape, regardless of what they believe in.
At the same time, I think there is a difference between the need to be be seen to win an argument, and the desire to be right, even if that means reviewing a previously held conviction.
I agree with pretty much everything you've said here. Personally, when I share the gospel, it's not a matter of trying to prove I'm right, it's a matter of meeting a need for grace that I know I had and that I also know some others will recognize that they have as well. If they don't believe they have that need, that's ok with me, I don't need to try and prove to them that they do.
even so being afraid of going to hell is no reason for anyone to join a religion or believe in god.
also i don't think that's the reason that atheist and agnostics talk to people about these things. its more because they see the holes in the logic and they see some of the down sides of religion (and those who use it to do evil) are so they feel the need to to stop it.
Quite the opposite. Atheiests are the only people in the world who accept that they may be wrong.
You make the case for a cost-benefit of believing against not believing. This is a banal argument however, as there are many religions, and you happen to follow one. By your logic I should simply spin a wheel and pick any religion, not because it has worth, but because its better to 'have a chance' at heaven, than not.
Nope, that's not the argument I'm making at all. I do not suggest that anyone should accept anything against their better judgement. This video is about Atheists who seek out Christians, in order to try and prove to them that they are stupid for believing in God. I believe that anyone who behaves that way, be they a believer or a non believer, does so out of insecurity.
I disagree that Atheists are the only ones who admit they could be wrong. That would be Agnostics.
To be honest I feel for you, just as I feel for those atheists who have religion shoved down their throats.
Who are we to tell anyone that their perception of this extistence is right or wrong?
My only problem with religion, is when it attempts to affect my life, inflitrating schools, public organistations and government while trying to impose its moral system where it is not wanted.
I have just as much disgust for any atheist who does the same.
Well, that has been my point and the point of this video. Those kinds of atheists do exist and I have had to deal with many of them right here on You Tube.
Your only problem with religion...
"My only problem with religion, is when it attempts to affect my life, inflitrating schools, public organistations and government while trying to impose its moral system where it is not wanted."
This would also be my only problem with certain atheists.
"atheists are the only people in the world who accept they may be wrong"
That's lucky then, because now you should find it easy to understand how wrong that statement is.
Ever heard of agnostics? nihlists?
Most scientists believe they may be wrong, that is why they are always testing their beliefs out with experiments. Your comment was a little bit arogant, perhaps?
Firstly, it is widely accepted that agnostics and nihilists fall under the umbrella of the term Atheist for the purpose of these debates. All atheists are technically agnostics, we all accept the possiblity of disproval (however slim).
Secondly, as far as scientists go, is it a co-incidence most are atheist? Atheism is the only option if you examine the universe using the basis of science, observation and reasoning. And arrogance? there is nothing more arrogant than claiming there is a god and not accepting the possibility of any other alternative.
Hey Preacher. Yep, I've noticed a lot of that myself from atheists which is partly why I'm so reluctant to join their camp because there is an air of maliciousness about it. I would say that they do not care about the well-being of christians, they just want someone to admit they they are right and the christian was wrong and is stupid just so they can feel better about themselves. it's all just a feeding of the ego and puffing up of pride. It's rather arrogant to say the least.
Of course I can't respect faulty logic. What's wrong with you? Truth is not a matter of opinion.
And if the bible is right? Great. Then there's an afterlife. Even hell is better than nothing. Another example of faulty religious logic: "Heaven is the ultimate good, hell is the ultimate bad, and not existing at all is right down the middle."
You are apparently under the impression that Hell would be a rather tolerable place. If it's Biblical account is true, I think nothing would be far preferable.
What's tolerable and not, that's all relative. For a multimillionaire stockbroker it's not tolerable to be poor, so they go jump off some building and kill themselves, while less fortunate people live their whole lives in poverty and still find happiness.
Anyway, I'm not necessary saying it's tolerable, just that it's something, and thus it's an optimistic fate next to having your personality's existence cease all together.
I find there to be more genuiness in that you say "some" Atheists display a need to be right. I've seen too many who would say "all". But I find this "need to be right" is more universal than you observe. It stems from a basic requirement of survival. Nature can be unsympathetic with our error. Even to the degree dead wrongness. So being right does have survival value. But I don't find it restricted to Atheists. I did find this proposition of "maybe god..." worthy of a video response...
Yes, just as there are some Christians who go about seeking atheists and other non Christians with which to do battle, there are some atheists who do the same only in reverse. I believe that those who are comfortable and/or secure with their own beliefs do not need to seek out and attempt diminish those who think differently. To discuss the arena of ideas and beliefs in one thing, but to belittle those who think differently comes from a place of fear.
There is truth in this. Particularly in respect with the arena of ideas. However, there are arenas where fear is justified. And sometimes the ideas presented can be seen as a threat to shift one group from the arena of ideas, to an arena of imposition.
Why I enjoy chasing people beliefs down with the various tools of logic and debate is shared by my loathing of hypocrites. If one decides to believe in something, it should be justified at least by their own minds. By using the same logic they use, I can demonstrate how many people's spiritual beliefs are in conflict with what they know to be true. Subject your beliefs to open query, or bury your head in the sand. Either way do not act offended when I dismantle your false arguments.
I'm driven by 1. My desire to know and understand the world around me and 2. To use reason and logic to present my knowledge and understanding to others for skeptical query as means to justify or discredit my knowledge and understanding. I enjoy debating the topics of philosophy, theology and religion because I feel as if it allows my intellect to grow...so long as I'm in discussion with someone of equal or higher intellect. Debate, while a form of argument is productive.
On your first point, i do not have a problem with the "proselytizers".. it's easy to make them go away. What I have a problem with are the ones that do the cult brainwashing tactics like the Co$ types do.. telling you that you are wicked and evil and worthless and are going to hell and burniness and torture and screaming (picture Jerry Lewis schtick here)..
But, seriously, the worst is passing laws that require religion and thus violate the constitution.
For me I started researching christianity about 3 years ago at the time I could have excepted christianity. I went into it with a open mind trying to learn about christ. What I learned was that christianity like greek, egyptian and roman myth before christianity is a story with no backbone. The stories don't make sense they can't be show to be plausible much less proven. It is totally in the mind. Even believers don't agree on how to worship or how events happened.
You have a fallacy in your mind. That is why you cannot understand. You think you are correct that's why you cannot accept when they are correct. ok never mind you figured it out
oh and BTW evolution and abiogenesis are not random chance but random order
Pascals wager is not a good reason to waste your life
You also assume that your faith does not hurt humanity. just think of all the scientific progress it holds back and all the religious wars you are supporting by supporting your faith.
But there's a lot of christians and other religious people who have the same need to be right all the time, who wont listen to arguments, because according to the bible this is what happened and nothing can make me change my opinion.
This video is about those Atheists who seek out Christians in order to harass them about what they believe. It is for them that I offer this opinion. To the extent that the same can be said for certain Christians, they are also insecure in their beliefs.
In fact I would much rather be wrong and go to hell than to be right and just stop living and be nothing.
But I don't change my behavior or my outlook or my opinions because I'd like there to be a heaven.
I don't see Athiesm as a 'cause,' but I DO see education and science as causes. What I really don't get is that religious people who take so much on faith can't believe in science AND God.
Moreover, I can't MAKE myself believe something. I can learn about something new and decide whether I accept it or not, but barring new evidence, I'm not going to start believeing - even if I really want to.
And personally, even if I have everything to gain and nothing to lose, I won't start acting like I belive, saying I do, and becoming a liar and hypocrite. So I'll just be who I am and if God wants to punish me for that, so be it.
I am not and never have suggested that anyone do what you are talking about. This video is about why some atheists feel the need to seek out and attack Christians. Nothing more and nothing less.
Sorry, I didn't mean to make it seem like that; I was just trying to explain me individual, personal reasons for not converting (back), even when (as you described) there is seemingly everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Does that make sense? I mean, I would not insult any God that might exist by being false to myself in an attempt to gain a life after death. That's what I have to lose by giving religion a chance, when all I have to look forward to is my own death; my integrity.
First of all, being a Christian (or any other kind of believer in God for that matter) does not cause you to stop living and be nothing. Second. I do believe in science AND God, but I lack the capacity to believe in scientific assertions that have to be taken on faith. At that point, it too becomes religion.
You've clearly misunderstood me. I mean, when I die, I expect to stop living and be nothing. I would love to be wrong about that, and prove ANY religion right. I know lots of religious people believe in Science, I was just stating for me, Athiesm is not a cause, but learning & rationalism are. As far as taking science on faith, well you could say that all science is accepted on faith; scientists would argue that it's based on evidence and constantly refined, and not held to against reason
I tend to believe that as humans we place greater weight on whatever makes the most sense to us and whatever we decide to trust. None of us have been around long enough or been to enough places or experienced enough things to be 100% positive of anything. So at some point, we all choose to believe some things and doubt other things. We tend to feed and encourage what we already think and believe. Therefore, one man's reason is another man's foolishness and vice versa.
I agree with you here but I am trying to understand why people make up stories about events that supposedly happened thousands of years ago without a bit of evidence. If you make wild statements don't be surprised if people don't believe them.
You have pretty much the same chance of going to some sort of eternal damnation as I do (I am an atheist). What if Allah is truly the one and only god. What if the real creator is Baal, Vishnu, Krishna, Zeus, or the great Ju Ju of the mountain. I don't mind that you're a christian, I just wanted to point out this major flaw in your system, which is you only state there are two possibilities; Yaweah or randomness (and btw, it's not randomness, but there's a character limit so...)
i am a christian and i see both sides doing this tactic. i feel most christians try to force people to follow biblical principles through passing laws. i see atheists saying such things as "all christians are idiots" or even saying outright that they hate us. sometimes i think it would be better if we could just split the country in half. secularists on one side and the religious on the other.
The Stand Alone Complex is an amazing thing. I myself recently came to this concluesion a little while back, I guess it's true what they say; great minds think alike.
The need to be right is not unique to Atheists; in my experience, Christians tend to percieve any discussion of their faith by a non-believer as a personal attack. It's good to hear you say you respect other people's worldview, but there is a grievous lack of non-judgment, forgiveness and (forgive me for saying so), rational thought among Christians. That's not to say belief in God is irrational, but that people defending His existence tend to employ facetious arguments over rational debate.
Well, I'm an atheist living in England at the moment, and I have a quite a few very religious friends with whom I simply never discuss the issue- unless it's to ask or answer genuine questions. Occasionally, I would even go to a service or something with them, just for the social aspect, and because it's interesting. I have one friend who has made subtle attempts to bring me to the fold, and I'm flattered she cares, lol. I might be more militant if I was american, though.
I mean, religion plays a huge role in american life and politics. I think if I were an American Atheist, I'd feel the need to be defensive. Atheists commonly get slammed on the news, they're the least trusted minority, they can't hold government office in some states . . . Bullsh*t like that might make me angrier, lol. So, it's not the need to be right, I don't think. It's just that the very strong attitudes in america bring out the more combatitive side of people.
Sometimes it depends on the personality of the person. They may absolutely want to be right. But most people do not mind what others believe in. It's a personal choice and you have to respect it. If they want to believe in God, let them, it isn't a sin. What I encourage is to listen to both parts and understand them before you make the choice on whether or not you choose to believe in God and respect the beliefs of the other side because, in the end, you don't know who is right...
See, not all athiets are like that. The ones you are talking about are the ones who express their opinions the loudest. But most of us do not mind what other people believe in, they just accept it and respect it
I made this video a year and a half a ago at a time that I was being attacked quite heavily by atheists. Since that time I have met some atheists more like yourself, who did not judge me for being a Christian. But for the ones who do feel the need to judge those who believe in God, I still think they suffer from personal insecurities where it comes to their atheism.
Using Pascal's Wager will do nothing but get you laughed at. It doesn't even try to prove the existence of god, so theres no point in using it. Think of it this way, if you only had 1 day to live, would you go out and kill as many people as you can? You'd have nothing to lose, and remember, ANY sin, except one, can be forgiven.
Your logic is worthless in an intellectual debate if its based off of a 2000 year old book. Get some numbers (real numbers) and hard facts. Using the bible to prove god is circular logic, meaning its useless.
Pascal's wager? Really? Man, you just gotta be kidding me! :) It's one of the most debunked piece of theist logic there is. Look up Pascal's Wager on You Tube for a thorough exploration of the implications.
I have experienced many theists who seek out atheists and NEED to be right. What do they have to prove? What do they have to lose?
Their pride. They would have to accept that they have been lied to and conned, all their lives. Religion is the emperor's new clothes, and no-one wants to look like they've been 'had'.
In fact, seeking out and attacking beliefs is woven into the history of Christianity. Some atheists are fighting back now because their freedoms are at stake.
Better yet just read the bible, all of it, not just the nice parts. There are so many contradictions and stories about horrible things "God" has done. Beware though, reading the Bible is the fastest path to atheism.
We have a need to be right because the answer is so obvious that we can't believe you haven't figured it out yet! How would you deal with someone who believed in Lepricons, unicorns, santa, and the flying spagetti monster? Not only believing but believing that they are watching you and answering your prayers. You would think that after praying for years with no results you would catch on! You have an irrational belief based on nothing and then you are suprised when someone calls you on it!
. . . you'll have heard the arguement that it's hard to disprove pink unicorns on the eighth moon of jupiter, but that the logical among us would presume there weren't.
Sure, but none of this is really an issue of proof. Unless we feel we need to for some reason. God can neither be proven or disproven. I've heard it said that to some degree we are all some type of agnostic because none of us can really know for sure. What it really gets down to is the fact that we either have faith that there is a God or we have faith that there is not a God. If we don't feel confident enough to take a stand either way, then we admit we are agnostic.
You totally missed the point of Atheists. We don't want to be right. We want to be correct. We search for this correctness (truth) through evidence and not "FAITH".
questions 1 by 1 we might come to learn what we really are and what really made us and why it made us. that my friend is why i and other agnostic.atheists want religous people to see that the religous faiths they follow dont give answers, they give theories. thats what religions are, theories about everything. scientists have theories yes but they understand what a theorey is and they dont call it a fact unless its proved. a proved theorey is called a theorem.
Why do you assume that I don't study those areas anyway? Just because I believe in God and creation does not restrict my ability appreciate science, history or anything else just as much as you do.
all these religous people ALL or most looking for answers to theyre important questions. to answer a question like why are we here we need to know alot before we can begin to touch on the answer to that like where are we and what are we and to know those we have to know everything about our environment and ourselves and how atoms etc work to make consciousness and stars and galaxy and the whole universe then and finally through answering all these questions
youd become very intrested i the world around you and millions of others would too if religion wasnt there...and that doesnt just mean science that means history, philosophy, music, sports/recreation of all types, technology and maybe people would discover/invent NEW fields etc, can you see what im getting at?if religion wasnt there, you wouldnt have an answer and as a naturally intelligent person who cares where he comes from youd LOOK for those answers. who knows what would happen then
well lets just say you dont belive in god..as a religous person you must belive in god because you think the worlds too amazing to have just popped out of nowhere...well as the kind of person who looks for a meaning to life (in your case you found it in christ etc) imagine what else youd have to consider if you didnt believe in christ or allah etc
you say youv lost nothing or very little if your wrong and tehre is no god...lol. think about it, why do you belive in god now?i hope its because you looked at the world and thought wow this place is pretty cool someone must have made it and then you heard about christ etc and thought, hey that makes sense so i should do what the son of god tells me coz it both makes sense and itll get me into this cool club called heaven...
Another thing to help you....we only know what a crroked line is because we've seen a straight line right? Ask an atheist how he knows that life is meaningless...because in order to define meaningless you need to first know something is meaningful....so they just stated that God COULD exist haha see if they like it! @dios!
Hey Preacherman777 nice video well I have to change my oil didn't get to watch it all but keep up the good work! I'm the only Christian in my family and I think it just comes down to people seeing your peace and getting jealous. They have seriously gone OUT OF THEIR WAY to harass me in the past hahaha so just ignore them and take the high road. God bless!
1) It took you just under 50 seconds to get around to a subject.
2) What is it that drives them as hard... as they're driven?
3) 1:47 and you're finally starting to say something, even if it doesn't seem to be accurate. Absent of harassment by evangelistic types, it seems that agnostics and atheists go on about their business without cramming their concepts down anyone's throats.
Why do Atheists tend to be vocal? Because so few of us have the courage to step into the light and be targets for holier than thou Christians. Because we resent people who would make legislation based on bronze age fairy tales. Because we want our government to not supress science as our current administration does. Those are just a few reasons some of us are very vocal and intense with our criticism of Christians.
Sure doesn't mean anything to me. People who think the way you do oppress gay people and push your beliefs on the rest of us through law. This is a problem because you're in the majority. We're going to evangelise until we get to a point where this is no longer a problem.
i don't think atheists really worry about heaven or hell. your "high price if wrong" theory is something you have created because you are christian and worry more about that kind of thing.
You are wrong on four points. 1.The minority will have to fight more to be heard. This is expically true since people quickly believe in mysticism. 2.Watch Sam Harris. False religions should not be ignored. They are ultimately dangerious. 3.You are stating Pascal's Wager which has many flaws like which diety(s) should we choose. 4.I am not afraid of hell. I *AM* afraid and mad of people telling children Jesus is the only way to paradise.
It's a prophesy about judgement day. I can only assume this person figures that because God intends to judge the world for their evil, this somehow makes God himself evil. Typical liberal atheist thinking.
You know, if I had insinuated about your motivations like that, you would probably have deleted the comment.
Zephaniah wasn't about the Chirstian Judgement Day. It was written when the Jews were returning from exile in Babylonia and had found indigenous people living in Judah who worshipped other gods. The book is a warning to those people to worship only Yahweh or die. Historical context is important for an understanding of the Bible - liberal atheist thinking.
If you understood how prophesy works, you would understand that if often holds as many as a threefold purpose, which can include the present the near future and distant future. Regardless of how you apply it, what point were you trying to make about God, if not that he is evil?
I don't think God is what I would call evil, no. I believe the overall consensus the Bible reaches on the subject is that God is the source of all evil, as well as all good, but that he is neither. See Isaiah 45:7.
The point I was trying to make to asmodeous is just that, from one freethinker to another, it's dangerous to call yourself a Christian until you've read all of the Bible. I recommend starting with Zeph because it's a strong dose.
Thank you Preacher for making this video. I was once a hardcore atheist and I have just recently turned to Christ. I have never been happier in my life. Everything is new like I am looking at the world through new eyes. Which in a way I guess I am. Thank you though and I just had to use some of this space to witness.
If your a giving, charitable person who donates their life to helping others but you don't believe in God...you go to hell?
Equal punishment for two completely different lives.
Makes no sense and God wouldn't create such a dumb rule. Nor would God blame his own creation for not believing in him. I'm still glad I went to Catholic school. but..this is dumb.
(That should have read 'Bill O'Reilly' above.) I just had another thought. What you might perceive as a need to be right might also be a need to understand belief wherein we do not see the logic. It's human to also have a need to understand what mystifies us.
Everyone, Xian or no, has a deep need to be right. Who wants to be wrong? Do you? I just enjoy a good philosophical discussion. I'll keep my secular humanism, thank you. Either way we both (theoretically) live ethical and moral lives, though the details may differ.
It's the Bob O'Reilly's and Ann Coulters of the world that atheists (and Xians should as well) attack. Every time one of these immoral, freedom-hating right wingers lifts up their head it's time to play 'whack-a-mole'.
Ok, first let me say natural selection has NOTHING to do with random chance. This is a strawman. No flesh-and-blood evolutionary biologist has ever said anything that.
Now that I've got that off my chest, what you have done is just restated Pascal's Wager, a rather shaky argument. You say you have nothing to lose, but you do. If there is no god, you have wasted your whole life, the only one you get, on a lie. I am actually very comfortable with my position either way.
I was researching a few videos, they led here.All of them state the same selfish theme. "What do I gain!" Your reasoning is in ?. Fear seems to be #1, fear of a hell. I am not dismissing your beliefs, it is a good way of life, turn the other cheeck. It boils down to "the believers" in most cases are hypocrits.If a jesus style of existance is what you are seeking this discussion would never be taking place.
For some reason this video makes me want to cuss at you and tell you how wrong you are :P
Seriously though, you should go start up a second account and make some fake atheist videos, hiding your face or whatever, and see how many Christians attack you and demonstrate their desperate need to be right.
This comment keeps failing to post trying again:- What an individual's religious beliefs are is determined 99% of the time by Geography by where you were born, If you are born in The Middle East you are most likely to be Muslim or Jewish, if born in USA or Europe Christian, born in India Hindu and so on, and some splinter somewhat away from the mainstream and thats where the extremism comes from
Look, I don't take your comment to heart at all, because I think it's little more than a cheap insult couched in concern. If I were so sensitive as you attempt to say I am, why on earth would be out here putting myself in the middle of these debates day after day. It would far easier for me to just ignore all you guys. I just find some of what you people do to be rather ridiculous so I talk about it in videos and will most likely continue to do so.
That's cool. "We" are just here trying to find out why you feel "we" are ridiculous and at the same time explain a couple of things to you that you don't seem to understand. It's all in good fun and hey, talking about it is better than just sitting there quietly thinking about it.
You are sensitive in that you are quick to accuse others of attacking and judging you without merit when at the same time you are indirectly attacking other's beliefs by insisting YOU are right and can't be wrong.
Your claim that atheism is a religion, for example, is particularly annoying. It isn't a religion simply because of the definition of the word. Your insistance that it is boarderlines on blatant childishness and refusal to accept fact. Why do you fight the definition of a word? It's pointless.
I know too much about atheism (as a movement) to believe that. The true definition of the word is not a religion, but most atheists I talk to cannot be defined that way.
Gee, it seems to me that many of the atheists, including you, have been very quick to accuse and judge me without merit. And must I say once again, I am only responding to people. You guys are the ones attacking me. I have not gone after anyone.
Who said I was an atheist? To be honest with you I'm not even sure what I am. I'm still gathering information and such so that maybe I'll have a label of some kind one day. Thanks for doing to me what you so often cry about.
How many times do I have to tell you. I'm not attacking you and most people trying to dialogue with you aren't. You just have this impression that anyone not kissing your behind must have malice towards you.
I can't believe you actually deleted my comment about your sensitivity. Are your feelings so delicate? Please thicken your skin. No one is actually here "to get you." You aren't as provocative or threatening as you think you are.
So Mike I truely believe that you are a Christian by mere place of birth alone.
Unless it is your claim you are a one percenter and if you do then Hell will be so full of the other 99% of Christians and other Theists there will possibly be little room for The Atheists.
Well, I'm definitely not a Christian by mere place of birth. I was born a Catholic and I am now very far removed from those beliefs. Christianity, for me is both a matter of the head and the heart. If it didn't fulfill my needs in both those areas I could not be a Christian. As for 99% of the other Christians and Theists going to Hell, I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
The first part of my comment seems to have disappeared into the ether:-What an individual's religious beliefs are is determined 99% of the time by Geography by where you were born, If you are born in The Middle East you are most likely to be Muslim or Jewish, if born in USA or Europe Christian, born in India Hindu and so on, and some splinter somewhat away from the mainstream and thats where the extremism comes from
Well, I will add this to what I said before. I don't believe that other Christians are going to Hell based on their thinking being different from mine. Like everyone else it boils down to their own personal faith and belief in Jesus. If it's there, who I am to say they are not saved?
Why are there Christians with different beliefs in the first place? If Christians are indwelled with the holy spirit, and the Bible is the word of god, why have there been 30,000 sects of Christianity? One must wonder why, if Christianity is "the truth", there are so many versions of the truth. You can't say man's interpretations if there is a holy spirit guiding and inspiring people.
I think you are trying to confuse what the Holy Spirit does in regards to the inspiration of scripture to what he does in the guidance of men. The Bible is very clear that in prophesy, men speak directly from God as they carried by the Holy Spirit. But in guidence men are prompted by the Spirit, but are always able to resist.
Sadly, many people come to the Bible with an agenda already in place and they read that agenda into the Bible. It's called eisegesis. Rather men should be allowing the word of God shape them. This why you get all the differences.
The Protestant Bible has 66 books, yet the Catholic Bible one has 73. The Orthrodox Bible has yet a different number of books. All Christian, yet who is right? How can do you know what books are really the word of God, if any of them are?
The difference is a matter of whether or not they include the apocrypha which was not considered scripture either by early Christians or the Jews who came before them.
Actually, the deuterocanonical books were included within the Septuagint and some early Christians did use them. The Books of Enoch and Jubilees is still in the broad canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox church today. Many books like 2 Peter, 2&3 John, Revelation, and others were originally not in the NT canon. Like I said, a group of fallible men compiled the word of god.
Some early Christians did know about them, even Jesus.
Do you actually believe an all-wise God would transmit his knowledge to man in a book 2000 years ago, in a time where ppl could not read and before the printing press?
Ok, even though it says all scripture is inspired, we don't have the originals and we know the copies have been altered. Fallible men then created thousands of different sects reflecting their own interpretations of the Bible. What you end up with is a big mess and tons of in-fighting, as we've seen recorded in througout the history of Christianity from all the various councils to the reformation and beyond.
I feel somewhat silly leaving a comment to such an ancient video but I have to say that this thing goes for everyone as what you put up as ante and what you have to win is pretty much the same for everyone and everyone makes their own decision on something this big so they better be right.
ZeroIsMany 6 months ago
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Don't Trust Your Money With A Fictitious God which is based on Blind Faith
MagicTellaVision 8 months ago
You call yourself "preacherman" and use YouTube to broadcast your religious views and yet you’re baffled by people who have the energy to write vehemently! I find it baffling that you have so much energy to dedicate to such unsound views.
You then provide your version of Pascal's wager: an almighty hedging of bets that is one of humanity's weakest arguments for having faith.
There are many rebuttal's to Pascal's wager but my favourite is on YouTube: Richard Dawkins - "What if you're wrong?"
DeadEyeJack 9 months ago
Has anyone explained Pascal's Wager to you? It is a viewpoint/argument, the very one you came to via your thought process described in the video. I'll be happy to explain it to you, showing you the pitfalls in that way of thinking. I'm an atheist, but a nice one. Cheers.
SubconsciousGatherer 1 year ago
@SubconsciousGatherer Pascals wager is similar to his logic, but it isn't the basis of his faith, nor should it be, he's saying that he hasn't and won't lose anything no matter the circumstance, on the other hand athiest could pottentially go to hell, between only christ and atheism this is the situation, but of course you should probably factor in the other religions this is no longer but if he believes that christianity is right and he is sure of it why attack his beliefs? he is losing nothing
goregrindmonstrosity 11 months ago
@goregrindmonstrosity I care about what is true, and his position (Christianity/God) has no proof that it's based in reality. People tend to act on their beliefs, so if you believe in a lie, you're likely to act out, based on a lie. I'd rather live in a world where people accepted reality and acted accordingly. Religious atrocities would cease if people would only accept that faith is dangerous. Even if *this* guy is not dangerous, he perpetuates a belief system that encourages the fanatics.
SubconsciousGatherer 11 months ago
@SubconsciousGatherer Most religions tend to preach against materialism, I would say almost all human evil is rooter in materialism, and the reasons society is so fucked up is because of materialism, and there is no proof? look up the daniel 9 prophecy, or any other of the predicted prophecies, I can't gaurantee it will sway your views but they did mine, and lots of other things encourage fanatics, and christianity doesn't actually encourage or condone the religious atrocities of which you speak
goregrindmonstrosity 11 months ago
@goregrindmonstrosity "christianity doesn't actually encourage or condone the religious atrocities of which you speak" Please read the Old Testament for a contradicting view on what you've just said. God (who is also Jesus, right?) instructs, orders, insists and condones slaughter, genocide, war, rape & slavery (to name a few). It's all in your holy book, so either you haven't read it, you missed those parts, or you approve of a god who does such things. Which is it?
SubconsciousGatherer 11 months ago
@SubconsciousGatherer I've never read a passage where the bible condones rape, the war slaughter and genocide were all in the old testament though, I admit this and I while I don't like any of these things, I believe they were all done for a reason and a lot of those people that were killed were practicing other pagan religions in which brutal human sacrafice and other violent acts would you want this to continue But the bible never in any part says "kill and discriminate those who are different
goregrindmonstrosity 11 months ago
@goregrindmonstrosity "I've never read a passage where the bible condones rape" Really? Is your Bible missing Judges 21:10-24, Numbers 31:7-18, Deuteronomy 20:10-14, Deuteronomy 22:23-24, 2 Samuel 12:11-14, Deuteronomy 21:10-14, Judges 5:30, Exodus 21:7-11 & Zechariah 14:1-2? I'll ask again: Do you agree with the god character that this is OK, or do you agree with me that rape is a horrible crime, never to be condoned?
SubconsciousGatherer 11 months ago
@goregrindmonstrosity "the war slaughter and genocide were all in the old testament though" What does that have to do with ANYTHING? Are you suggesting that rape, slavery & genocide are OK, as long as it was a long time ago? You do realize that the OT god character is the same NT god character, right? Don't forget, Jesus is God, so all those atrocities were supposedly done at Jesus' command. Do you support these horrible acts, or denounce them as I do?
SubconsciousGatherer 11 months ago
@goregrindmonstrosity "the bible never in any part says 'kill and discriminate those who are different' " It clearly *does.* Read your Bible again, and if you have time you should check out evil bible dot com. You'll find all the horrible stuff you've been missing all this time.
SubconsciousGatherer 11 months ago
What do have to lose by believing something that is false? The chance to live believing something that is true. Most faiths are wrong. So if you believe you are saved by true faith then the stakes are very high for you too. If you have the wrong faith you aren't saved. As an atheist I am damned no matter what if there is an afterlife presuming salvation depends on faith. Believers must be certain you believe the truth, or it's hell for you. So the truth of your faith ought to be important.
SamWiseGingy 1 year ago
No offense preacherman, but you, and any other pseudo-christians, who do not follow the bible word for word would be going to hell if it actually exists. You say if Atheists are right, then you lose nothing, but IF (big if) you are right, then you gained nothing because you didn't do as you were supposed to. The mere fact that you listen to us Atheists and don't stone us to death is a sin. The bible doesn't teach kindness, it teaches intolerance, so quite frankly, you're wasting your time.
ZarathustraX 1 year ago
I'm an atheist, and I certainly don't feel the need to be right. I'm very accepting that people have different belief systems to my own, whether it be Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Scientology, whatever floats your boat is fine by me. What I WILL object to is disrespect for my own beliefs from people of faith telling me I'm wrong not to believe in God and that I should, and rubbish like the infamous 'Atheist Test'. In that situation, I'll become defensive about my own beliefs and fight my corner.
cagedsexybeast 2 years ago
if you tell a christian or a person of any religion there is no god will they submit to it no they will try to back up there theory if you tell an atheist there is a god the atheist will back up there theory this video is basiclly saying that only athriests are the only ones who will back up there believes
timelordcreation 2 years ago
Wow, all the comments are by atheists. I feel bad responding now. You are totally right. We seek you out to combat you. I have no idea why that is. Maybe atheists are contrarians at heart? Anyway, I would like to apologize for myself and my ilk.
Keeban3 2 years ago
Actually, pity and disdain is a big part of it. It also just riles me. I get the same way about people that are all uppity about believing in homeopathy and astrology and moon seances and such. I try not to do it, but I can understand responding to disdain with disdain.
And yes partly it is because of the high price. There really could be no more important discussion (whoever is right) than what the purpose of life is and why it exists.
Also it helps me procrastinate.
Keeban3 2 years ago
Its proselytizing: pra sta la tizing
Everyone thinks everyone else is wrong (and often are willing to tell them so). I only get drawn into it because of creationism. I'm cool with Christianity, but thinking the Earth is 6000 years old and that evolution is a scientific conspiracy is on par with believing in a flat Earth. It just riles me when people are so very wrong. And so proud of it.
BTW belief is not a choice, at least not for me. I could no more believe in God than in the Force.
Keeban3 2 years ago
Christians love to paint themselves in an all-loving, all-accepting way. This is not what Christians have done all the way through history. Even today, people like Kirk Cameron are pushing their beliefs on people by making up slanderous lies about Charels Darwin. Maybe atheists have had enough of this?
666moshpit666 2 years ago
Atheists seek out your beliefs because we want to show you what your jahovas witnesses do to us!
metalsaw666 2 years ago
i am a Atheist but i wont atack eneone in less i am atacked
Hi675445 2 years ago
I don't think it's about being right. Dogma has held us to ransom, in a state of fear for centuries. Science, in the last few hundred years, has given us incite into more and more thing that just fell into the category of " god did it."As the gaps are filled god phases out. That fire and brimstone preaching just doesn't feel that intimidating now.
ptango101 2 years ago
lol im an atheist so i think theres no god but i have a weird hobby i like to argue! lol, mostly gid vs no god but i think of it this way 1 group is right and everyone else is screwed or theres nothing.....u die ur in a hole dead....i like #2 cuz i like privacy. oh and btw saying we need to be right i feel like slugging u but i wont.recently a friend of mine came to me and said atheist think its ok to commit crimes cuz they think theres no god.....him i slugged
300538501 2 years ago
It might help you to know that I was not talking about all atheists. Just the ones who feel the need to seek out Christians on You Tube and do everything they can to try and prove to them that their faith is bogus. I believe they do that out of an insecurity in their own beliefs. And make no mistake, if they asserting that there is no God, they do have beliefs.
preacherman777 2 years ago
I can see where you're coming from, but an atheist would have no trouble in finding believers in any numbers of religions who would also be dementedly intent on being right about their world-view.
That just boils down to people - some are cool, some are bent all out of shape, regardless of what they believe in.
At the same time, I think there is a difference between the need to be be seen to win an argument, and the desire to be right, even if that means reviewing a previously held conviction.
Ade42 2 years ago
I agree with pretty much everything you've said here. Personally, when I share the gospel, it's not a matter of trying to prove I'm right, it's a matter of meeting a need for grace that I know I had and that I also know some others will recognize that they have as well. If they don't believe they have that need, that's ok with me, I don't need to try and prove to them that they do.
preacherman777 2 years ago
even so being afraid of going to hell is no reason for anyone to join a religion or believe in god.
also i don't think that's the reason that atheist and agnostics talk to people about these things. its more because they see the holes in the logic and they see some of the down sides of religion (and those who use it to do evil) are so they feel the need to to stop it.
ozfan2themax 2 years ago
Atheists do not have the need to feel right.
Quite the opposite. Atheiests are the only people in the world who accept that they may be wrong.
You make the case for a cost-benefit of believing against not believing. This is a banal argument however, as there are many religions, and you happen to follow one. By your logic I should simply spin a wheel and pick any religion, not because it has worth, but because its better to 'have a chance' at heaven, than not.
plual226 2 years ago 2
Nope, that's not the argument I'm making at all. I do not suggest that anyone should accept anything against their better judgement. This video is about Atheists who seek out Christians, in order to try and prove to them that they are stupid for believing in God. I believe that anyone who behaves that way, be they a believer or a non believer, does so out of insecurity.
I disagree that Atheists are the only ones who admit they could be wrong. That would be Agnostics.
preacherman777 2 years ago
I would be diaapointed if anyone truly believed that there was no possiblity of god.
The evidence may indicate something to be unlikely, but until proven, the element of doubt must always be considered.
This goes for both sides.
plual226 2 years ago
To be honest I feel for you, just as I feel for those atheists who have religion shoved down their throats.
Who are we to tell anyone that their perception of this extistence is right or wrong?
My only problem with religion, is when it attempts to affect my life, inflitrating schools, public organistations and government while trying to impose its moral system where it is not wanted.
I have just as much disgust for any atheist who does the same.
plual226 2 years ago
Well, that has been my point and the point of this video. Those kinds of atheists do exist and I have had to deal with many of them right here on You Tube.
Your only problem with religion...
"My only problem with religion, is when it attempts to affect my life, inflitrating schools, public organistations and government while trying to impose its moral system where it is not wanted."
This would also be my only problem with certain atheists.
preacherman777 2 years ago
"atheists are the only people in the world who accept they may be wrong"
That's lucky then, because now you should find it easy to understand how wrong that statement is.
Ever heard of agnostics? nihlists?
Most scientists believe they may be wrong, that is why they are always testing their beliefs out with experiments. Your comment was a little bit arogant, perhaps?
morningstomper123 2 years ago
Firstly, it is widely accepted that agnostics and nihilists fall under the umbrella of the term Atheist for the purpose of these debates. All atheists are technically agnostics, we all accept the possiblity of disproval (however slim).
plual226 2 years ago
Secondly, as far as scientists go, is it a co-incidence most are atheist? Atheism is the only option if you examine the universe using the basis of science, observation and reasoning. And arrogance? there is nothing more arrogant than claiming there is a god and not accepting the possibility of any other alternative.
plual226 2 years ago
Hey Preacher. Yep, I've noticed a lot of that myself from atheists which is partly why I'm so reluctant to join their camp because there is an air of maliciousness about it. I would say that they do not care about the well-being of christians, they just want someone to admit they they are right and the christian was wrong and is stupid just so they can feel better about themselves. it's all just a feeding of the ego and puffing up of pride. It's rather arrogant to say the least.
NZbeauty86 2 years ago
Of course I can't respect faulty logic. What's wrong with you? Truth is not a matter of opinion.
And if the bible is right? Great. Then there's an afterlife. Even hell is better than nothing. Another example of faulty religious logic: "Heaven is the ultimate good, hell is the ultimate bad, and not existing at all is right down the middle."
x8963 2 years ago
"Even hell is better than nothing."
If you should end up there, I'd be interested to know if you feel that logic holds up.
preacherman777 2 years ago
Really, just think about it. Any belief in an afterlife existence at all is bound to be an optimistic one.
Even if you'd rate heaven a ten, and hell a one, it still would be something. It wouldn't be zero.
x8963 2 years ago
You are apparently under the impression that Hell would be a rather tolerable place. If it's Biblical account is true, I think nothing would be far preferable.
preacherman777 2 years ago
What's tolerable and not, that's all relative. For a multimillionaire stockbroker it's not tolerable to be poor, so they go jump off some building and kill themselves, while less fortunate people live their whole lives in poverty and still find happiness.
Anyway, I'm not necessary saying it's tolerable, just that it's something, and thus it's an optimistic fate next to having your personality's existence cease all together.
x8963 2 years ago
I find there to be more genuiness in that you say "some" Atheists display a need to be right. I've seen too many who would say "all". But I find this "need to be right" is more universal than you observe. It stems from a basic requirement of survival. Nature can be unsympathetic with our error. Even to the degree dead wrongness. So being right does have survival value. But I don't find it restricted to Atheists. I did find this proposition of "maybe god..." worthy of a video response...
RichardRoy2 2 years ago
Yes, just as there are some Christians who go about seeking atheists and other non Christians with which to do battle, there are some atheists who do the same only in reverse. I believe that those who are comfortable and/or secure with their own beliefs do not need to seek out and attempt diminish those who think differently. To discuss the arena of ideas and beliefs in one thing, but to belittle those who think differently comes from a place of fear.
preacherman777 2 years ago
There is truth in this. Particularly in respect with the arena of ideas. However, there are arenas where fear is justified. And sometimes the ideas presented can be seen as a threat to shift one group from the arena of ideas, to an arena of imposition.
RichardRoy2 2 years ago
Fear for their lives and goods from fundamentalist nutjobs.
komninosm 2 years ago
Why I enjoy chasing people beliefs down with the various tools of logic and debate is shared by my loathing of hypocrites. If one decides to believe in something, it should be justified at least by their own minds. By using the same logic they use, I can demonstrate how many people's spiritual beliefs are in conflict with what they know to be true. Subject your beliefs to open query, or bury your head in the sand. Either way do not act offended when I dismantle your false arguments.
illumined1 3 years ago 2
I'm driven by 1. My desire to know and understand the world around me and 2. To use reason and logic to present my knowledge and understanding to others for skeptical query as means to justify or discredit my knowledge and understanding. I enjoy debating the topics of philosophy, theology and religion because I feel as if it allows my intellect to grow...so long as I'm in discussion with someone of equal or higher intellect. Debate, while a form of argument is productive.
illumined1 3 years ago
On your first point, i do not have a problem with the "proselytizers".. it's easy to make them go away. What I have a problem with are the ones that do the cult brainwashing tactics like the Co$ types do.. telling you that you are wicked and evil and worthless and are going to hell and burniness and torture and screaming (picture Jerry Lewis schtick here)..
But, seriously, the worst is passing laws that require religion and thus violate the constitution.
RyuDarragh 3 years ago
For me I started researching christianity about 3 years ago at the time I could have excepted christianity. I went into it with a open mind trying to learn about christ. What I learned was that christianity like greek, egyptian and roman myth before christianity is a story with no backbone. The stories don't make sense they can't be show to be plausible much less proven. It is totally in the mind. Even believers don't agree on how to worship or how events happened.
kingmike40 3 years ago
You have a fallacy in your mind. That is why you cannot understand. You think you are correct that's why you cannot accept when they are correct. ok never mind you figured it out
oh and BTW evolution and abiogenesis are not random chance but random order
Pascals wager is not a good reason to waste your life
You also assume that your faith does not hurt humanity. just think of all the scientific progress it holds back and all the religious wars you are supporting by supporting your faith.
xlioilx 3 years ago 2
But there's a lot of christians and other religious people who have the same need to be right all the time, who wont listen to arguments, because according to the bible this is what happened and nothing can make me change my opinion.
Othelie 3 years ago
This video is about those Atheists who seek out Christians in order to harass them about what they believe. It is for them that I offer this opinion. To the extent that the same can be said for certain Christians, they are also insecure in their beliefs.
preacherman777 3 years ago
I think those christians fall under the catagory of creationists
Krowges 3 years ago
I just want to say, as an Athiest/Agnostic,
I would really, REALLY, love to be wrong.
In fact I would much rather be wrong and go to hell than to be right and just stop living and be nothing.
But I don't change my behavior or my outlook or my opinions because I'd like there to be a heaven.
I don't see Athiesm as a 'cause,' but I DO see education and science as causes. What I really don't get is that religious people who take so much on faith can't believe in science AND God.
RuckBodgers 3 years ago
Moreover, I can't MAKE myself believe something. I can learn about something new and decide whether I accept it or not, but barring new evidence, I'm not going to start believeing - even if I really want to.
And personally, even if I have everything to gain and nothing to lose, I won't start acting like I belive, saying I do, and becoming a liar and hypocrite. So I'll just be who I am and if God wants to punish me for that, so be it.
RuckBodgers 3 years ago
I am not and never have suggested that anyone do what you are talking about. This video is about why some atheists feel the need to seek out and attack Christians. Nothing more and nothing less.
preacherman777 3 years ago
Sorry, I didn't mean to make it seem like that; I was just trying to explain me individual, personal reasons for not converting (back), even when (as you described) there is seemingly everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Does that make sense? I mean, I would not insult any God that might exist by being false to myself in an attempt to gain a life after death. That's what I have to lose by giving religion a chance, when all I have to look forward to is my own death; my integrity.
RuckBodgers 3 years ago
Yes, that makes sense. Thank you for the clarification.
preacherman777 3 years ago
First of all, being a Christian (or any other kind of believer in God for that matter) does not cause you to stop living and be nothing. Second. I do believe in science AND God, but I lack the capacity to believe in scientific assertions that have to be taken on faith. At that point, it too becomes religion.
preacherman777 3 years ago
You've clearly misunderstood me. I mean, when I die, I expect to stop living and be nothing. I would love to be wrong about that, and prove ANY religion right. I know lots of religious people believe in Science, I was just stating for me, Athiesm is not a cause, but learning & rationalism are. As far as taking science on faith, well you could say that all science is accepted on faith; scientists would argue that it's based on evidence and constantly refined, and not held to against reason
RuckBodgers 3 years ago
I tend to believe that as humans we place greater weight on whatever makes the most sense to us and whatever we decide to trust. None of us have been around long enough or been to enough places or experienced enough things to be 100% positive of anything. So at some point, we all choose to believe some things and doubt other things. We tend to feed and encourage what we already think and believe. Therefore, one man's reason is another man's foolishness and vice versa.
preacherman777 3 years ago
That's a very good way of describing it.
RuckBodgers 3 years ago
I agree with you here but I am trying to understand why people make up stories about events that supposedly happened thousands of years ago without a bit of evidence. If you make wild statements don't be surprised if people don't believe them.
kingmike40 3 years ago
What is a scientific assertion?
kingmike40 3 years ago
Why the hell would I be afraid of converting?
Your whole thing is "we forgive", so no.
I think YOU'RE afraid, since you've put so much effort into being saved, yet you are afraid that your life is purposeless.
heyheyhey0220 3 years ago
You have pretty much the same chance of going to some sort of eternal damnation as I do (I am an atheist). What if Allah is truly the one and only god. What if the real creator is Baal, Vishnu, Krishna, Zeus, or the great Ju Ju of the mountain. I don't mind that you're a christian, I just wanted to point out this major flaw in your system, which is you only state there are two possibilities; Yaweah or randomness (and btw, it's not randomness, but there's a character limit so...)
eviltiki13 3 years ago
i am a christian and i see both sides doing this tactic. i feel most christians try to force people to follow biblical principles through passing laws. i see atheists saying such things as "all christians are idiots" or even saying outright that they hate us. sometimes i think it would be better if we could just split the country in half. secularists on one side and the religious on the other.
leiapeison 3 years ago
The Stand Alone Complex is an amazing thing. I myself recently came to this concluesion a little while back, I guess it's true what they say; great minds think alike.
vagitoe 3 years ago
The need to be right is not unique to Atheists; in my experience, Christians tend to percieve any discussion of their faith by a non-believer as a personal attack. It's good to hear you say you respect other people's worldview, but there is a grievous lack of non-judgment, forgiveness and (forgive me for saying so), rational thought among Christians. That's not to say belief in God is irrational, but that people defending His existence tend to employ facetious arguments over rational debate.
JCLeSinge 3 years ago
Well, I'm an atheist living in England at the moment, and I have a quite a few very religious friends with whom I simply never discuss the issue- unless it's to ask or answer genuine questions. Occasionally, I would even go to a service or something with them, just for the social aspect, and because it's interesting. I have one friend who has made subtle attempts to bring me to the fold, and I'm flattered she cares, lol. I might be more militant if I was american, though.
hasslfoot 3 years ago
I mean, religion plays a huge role in american life and politics. I think if I were an American Atheist, I'd feel the need to be defensive. Atheists commonly get slammed on the news, they're the least trusted minority, they can't hold government office in some states . . . Bullsh*t like that might make me angrier, lol. So, it's not the need to be right, I don't think. It's just that the very strong attitudes in america bring out the more combatitive side of people.
hasslfoot 3 years ago
Sometimes it depends on the personality of the person. They may absolutely want to be right. But most people do not mind what others believe in. It's a personal choice and you have to respect it. If they want to believe in God, let them, it isn't a sin. What I encourage is to listen to both parts and understand them before you make the choice on whether or not you choose to believe in God and respect the beliefs of the other side because, in the end, you don't know who is right...
dawnbeckingham 4 years ago
See, not all athiets are like that. The ones you are talking about are the ones who express their opinions the loudest. But most of us do not mind what other people believe in, they just accept it and respect it
dawnbeckingham 4 years ago
I made this video a year and a half a ago at a time that I was being attacked quite heavily by atheists. Since that time I have met some atheists more like yourself, who did not judge me for being a Christian. But for the ones who do feel the need to judge those who believe in God, I still think they suffer from personal insecurities where it comes to their atheism.
preacherman777 4 years ago
Using Pascal's Wager will do nothing but get you laughed at. It doesn't even try to prove the existence of god, so theres no point in using it. Think of it this way, if you only had 1 day to live, would you go out and kill as many people as you can? You'd have nothing to lose, and remember, ANY sin, except one, can be forgiven.
AtheismFTW 4 years ago
Your logic is worthless in an intellectual debate if its based off of a 2000 year old book. Get some numbers (real numbers) and hard facts. Using the bible to prove god is circular logic, meaning its useless.
AtheismFTW 4 years ago
the audio sucks
fix your mic
goldenlotus 4 years ago
Pascal's wager? Really? Man, you just gotta be kidding me! :) It's one of the most debunked piece of theist logic there is. Look up Pascal's Wager on You Tube for a thorough exploration of the implications.
transferosome 4 years ago
I have experienced many theists who seek out atheists and NEED to be right. What do they have to prove? What do they have to lose?
Their pride. They would have to accept that they have been lied to and conned, all their lives. Religion is the emperor's new clothes, and no-one wants to look like they've been 'had'.
In fact, seeking out and attacking beliefs is woven into the history of Christianity. Some atheists are fighting back now because their freedoms are at stake.
transferosome 4 years ago
Better yet just read the bible, all of it, not just the nice parts. There are so many contradictions and stories about horrible things "God" has done. Beware though, reading the Bible is the fastest path to atheism.
kevinwatts3 5 years ago
hah yeah
callycampbell 4 years ago
We have a need to be right because the answer is so obvious that we can't believe you haven't figured it out yet! How would you deal with someone who believed in Lepricons, unicorns, santa, and the flying spagetti monster? Not only believing but believing that they are watching you and answering your prayers. You would think that after praying for years with no results you would catch on! You have an irrational belief based on nothing and then you are suprised when someone calls you on it!
kevinwatts3 5 years ago
Atheism is not beliefs, its the lack of beliefs. the 'A' means its a negative, not 'anti' wich would be a positive the other way around.
saxojon 5 years ago
Preacherman777...i just want to thank you for posting the video...it was abosolutely flawlessly logical. it was wonderful !!
INKANDPAPER 5 years ago
No. Our angle is that there is no evidence of god. There is no test for god. There is no true need for a god.
mastercatx 5 years ago
What evidence do you feel is inconclusive?
mastercatx 5 years ago
That there is no God.
preacherman777 5 years ago
. . . you'll have heard the arguement that it's hard to disprove pink unicorns on the eighth moon of jupiter, but that the logical among us would presume there weren't.
hasslfoot 3 years ago
Sure, but none of this is really an issue of proof. Unless we feel we need to for some reason. God can neither be proven or disproven. I've heard it said that to some degree we are all some type of agnostic because none of us can really know for sure. What it really gets down to is the fact that we either have faith that there is a God or we have faith that there is not a God. If we don't feel confident enough to take a stand either way, then we admit we are agnostic.
preacherman777 3 years ago
You totally missed the point of Atheists. We don't want to be right. We want to be correct. We search for this correctness (truth) through evidence and not "FAITH".
mastercatx 5 years ago
You allow inconclusive evidence to lead you to a conclusion and that is faith.
preacherman777 5 years ago
questions 1 by 1 we might come to learn what we really are and what really made us and why it made us. that my friend is why i and other agnostic.atheists want religous people to see that the religous faiths they follow dont give answers, they give theories. thats what religions are, theories about everything. scientists have theories yes but they understand what a theorey is and they dont call it a fact unless its proved. a proved theorey is called a theorem.
solo2wolf 5 years ago
Why do you assume that I don't study those areas anyway? Just because I believe in God and creation does not restrict my ability appreciate science, history or anything else just as much as you do.
preacherman777 5 years ago
all these religous people ALL or most looking for answers to theyre important questions. to answer a question like why are we here we need to know alot before we can begin to touch on the answer to that like where are we and what are we and to know those we have to know everything about our environment and ourselves and how atoms etc work to make consciousness and stars and galaxy and the whole universe then and finally through answering all these questions
solo2wolf 5 years ago
youd become very intrested i the world around you and millions of others would too if religion wasnt there...and that doesnt just mean science that means history, philosophy, music, sports/recreation of all types, technology and maybe people would discover/invent NEW fields etc, can you see what im getting at?if religion wasnt there, you wouldnt have an answer and as a naturally intelligent person who cares where he comes from youd LOOK for those answers. who knows what would happen then
solo2wolf 5 years ago
well lets just say you dont belive in god..as a religous person you must belive in god because you think the worlds too amazing to have just popped out of nowhere...well as the kind of person who looks for a meaning to life (in your case you found it in christ etc) imagine what else youd have to consider if you didnt believe in christ or allah etc
solo2wolf 5 years ago
you say youv lost nothing or very little if your wrong and tehre is no god...lol. think about it, why do you belive in god now?i hope its because you looked at the world and thought wow this place is pretty cool someone must have made it and then you heard about christ etc and thought, hey that makes sense so i should do what the son of god tells me coz it both makes sense and itll get me into this cool club called heaven...
solo2wolf 5 years ago
Another thing to help you....we only know what a crroked line is because we've seen a straight line right? Ask an atheist how he knows that life is meaningless...because in order to define meaningless you need to first know something is meaningful....so they just stated that God COULD exist haha see if they like it! @dios!
Gianandrizzle 5 years ago
Hey Preacherman777 nice video well I have to change my oil didn't get to watch it all but keep up the good work! I'm the only Christian in my family and I think it just comes down to people seeing your peace and getting jealous. They have seriously gone OUT OF THEIR WAY to harass me in the past hahaha so just ignore them and take the high road. God bless!
Gianandrizzle 5 years ago
1) It took you just under 50 seconds to get around to a subject.
2) What is it that drives them as hard... as they're driven?
3) 1:47 and you're finally starting to say something, even if it doesn't seem to be accurate. Absent of harassment by evangelistic types, it seems that agnostics and atheists go on about their business without cramming their concepts down anyone's throats.
Gyrkin 5 years ago
PSUEDOSCIENCE AND UNEDUCATED.
HELLVOMIT 5 years ago
If Muslims are right, you too will burn in a lake of fire.
q66stang 5 years ago
I'm ok with that.
preacherman777 5 years ago
Stop fighting that cold. God gave it to you because he loves you.
flavourdan 5 years ago
Bwahahahahahahahaha. Nice one.
BipedalHumanoid3 5 years ago
Why do Atheists tend to be vocal? Because so few of us have the courage to step into the light and be targets for holier than thou Christians. Because we resent people who would make legislation based on bronze age fairy tales. Because we want our government to not supress science as our current administration does. Those are just a few reasons some of us are very vocal and intense with our criticism of Christians.
Yukkione 5 years ago
Sure doesn't mean anything to me. People who think the way you do oppress gay people and push your beliefs on the rest of us through law. This is a problem because you're in the majority. We're going to evangelise until we get to a point where this is no longer a problem.
BipedalHumanoid3 5 years ago
i don't think atheists really worry about heaven or hell. your "high price if wrong" theory is something you have created because you are christian and worry more about that kind of thing.
00synergy00 5 years ago
You are wrong on four points. 1.The minority will have to fight more to be heard. This is expically true since people quickly believe in mysticism. 2.Watch Sam Harris. False religions should not be ignored. They are ultimately dangerious. 3.You are stating Pascal's Wager which has many flaws like which diety(s) should we choose. 4.I am not afraid of hell. I *AM* afraid and mad of people telling children Jesus is the only way to paradise.
DayfallKat 5 years ago
Why Zephaniah 3:8?
asmodeous69 5 years ago
It's a prophesy about judgement day. I can only assume this person figures that because God intends to judge the world for their evil, this somehow makes God himself evil. Typical liberal atheist thinking.
preacherman777 5 years ago
You know, if I had insinuated about your motivations like that, you would probably have deleted the comment.
Zephaniah wasn't about the Chirstian Judgement Day. It was written when the Jews were returning from exile in Babylonia and had found indigenous people living in Judah who worshipped other gods. The book is a warning to those people to worship only Yahweh or die. Historical context is important for an understanding of the Bible - liberal atheist thinking.
TrueIntentions 5 years ago
If you understood how prophesy works, you would understand that if often holds as many as a threefold purpose, which can include the present the near future and distant future. Regardless of how you apply it, what point were you trying to make about God, if not that he is evil?
preacherman777 5 years ago
I don't think God is what I would call evil, no. I believe the overall consensus the Bible reaches on the subject is that God is the source of all evil, as well as all good, but that he is neither. See Isaiah 45:7.
The point I was trying to make to asmodeous is just that, from one freethinker to another, it's dangerous to call yourself a Christian until you've read all of the Bible. I recommend starting with Zeph because it's a strong dose.
TrueIntentions 5 years ago
Frankly, what drives me, as an atheist, to voice my opinion is this excerpt from Article IX of the Tennessee State Constitution:
"No atheist shall hold public office."
TrueIntentions 5 years ago
Read Sam Harris & Richard Dawkins or watch Jonathan Miller's Brief History of Disbelief.
You use the term believe in a wrong way.
DrRandale 5 years ago
Thank you Preacher for making this video. I was once a hardcore atheist and I have just recently turned to Christ. I have never been happier in my life. Everything is new like I am looking at the world through new eyes. Which in a way I guess I am. Thank you though and I just had to use some of this space to witness.
asmodeous69 5 years ago
Just make sure you read your Bible - all of it. I would start with Zephaniah 3:8.
TrueIntentions 5 years ago
The concept of hell has always bothered me.
If you kill and rape 30 people you go to hell.
If your a giving, charitable person who donates their life to helping others but you don't believe in God...you go to hell?
Equal punishment for two completely different lives.
Makes no sense and God wouldn't create such a dumb rule. Nor would God blame his own creation for not believing in him. I'm still glad I went to Catholic school. but..this is dumb.
helterskelter1 5 years ago
When we get to judgement, make sure and tell God that the teachings of the Bible are dumb. I'm sure he'll be very interested in your opinion.
preacherman777 5 years ago
I'm confident God is a very understanding force in the universe. Not an unjust evil one.
Despite our differences, I enjoy your videos :)
helterskelter1 5 years ago
Wow! that was totely wow! i my self have argu whit that kind of ppl, and i two have wonder.
I have also been "one of them" i guess :/
Now i realise that it was becuse my fith was so weak.
keep on! brother!
drakgrotta 5 years ago
Thank you.
preacherman777 5 years ago
(That should have read 'Bill O'Reilly' above.) I just had another thought. What you might perceive as a need to be right might also be a need to understand belief wherein we do not see the logic. It's human to also have a need to understand what mystifies us.
DrRandola 5 years ago
Everyone, Xian or no, has a deep need to be right. Who wants to be wrong? Do you? I just enjoy a good philosophical discussion. I'll keep my secular humanism, thank you. Either way we both (theoretically) live ethical and moral lives, though the details may differ.
It's the Bob O'Reilly's and Ann Coulters of the world that atheists (and Xians should as well) attack. Every time one of these immoral, freedom-hating right wingers lifts up their head it's time to play 'whack-a-mole'.
DrRandola 5 years ago
Ok, first let me say natural selection has NOTHING to do with random chance. This is a strawman. No flesh-and-blood evolutionary biologist has ever said anything that.
Now that I've got that off my chest, what you have done is just restated Pascal's Wager, a rather shaky argument. You say you have nothing to lose, but you do. If there is no god, you have wasted your whole life, the only one you get, on a lie. I am actually very comfortable with my position either way.
DrRandola 5 years ago
I was researching a few videos, they led here.All of them state the same selfish theme. "What do I gain!" Your reasoning is in ?. Fear seems to be #1, fear of a hell. I am not dismissing your beliefs, it is a good way of life, turn the other cheeck. It boils down to "the believers" in most cases are hypocrits.If a jesus style of existance is what you are seeking this discussion would never be taking place.
MistarX 5 years ago
Because he needs you to be wrong.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
How could an atheist posibly "need" to be right,
when she already is right.
indignant99 5 years ago
Because preacherman needs you to be wrong.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
Amen Mike. Good stuff. Keep on keeping on. Don't sweat the small things. God is in control.
jimclbn 5 years ago
For some reason this video makes me want to cuss at you and tell you how wrong you are :P
Seriously though, you should go start up a second account and make some fake atheist videos, hiding your face or whatever, and see how many Christians attack you and demonstrate their desperate need to be right.
bassandit 5 years ago
This comment keeps failing to post trying again:- What an individual's religious beliefs are is determined 99% of the time by Geography by where you were born, If you are born in The Middle East you are most likely to be Muslim or Jewish, if born in USA or Europe Christian, born in India Hindu and so on, and some splinter somewhat away from the mainstream and thats where the extremism comes from
Blackfingernail 5 years ago
Aw weird.. it came back. I am embarassed. Apologies (=
I still feel the latter part of that comment is valid for consideration, though.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
Look, I don't take your comment to heart at all, because I think it's little more than a cheap insult couched in concern. If I were so sensitive as you attempt to say I am, why on earth would be out here putting myself in the middle of these debates day after day. It would far easier for me to just ignore all you guys. I just find some of what you people do to be rather ridiculous so I talk about it in videos and will most likely continue to do so.
preacherman777 5 years ago
That's cool. "We" are just here trying to find out why you feel "we" are ridiculous and at the same time explain a couple of things to you that you don't seem to understand. It's all in good fun and hey, talking about it is better than just sitting there quietly thinking about it.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
You are sensitive in that you are quick to accuse others of attacking and judging you without merit when at the same time you are indirectly attacking other's beliefs by insisting YOU are right and can't be wrong.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
Your claim that atheism is a religion, for example, is particularly annoying. It isn't a religion simply because of the definition of the word. Your insistance that it is boarderlines on blatant childishness and refusal to accept fact. Why do you fight the definition of a word? It's pointless.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
I know too much about atheism (as a movement) to believe that. The true definition of the word is not a religion, but most atheists I talk to cannot be defined that way.
preacherman777 5 years ago
WE are the ones responding.. see these comments here under YOUR video? That's us responding to you.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
I made the video because you guys came after me and nothing has changed.
preacherman777 5 years ago
Gee, it seems to me that many of the atheists, including you, have been very quick to accuse and judge me without merit. And must I say once again, I am only responding to people. You guys are the ones attacking me. I have not gone after anyone.
preacherman777 5 years ago
Who said I was an atheist? To be honest with you I'm not even sure what I am. I'm still gathering information and such so that maybe I'll have a label of some kind one day. Thanks for doing to me what you so often cry about.
How many times do I have to tell you. I'm not attacking you and most people trying to dialogue with you aren't. You just have this impression that anyone not kissing your behind must have malice towards you.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
You know what, I'm getting pretty sick of your efforts to belittle me. If you can't be respectful you will be ignored.
preacherman777 5 years ago
You make my point with every post.
But seriously, please relax. The world would be a much better place if "people like you" wouldn't get so uptight in situations like these.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
You respond to my statement about you accusing other's of judging you without merit by accusing others of judging you without merit?
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
I can't believe you actually deleted my comment about your sensitivity. Are your feelings so delicate? Please thicken your skin. No one is actually here "to get you." You aren't as provocative or threatening as you think you are.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
So Mike I truely believe that you are a Christian by mere place of birth alone.
Unless it is your claim you are a one percenter and if you do then Hell will be so full of the other 99% of Christians and other Theists there will possibly be little room for The Atheists.
Blackfingernail 5 years ago
Well, I'm definitely not a Christian by mere place of birth. I was born a Catholic and I am now very far removed from those beliefs. Christianity, for me is both a matter of the head and the heart. If it didn't fulfill my needs in both those areas I could not be a Christian. As for 99% of the other Christians and Theists going to Hell, I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
preacherman777 5 years ago
The first part of my comment seems to have disappeared into the ether:-What an individual's religious beliefs are is determined 99% of the time by Geography by where you were born, If you are born in The Middle East you are most likely to be Muslim or Jewish, if born in USA or Europe Christian, born in India Hindu and so on, and some splinter somewhat away from the mainstream and thats where the extremism comes from
Blackfingernail 5 years ago
Well, I will add this to what I said before. I don't believe that other Christians are going to Hell based on their thinking being different from mine. Like everyone else it boils down to their own personal faith and belief in Jesus. If it's there, who I am to say they are not saved?
preacherman777 5 years ago
Why are there Christians with different beliefs in the first place? If Christians are indwelled with the holy spirit, and the Bible is the word of god, why have there been 30,000 sects of Christianity? One must wonder why, if Christianity is "the truth", there are so many versions of the truth. You can't say man's interpretations if there is a holy spirit guiding and inspiring people.
RyuHayabusa06 5 years ago
I think you are trying to confuse what the Holy Spirit does in regards to the inspiration of scripture to what he does in the guidance of men. The Bible is very clear that in prophesy, men speak directly from God as they carried by the Holy Spirit. But in guidence men are prompted by the Spirit, but are always able to resist.
preacherman777 5 years ago
Sadly, many people come to the Bible with an agenda already in place and they read that agenda into the Bible. It's called eisegesis. Rather men should be allowing the word of God shape them. This why you get all the differences.
preacherman777 5 years ago
The Protestant Bible has 66 books, yet the Catholic Bible one has 73. The Orthrodox Bible has yet a different number of books. All Christian, yet who is right? How can do you know what books are really the word of God, if any of them are?
converse02 5 years ago
The difference is a matter of whether or not they include the apocrypha which was not considered scripture either by early Christians or the Jews who came before them.
preacherman777 5 years ago
Actually, the deuterocanonical books were included within the Septuagint and some early Christians did use them. The Books of Enoch and Jubilees is still in the broad canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox church today. Many books like 2 Peter, 2&3 John, Revelation, and others were originally not in the NT canon. Like I said, a group of fallible men compiled the word of god.
RyuHayabusa06 5 years ago
Some early Christians did know about them, even Jesus.
Do you actually believe an all-wise God would transmit his knowledge to man in a book 2000 years ago, in a time where ppl could not read and before the printing press?
converse02 5 years ago
Who has the agenda? If there are 30,000 sects of Christianity, who is guided and shaped by god and who is out to further their own agenda?
RyuHayabusa06 5 years ago
Ok, even though it says all scripture is inspired, we don't have the originals and we know the copies have been altered. Fallible men then created thousands of different sects reflecting their own interpretations of the Bible. What you end up with is a big mess and tons of in-fighting, as we've seen recorded in througout the history of Christianity from all the various councils to the reformation and beyond.
RyuHayabusa06 5 years ago
=)
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
You come off as a very, very sensitive (easily hurt) man. You are what you criticize most of the time.
OnionsAndPaste 5 years ago
Whatever.
preacherman777 5 years ago
It's human instinct to worry for the progession of mankind and at the moment it is not looking ver