Sam Harris - (IN CHURCH!) University Synagogue

[4ridersify]

Excellent lecture, thanks for posting.

[denstorelebowski]

I wonder how many in the audience 'took of their hats' after this talk.

[MittsTheShit]

Damn, Ben Stiller really knows his shits !

[scrubbyfilth]

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” - Stephen Roberts

[kelbykross1]

sorry sam, people i know still think seizures are demonic possession and that teenage hormones are signs satan taking our children. it is so hard to talk to these people!!!

Great talk!

[GLANL]

@kelbykross1 My family's religious view is "ietsism" ("Somethingsism"). Which (really) would be the best fitting name. They're main argument is "you must believe in something..." and "you will eventually believe in something". My mom said "you can't leave the catholic church yet". I said:"so I'm obligated to have your believes?" Mom:"no, but you must attend church for 10 more years and then decide" It's impossible to defend atheism rationally to them. And I'm freaky deaky Dutch

[kelbykross1]

@GLANL yeah, i see what you are talking about. I feel that believing in reality as it actually is or how much we can perceive at this point in time usually doesn't do it for religious as well. Maybe you can convince them you are doing religious studies and watch documentaries on the founding of religion. learn the documentary hypothesis!

oyc . yale . edu/religious-studies (remove the spaces)

/watch?v=lna_MLqWbDM

/watch?v=CfzslZ8tFNw

[GLANL]

@kelbykross1 Well, they know I have certain books from Dawkins,Harris and Hitchens ;). My father thinks I bought them merely to make a point (just partly, it looks great next to my physics textbooks). My little brother still has to say now and then that I'm just an atheist and therefore almost a lower lifeform. And my mother said I ashame her and the whole family, I'm radicalized for not believing, when she looks in my eyes I scare her .... and to be short I'm stupid

[GLANL]

@kelbykross1 My mother also said that she should inform my uncle who is pastor, that he should talk with me alone in a room and that he would be able to convert me within an hour. Above all I'm the only one in my family who goes (or went) to an university, and being called stupid with stupid reasons for not believing something stupid is quite insulting.

[GLANL]

@kelbykross1 However, I've already sent 5 letters (!) to the church, for leaving the church. Which was the cause for a 'fierce discussion' it was actually a tyrade from my mother (discussions aren't based on fallacies). Things have now cooled down but there was a moment I thought I was going to be expelled. Anyhow search for "the reason project contradictions in the bible" It's illustration made me laugh :)

[kelbykross1]

@GLANL wow. i am really sorry about all of that!

Sometimes it really is easier to go along with the flow, even when everyone is trying to 'fix' you. People hardly ever question their beliefs once they are convinced they are right, and never research further - maybe you can give your uncle some things to think about!

Your family still loves you and cares, and from their perspective, they are trying to help.

religiosity is directly inverse to intelligence - proven.

[orbital92hotmail]

far out, most of this audience would be dead now

[MrShysterme]

@55:00 The rabbi just confirmed Sam's point. He is using god as a figure of speech to describe something human, while simultaneously somewhat legitimizing the use of the god belief to commit perverse acts. Why don't the liberals just use the term "power within humans to do good" or something precise and do away with the rest?

[lunadogwoof]

@MrShysterme Excellent point!

[justjulie37]

I really enjoy listening to Sam. He is so articulate and can put things in a way that even the most moronic theist can understand.

[proofandevidence]

@ghm011301 Man, why can't you just let the holocaust go, you keep bringing it up, you keep saying holocaust, holocaust, holocaust, it's like in some weird sick way you enjoy it. Let them have their peace, 6 million died. I, have never mentioned the holocaust, I don't know where you got it from but please stop. Anyways, I have a long train ride ahead of me, they are sending my whole family there, they say its like a camp and they'll let us go after a while, it's just a camp...

[AscendingParadigm]

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

- Epicurus [341–270 B.C.]