@profmth hi again. Your videos are really great. You use your time to help others, not so you can get a reward in heaven, but because you want to help others and help the human race. I find it more noble that someone does good for its own sake, than a Christian who does good just so they can think they are getting a reward. Sincere respect, admiration and thanks, and best wishes for 2012.
@profmth hi there. Thanks for all your great videos. I have this month realised I am an atheist and this will be the first christmas in my life where I no longer believe. It is hard and also a relief too. I have brain damage and it's been hard to learn how to assess things like the bible and what truth there is in it, but your videos have helped a lot. Thank you for giving up your time to help others. Sincere thanks and respect
@bagospannerz Thanks very much for your message. I'm honored that you've found my work helpful and appreciate your taking the time to let me know that you did. All the best for 2012 and your continued transition away from religious faith. :-)
i dont believe in God and i dont celebrate christmas but i di say 'merry christmas' to people and i am happy that they are enjoying the season, for whatever reason. i see no problem in contributing to their happiness. i am happy to see someone else being happy. (it made me happy to write the word "happy" so many times)
My family being the straight family that we are will celebrate it to. Since I believe not one verse of scripture supports sodomy I will be labeled a bigot. So next Christmas should I put up a bigotry? Just a thought.
@ProfMTH Okay if one does not believe in Same Sex Marriage they are labeled a bigot. So for Christmas ,my family would be called bigots. So instead of putting up a Christmas tree. I would put up a bigotry (big a tree)
Nice video, although I have to disagree that Christ's birth is a charming story. The bible says that God sent 1/3 of God to Earth, to die a horrible death, in order to give God a loophole around a law that God wrote, enabling God to save some of us from hell. In other words, God killed God to save us from the wrath of God. It is absolute, pure madness. To me Christmas celebrates the beginning of the dumbest story ever sold, not the greatest story ever told.
Very nice video :) It is frightening when you finally admit it to yourself, isn't it? I remember using the word atheist honestly to myself for the first time back in August....it's a feeling I'll never forget, and a fright I'll never forget.
Interestingly perhaps, I stopped celebrating Christmas as a Christian a few years ago. Once I found out the origins of Christmas, and that the Pre-Nicean Church did not celebrate it, I stopped. Also, there was the matter of how materialistic Christmas had become and how this seemed to contradict Jesus' teachings. Now that I'm not a Christian anymore, I still have no desire to celebrate it. Before all of this I was practically Mr. Christmas. After all of it, I have no desire for it anymore.
It seems to me, that for the greater part of Christendom, the only part of Christmas that really has Christ in it, is the word itself; Santa has the rest.
Hmmm......one never knows when, where, or what makes a human being decide to do anything significant in this plane of reality where we reside in current status.
Well 'christian' means different things to different people, and some people who believe they are one, do not fit the definition, so that is why I must again ask:
Were you someone who acknowledged Jesus as your savior, and were convinced where you would spend eternity?
This exactly reminds me of "Thus spoke Zarahustra" and its endless biblical refernces (have you read it Prof?) - there is forced religious "form" in the liberation from religion. Truth will set you free.
@1RadicalOne Haha on the contrary your culture is noted here. No, Also sprächt Zarathustra is a book of Friedrich Nietzsche. The 2001 theme is the ride of Walkyries by Wagner. Wagner and Nietzsche were friends during a period of time, and "2001" is filled with references of Wagner, of Nietzsche's Zarathustra, but also to ancient Zarathustrian myths (Zarathustra was a prophet). There is a couple of links at the bottom of the wiki "2001" article which explains all the Zarathustra ref. check it out
Apparently, the piece is intended to accompany (or as some put it, inspired by) the aforementioned book.
As for the original book, it appears that the parallelism was intended to "mimic the style of the Bible to present ideas which oppose JudeoChristian tradition".
@1RadicalOne You are right, in fact it is not Wagnre's waljyrie but Richard Strauss' Also Spracht Zarathustra. My Bad.
As for the book, this is exactly it: the book is filled with religious refernces to the bible, and zarathustra, who is in fact the anti-real Zarathustra, is here to announce to the world the death of God. And all the poit turns around this: even in the death of God, there is a forced religious form. Which was the meaning of my comment.
I do not want to live my life thinking that this is all I have. I do not want to feel like there is no one watching out for me, no one who is constantly with you. I do not want to live life thinking that I am an evolutionary accident, that my life has no meaning because this is all there is because there is nothing after I die. What a pitiful mindset!
You celebrate the time where you abandoned all hope of eternal happiness? You celebrate the time when you realized you no longer felt that God was watching over you and loving you? You celebrate the time you entered an atheistic life of worthlessness, meaninglessness, and no hope in death?
how true. for me, to be a religion believer is like living in constant dark and misery. and i think most believers live in barely covered-up gloom. as much as they try to pretend the opposite. they may be as joyful as they claim, but i never was.
All I do for christmas anymore now is put up a tree. And only because it is a nice decoration to look at. And I am not concerned with calling it a christmas tree instead of a holiday tree.
My moment was around the same time frame, 2005-2006. I was listening to a Lenny Bruce bit at the time and he said something like "what is is and everything else is a lie" and my agreement was so natural I was shocked over the edge.
Wow, i had no idea that we've been atheists for about the same amount of time! Cool. I graduated high school in 2006. Unfortunately, i don't have a definite day on which to celebrate my deconversion... maybe i should just pick one!
Pick "Good Friday" - then rename it "Deconversion Day". Call the day before "Deconversion Eve" - then have the following two weeks called "The 14 Days of Deconversion".
On Deconversion Eve, invite all your neighbours and friends around to your house at midnight to partake in the ritual - which involves them drinking water slowly, sitting absolutely still, and in silence, while you, dressed in your ornate robes, get sloshed on the finest whisky that they've been instructed to bring.
I dont see much charm in this horrid story. You have a female, who is impregnated(raped actually) without her consent by some invisible being(she was probably raped if she ever existed, and due to the post-traumatic stress she reinvented the entire story). Then you have her travelling pregnant and she gives birth among animals. Horrid. Although my parents were religious Ive never believed this story, I preferred fairy tales, they seemed much more real to me as a child.
I guess you have to consciously ignore the problematic parts.
Anyways thats my own problem, and in the end if you can enjoy it, good for you.
In my culture Christmas is not that much of a big deal, some people have diners with their families, but we dont get long holidays, dont do too much shopping and our cities are only 10% as decorated as American ones or even British. And due to the communistic era the vast majority is everything but deeply religious.
Ahhhh, the exhilaration felt by the fish as he leaps boldly from his glass bowl and flops freely on the kitchen floor. Not that the Roman Church is exactly the be all and end all of Truth or orthodoxy but at least you escaped it's evil clutches prof! You will not have to go to purgatory now! The get out of purgatory free benefit itself must have been worth the jump.
So now you are free to enjoy your liberation from the chains of Roman morality. Free to do whatever you want without guilt feelings
@ boggisthecat Yes the Roman Church still pushes the doctrine of purgatory. It is not hard to understand when you take her aberrant soteriological position into consideration.
To the maker of this video (and others). In your infinite atheïstic wisdom ;) and obviously clear reasoning ability, would you be willing to check in my playlists and see if I got anything wrong (you will find your trinity video in the playlist "The Great Conspiracy 2009 compilation". It contains videos from many different sources.
You may find the playlist "Longer scientific documentaries" quite interesting, it has a more scientific, archaeological and historic look at the conspiracy.
I too struggled with my faith, twisted myself into a pretzel, even while studying for my BA in Philosophy I believed that I too saw what St. Thoms Aquinas saw in Aristotle, but sadly as my arms reached to the heavens, I felt as though I was pushing on the universe and I didn't feel a push back.
Thank you for sharing your story. Maybe one day I'll have the bravery that many here on youtube have to share their stories.
A nice encapsulation of what makes the traditional Christmas story and ritual so appealing and endearing. Combined with a fascinating personal moment. Thanks you for sharing Prof. :)
Well mine was something like the following. I was just always doubtful of all the religion I was told as a child and eventually realized I'd never really believed any of it anyway. In comparison to mine yours is certainly a dramatic story. That you can point to a specific moment at all is pretty remarkable.
Very poignant, great vid as usual Prof ... I haven't had an opportunity to peruse through the rest of the comments but having been raised as a JW (before my eventual conclusion into atheism) myself we never really celebrated christmas. This time of year is difficult for me because I find it so hard to shop for others, or get in the 'chistmas spirit' if you will. I always think "Why?"
I try to exude the fellowship usually indicative of this time the other 360+ days of the year. Not just one!
The JW's don't celebrate xmas (or bdays) cos all bdays described in the bible end in death. Cos the timeline puts Jeebuze's birth around August/Sept.
And most importantly, a star was used to show astrologers where to find Jeebuz. Astrology and "Wise Men" were an abomination in the OT. Herod killed many cos of them. Thus, xmas=bad devil stuff. (JWs think it was a plot from satan.)
I thought Jehovah's Witnesses didn't celebrate birthdays because every birthday celebrated in the Bible is celebrated by an unbeliever (or, in the case of Herod, a bad believer). I've never heard the "ends in death" angle. Interesting.
Wow, what a heartfelt,, touching and personal video. I understand the liberation you felt, and, though scary at first, it's a truly wonderful feeling.
Despite being an atheist, I still celebrate Christmas in a traditional Polish way (no meat on Xmas Eve, 12 dishes, sharing 'God's Bread' before the meal), but it means more to be because I know it makes my mother happy, and it's just part of our family's history.
Also, Polish herring in onions, with a shot of vodka is AMAZING :P
Thanks a lot, LostSubsForever. I didn't know the Polish did no meat on Christimas Eve. The Italians, as you may know. do only fish. Although when my partner and I host Christmas Eve dinner every other year, he and his family (Italians) have had to deal with the fact that some people in my family (Irish and German) insist on having meat. The compromises of Christmas. ;-)
He forgot the most important thing about Christmas. The Coca Cola hat! What's Christmas without a good old US multinational I say. Blessed are the rotten of teeth. Ironically that's what Christmas is all about, growth of the economy. All the other things are just padding. Thank you for all the entertainment you have given me throughout the year. You are one of my youtube favourites. I won't be putting on my Coca Cola hat because it's hot here down under. No winter iconography here.
Thank you, Prof, for sharing a personal and touching story. I, and probably more than a few of your subscribers, had a very similar experience. You captured the moment of deconversion very well.
It hardly ever happens for all to see but the freedom and sense of relief it brings are life altering experiences.
A very touching video profmth. I too celebrate Christmas for the reasons you outlined, except for the deconversion moment.
You mention a months long struggle with the God question. I've got you beat. :-)
I've spent years caught in a similar struggle and yet always stop short of "the truth" that "will set me free".
Whenever I think I am close to "the truth" something pops up to remind me of how little I really know and how presumptious it is of me to think I could ever know "the truth".
I am referring to the biggie question here: is there a God? I cannot make my mind up.When I was younger I thought I would decide. This hasn't happened. I am still undecided. I really don't know if there is something rather than nothing. I don't spend my days caught in some horrible feeling of dread or angst over this failure. It is simply the way I am.
I know you aren't particularly interested in Philosophy via Theistic persuasion, but I would be interested in how you would respond to the above that also remains consistent to your conversion to Nihilism video (that I just watched).
My sense is that one is better off living in a way that conforms with the truth, Theologica. In my experience, struggling against the truth diminishes a person in a variety of ways, including, without limitation, exacting a significant psychological cost. That's what I have in mind when I use "veritas vos liberabit."
Prof, could it be said that when one comes to an epiphany or realization about something it means the facts of the matter could have been there for some time but they only just put all the pieces together? Because of this, I would say I have been an atheist for about 18 years but only truly understood that I was in the last 7-8 years. Would something like this apply to you as well?
No doubt an epiphany is preceded by a series of events that led up to it. In the case of the epiphany I describe in this video, the proximate cause was the investigation, as it were, that I'd been engaging in for much of 2006 regarding my faith. That said, I have no doubt that other events preceding all of that contributed to the epiphany. But I was not an atheist for years before that night. I was a believer.
A moving story: a very well-told climactic moment.
I re-watched your "Unyielding despair, you say?" and "Why are you an atheist?" videos again and they offer a good overview of what led to your deconversion.
But as for why the dots all connected during "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" . . . my *guess* is that it was the combination of the lyrics forcing you to consider the whole story + trying to reconcile that story with your recent religious studies + observing that the seductive trappings (the music, the community group joy, etc.) were what was really propelling belief (as opposed to the story being able to hold its own without the trappings).
Maybe it's not one of those things you can pin down precisely. Or maybe it was just bound to happen given your research, and it was just a coincidence that the "light" went on during a church service. But I was just wondering if you have any further thoughts about why it was that moment.
No doubt it was bound to happen at some point. There were few moments during that period in my life when I wasn't thinking about all of this. My best guess is that the emotions the beautiful singing of the carol evoked, the fact that I was thinking about my faith so much and whether I was still an adherent of it (through much of that Mass), and perhaps even that it was the first Christmas since my mother had died all conspired to make it that moment, but I suppose I'll never know for sure.
I would just like to add that my deconversion was brought about by the contents of the Bible itself. I was a believer before I read the Bible. After I read it, I was an atheist!
What sort of religious background are you from? Many churches like to keep a tight rein on what their congregation reads in the Bible, and do their best to ensure that they are told what it means *before* they read it.
My experience was almost the opposite, although I would say I was an agnostic with strong atheist leanings.
just plain christian, god was there and jesus was someone important, no active church attendance or communication with a priest, just prayer etc. Then one day I picked up the bible and began reading it...
I would not call myself a active atheist though. The question of life, fate and death has become extremely irrelevant for me. Life is as it is and my friends and I are doing well. Death does not concern me, it just happens.
Presumably you were taught some things by someone -- your parents?
It can be interesting when Christians who follow the claim that the Bible is literally true proceed to actually read it. They must then decide how to deal with the contradiction between biblical literalism (some of what is written down is shocking) with the precepts of Christianity.
parents, picture book of jesus, visits to churches and missions, friends, school prayer etc...
I never considered it to be true at all, I considered it to be a book of wisdom and spiritual mystery. But to me it is just a glamourless and morbid story of anger, revenge, rules, tales etc... nothing spiritual or deep at all. It did not make any sense and had next to nothing to do with being alive. The only thing I appreciate from the bible is the 'cast the first stone' statement. Spot on!
There is a very broad and divergent set of ideas contained within the books of the Bible. I have no real problems with anything that Jesus was reported to have said -- and that should be the point if you claim to be a Christian.
Interestingly, the "casting the first stone" story you refer to did not exist in earlier versions of the book of John. It is likely to be either from a different source (possibly lost permanently), or it may simply have been entirely fabricated.
Well, if the last thing what you say is true, then it just goes to show: life is just what you make of it. In our infinite creativity we can have any purpose we want, as long as we respect the other's too.
The bible i.m.o is a compilation of stories like any other folklore collection about a reverred god or idea, from which one can undoubtedly gain some kind of useful insight... but this still requires independent thought on behalf of the reader, adding no merit to its alleged truthfullness
Some people worship the Bible, as though a collection of ancient books is somehow a proxy for God. Unfortunately, as you say, there is no "magic" in it, and it is subject to the interpretation that people place upon it.
The point I am making is that you must be mature enough to be able to make such a decision about what you believe. People are born with no preconceptions.
Additionally, you can only pinpoint reversals of belief or significant changes. (If that. Beliefs may takes years or decades to change so it isn't always obvious where to place the date.)
It would normally be difficult to detect incremental changes in components of your belief structure. If you kept some form of independent record (i.e. a written record) then I guess you could see small shifts.
Generally you can always point out significant shifts over longish time-scales. Prof's "de-conversion" may well have taken far longer than he realises, but he only became aware of his struggle with reconciling his theoretical and actual beliefs when the situation became critical.
I think people who no longer believe in Christianity have better reasons to cherish this tradition than Christians. I think most ex-Christian atheists are aware of this.
Wow, that was great. You have a real gift for narration. I find myself WISHING i had such a moment in my life when i realized i was an atheist after that video. I've basically been an atheist my entire adult life, and throughout my teens. I guess i could count my childhood.....but when i was 5 i also believed in santa, and believed in such things as magic until i was...say 13 or so....
Seriously, you're my new favorite youtube subscription. I love your videos, keep it up.
I should have expected it having watched all your videos, but I still had to laugh when the "Three Wise Studs" popped up.
The rest of the video was a surprise however, and not an unwelcome one. I'm glad you chose to share such and intensely personal moment. You described it so beautifully that I brought back some of the emotions I felt during my own deconversion. Thank you.
Funny, we celebrate Jeavis being born to Mary, who was engaged to Joseph. Biblegod impregnates her and her permission is neither requested or apparently required. Meanwhile, Joseph has to deal w/the fact that his wife is technically an adulteress right out of the gate..hmmm, now which is more likely: A) That Biblegod magically impregnated her or B) A horny teen girl lied about having sex which, wouldn't you just know it, was punishable by being bludgeoned to death with big frickin' rocks.
One of the common slurs against Jeavis was that he was a mamzer (bastard). A commonly held suspect was a Roman soldier, hence some referring to him as Yeshua ben Pantera. I don't recall where I found it but there is an excellent piece conserning Yeshua bar Abbas and Yeshua ha-notzri and Yeshua ha-moshaich all being the same guy. Mariam is given the same treatment and essentially it claims the bible is combining the Jeavis' and separating Mary into the adulteress and the perpetual virgin.
I celebrate it for my children and the great part of it is, I get to tell them about a guy who they can't see but he sees them and whether they have been good or not...and I get to pretend it is all true and the I get to tell them it is not. Then they can not the similarities between that and God. As far as the whole Jeavis thing goes ultimately will be up to them. Obviously, I have a preference but it is better to teach them critical thinking and let that lead them to what makes more sense
Youve only been an Atheist for three years? Strange, I got a much different impression. So, what events led up to this? (I mean before what you show here.) I mean obviously you didnt spontaneously realize religion was BS.
That really was beautifully put. I concur. My story's not quite as profound. I'd wonder how many non-believers remember the time and/or place when they came to their senses. The real question is, how did your partner handle it? That must have really freaked him out.
I didn't tell him right away. But when I did, he was unhappy about it. However, he's come to terms with it. As NykSciPhi aptly put it, love gets shit done. ;-)
My first Christmas as an atheist was rough since my wife is a Christian. She questioned why I would even want to celebrate Christmas. That argument ended when we had our baby girl on Christmas day. She is MY meaning of Christmas! Of course, my middle child knows what's going on and to see his face light up when he gets all the presents are great. I'm going for custody of my oldest son (from a previous relationship) and have a hearing just before Christmas on the 23rd.
In his novel Airframe, Michael Crichton took time to screed against television in general and sensational news magazines shows in particular. A character who was an obvious mouthpiece for the author said this:
"Sometimes I look around my living room, and the most real thing is the television. It's bright and vivid, and the rest of my life looks drab. So I turn the damn thing off. That does it every time. Get my life back."
I cannot help notice a parallel in how christians describe their gods. They give them strength. They give them hope. They give them purpose. They give them love. They give them light. They give them life. They give them comfort. Sometimes they look around and the most real things are their gods. They are so bright and vivid that the rest of their lives look drab. Until they turn their gods off and get their lives back.
@profmth hi again. Your videos are really great. You use your time to help others, not so you can get a reward in heaven, but because you want to help others and help the human race. I find it more noble that someone does good for its own sake, than a Christian who does good just so they can think they are getting a reward. Sincere respect, admiration and thanks, and best wishes for 2012.
bagospannerz 1 month ago
@profmth hi there. Thanks for all your great videos. I have this month realised I am an atheist and this will be the first christmas in my life where I no longer believe. It is hard and also a relief too. I have brain damage and it's been hard to learn how to assess things like the bible and what truth there is in it, but your videos have helped a lot. Thank you for giving up your time to help others. Sincere thanks and respect
bagospannerz 2 months ago
@bagospannerz Thanks very much for your message. I'm honored that you've found my work helpful and appreciate your taking the time to let me know that you did. All the best for 2012 and your continued transition away from religious faith. :-)
ProfMTH 1 month ago
Somebody has to tell me what's so great about a Catholic mas. I went there a few times going to a Catholic school and it was fuck damn boring.
Picasso43967 2 months ago
i dont believe in God and i dont celebrate christmas but i di say 'merry christmas' to people and i am happy that they are enjoying the season, for whatever reason. i see no problem in contributing to their happiness. i am happy to see someone else being happy. (it made me happy to write the word "happy" so many times)
BeingNobody1956 10 months ago
My family being the straight family that we are will celebrate it to. Since I believe not one verse of scripture supports sodomy I will be labeled a bigot. So next Christmas should I put up a bigotry? Just a thought.
RepresentingTruth 11 months ago
@RepresentingTruth I haven't a clue what you're struggling to say.
ProfMTH 11 months ago
@ProfMTH Okay if one does not believe in Same Sex Marriage they are labeled a bigot. So for Christmas ,my family would be called bigots. So instead of putting up a Christmas tree. I would put up a bigotry (big a tree)
that's all
RepresentingTruth 11 months ago
Nice video, although I have to disagree that Christ's birth is a charming story. The bible says that God sent 1/3 of God to Earth, to die a horrible death, in order to give God a loophole around a law that God wrote, enabling God to save some of us from hell. In other words, God killed God to save us from the wrath of God. It is absolute, pure madness. To me Christmas celebrates the beginning of the dumbest story ever sold, not the greatest story ever told.
jmg94j 1 year ago
@jmg94j Well, you'll note that I said it's a charming story when the rough parts of it are smoothed over.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
Very nice video :) It is frightening when you finally admit it to yourself, isn't it? I remember using the word atheist honestly to myself for the first time back in August....it's a feeling I'll never forget, and a fright I'll never forget.
laxton19 1 year ago
@laxton19 Yeah, it definitely was scary at first.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
Interestingly perhaps, I stopped celebrating Christmas as a Christian a few years ago. Once I found out the origins of Christmas, and that the Pre-Nicean Church did not celebrate it, I stopped. Also, there was the matter of how materialistic Christmas had become and how this seemed to contradict Jesus' teachings. Now that I'm not a Christian anymore, I still have no desire to celebrate it. Before all of this I was practically Mr. Christmas. After all of it, I have no desire for it anymore.
IntelligentProbe 1 year ago
It seems to me, that for the greater part of Christendom, the only part of Christmas that really has Christ in it, is the word itself; Santa has the rest.
IntelligentProbe 1 year ago
Hmmm......one never knows when, where, or what makes a human being decide to do anything significant in this plane of reality where we reside in current status.
Diakron79 1 year ago
Along with aronra's "an archaeological moment in time", this is my absolute favorite video on youtube. Thank you!
prophetchannel 1 year ago
@prophetchannel Thank you very much indeed.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
Were you attending a church service while not believing in God? That seems a little strange to me.
So a song convinced you that God is a fairy tale?
Were you someone who acknowledged Jesus as your savior and knew where you would spend eternity?
preachinshawn 1 year ago
@preachinshawn "Were you attending a church service while not believing in God?"
As it turns out, I was. But as I explain in the video, the realization of that didn't come until that moment near the end of the Midnight Mass.
"So a song convinced you that God is a fairy tale?"
No.
"Were you someone who acknowledged Jesus as your savior and knew where you would spend eternity?"
If you're asking me whether I used to be a Christian, the answer is yes.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
ProfMTH
Well 'christian' means different things to different people, and some people who believe they are one, do not fit the definition, so that is why I must again ask:
Were you someone who acknowledged Jesus as your savior, and were convinced where you would spend eternity?
preachinshawn 1 year ago
@preachinshawn I've answered your question already. The answer was (and remains) yes.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
once again...thank you for sharing that which is in your heart and reminding others that they are not alone
geminirat84 1 year ago
@geminirat84 My pleasure. Thanks for the comment.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
I think I'm gonna call December 25th "Deconversion Day" from now on.
I did not deconvert on December 25h, but hey, why not on that day, right?
From henceforth, with thanks to ProfMTH and lunarmoon88, Dec 25th will be:
DECONVERSION DAY!
laflugantabastardo 1 year ago
@laflugantabastardo There ya go! :-)
ProfMTH 1 year ago
Beautiful video!
This exactly reminds me of "Thus spoke Zarahustra" and its endless biblical refernces (have you read it Prof?) - there is forced religious "form" in the liberation from religion. Truth will set you free.
Knr911 1 year ago
@Knr911 Thanks a lot.
I read it in college.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
Forgive what may be ignorance on my part, but is that not the piece commonly known as the "2001: Odyssey" theme?
1RadicalOne 1 year ago
@1RadicalOne Haha on the contrary your culture is noted here. No, Also sprächt Zarathustra is a book of Friedrich Nietzsche. The 2001 theme is the ride of Walkyries by Wagner. Wagner and Nietzsche were friends during a period of time, and "2001" is filled with references of Wagner, of Nietzsche's Zarathustra, but also to ancient Zarathustrian myths (Zarathustra was a prophet). There is a couple of links at the bottom of the wiki "2001" article which explains all the Zarathustra ref. check it out
Knr911 1 year ago
Apparently, the piece is intended to accompany (or as some put it, inspired by) the aforementioned book.
As for the original book, it appears that the parallelism was intended to "mimic the style of the Bible to present ideas which oppose JudeoChristian tradition".
1RadicalOne 1 year ago
@1RadicalOne You are right, in fact it is not Wagnre's waljyrie but Richard Strauss' Also Spracht Zarathustra. My Bad.
As for the book, this is exactly it: the book is filled with religious refernces to the bible, and zarathustra, who is in fact the anti-real Zarathustra, is here to announce to the world the death of God. And all the poit turns around this: even in the death of God, there is a forced religious form. Which was the meaning of my comment.
Knr911 1 year ago
Ah.
1RadicalOne 1 year ago
I do not want to live my life thinking that this is all I have. I do not want to feel like there is no one watching out for me, no one who is constantly with you. I do not want to live life thinking that I am an evolutionary accident, that my life has no meaning because this is all there is because there is nothing after I die. What a pitiful mindset!
lunarmoon88 1 year ago
@lunarmoon88 "I do not want to live my life thinking that this is all I have."
What you want doesn't determine what reality is.
ProfMTH 1 year ago
@lunarmoon88
"I do not want to feel like there is no one watching out for me, no one who is constantly with you"
Just because you want something, that doesn't mean that is true.
I want to be a millionaire, but am I one? No
Ask yourself this...
What is more important to you?
Do you care if your beliefs are comforting
or
Do you care if your beliefs are True, regardless if they are comforting or not?
BlankPicketSign 1 year ago
You celebrate the time where you abandoned all hope of eternal happiness? You celebrate the time when you realized you no longer felt that God was watching over you and loving you? You celebrate the time you entered an atheistic life of worthlessness, meaninglessness, and no hope in death?
lunarmoon88 1 year ago
how true. for me, to be a religion believer is like living in constant dark and misery. and i think most believers live in barely covered-up gloom. as much as they try to pretend the opposite. they may be as joyful as they claim, but i never was.
bobbyb826 1 year ago
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HonestTechnoAtheist 1 year ago
All I do for christmas anymore now is put up a tree. And only because it is a nice decoration to look at. And I am not concerned with calling it a christmas tree instead of a holiday tree.
HonestTechnoAtheist 1 year ago
My moment was around the same time frame, 2005-2006. I was listening to a Lenny Bruce bit at the time and he said something like "what is is and everything else is a lie" and my agreement was so natural I was shocked over the edge.
RPR1983 2 years ago
It seems that stopping to believe is a bit like to stop smoking. It's kind of the mental version of it.
tubetib 2 years ago
Wow, i had no idea that we've been atheists for about the same amount of time! Cool. I graduated high school in 2006. Unfortunately, i don't have a definite day on which to celebrate my deconversion... maybe i should just pick one!
horsesandmountains 2 years ago
@horsesandmountains
Indeed. Just pick one. :-) Thanks.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Pick "Good Friday" - then rename it "Deconversion Day". Call the day before "Deconversion Eve" - then have the following two weeks called "The 14 Days of Deconversion".
On Deconversion Eve, invite all your neighbours and friends around to your house at midnight to partake in the ritual - which involves them drinking water slowly, sitting absolutely still, and in silence, while you, dressed in your ornate robes, get sloshed on the finest whisky that they've been instructed to bring.
jazzx251 1 year ago
For me there is a God. Lady Luck.
chikdada 2 years ago
i must compliment you not only for your wonderful videos but for the extensive linkage in the side bar. never have trouble finding your other videos.
so thanks.
and p.s your deconversion was very dramatic ;)
itstheownage 2 years ago
Thanks a lot. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Celebrate the birth of Mithra!
NoNcOnFoRMiSt26 2 years ago
I love Mithramas!!
NoMoreMasters 2 years ago
Your personal story is beautiful.
leavesof3 2 years ago
@leavesof3
Thanks very much.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Isn't it liberating?? And a little scary too.
But then when you know you can't believe the lies anymore, you seek the truth. Learning about the truth of our existence is very satisfying.
Merry Christmas and happy Deconversion day.
bigboy45454545 2 years ago
Thanks a lot, Bigboy. Merry Christmas to you, too. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
I dont see much charm in this horrid story. You have a female, who is impregnated(raped actually) without her consent by some invisible being(she was probably raped if she ever existed, and due to the post-traumatic stress she reinvented the entire story). Then you have her travelling pregnant and she gives birth among animals. Horrid. Although my parents were religious Ive never believed this story, I preferred fairy tales, they seemed much more real to me as a child.
eldadevata 2 years ago
As I said in the video, Eldaevata, it is a charming story when the problematic parts are smoothed over.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
I guess you have to consciously ignore the problematic parts.
Anyways thats my own problem, and in the end if you can enjoy it, good for you.
In my culture Christmas is not that much of a big deal, some people have diners with their families, but we dont get long holidays, dont do too much shopping and our cities are only 10% as decorated as American ones or even British. And due to the communistic era the vast majority is everything but deeply religious.
Cheers!
eldadevata 2 years ago
And that is why I am happy that I have always been an atheist.
Im sorry that you struggled though.
Christiannemarie 2 years ago
Ahhhh, the exhilaration felt by the fish as he leaps boldly from his glass bowl and flops freely on the kitchen floor. Not that the Roman Church is exactly the be all and end all of Truth or orthodoxy but at least you escaped it's evil clutches prof! You will not have to go to purgatory now! The get out of purgatory free benefit itself must have been worth the jump.
So now you are free to enjoy your liberation from the chains of Roman morality. Free to do whatever you want without guilt feelings
Blogrich55 2 years ago
Seems you're engaging in more than a little projection here, Blogrich.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
@ ProfMTH
Projection or insight?
Blogrich55 2 years ago
"Projection or insight?"
Projection, as I said.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Purgatory? Does the RC Church still push that doctrine?
How about the requirement for infant baptism?
boggisthecat 2 years ago
@ boggisthecat Yes the Roman Church still pushes the doctrine of purgatory. It is not hard to understand when you take her aberrant soteriological position into consideration.
Blogrich55 2 years ago
To the maker of this video (and others). In your infinite atheïstic wisdom ;) and obviously clear reasoning ability, would you be willing to check in my playlists and see if I got anything wrong (you will find your trinity video in the playlist "The Great Conspiracy 2009 compilation". It contains videos from many different sources.
You may find the playlist "Longer scientific documentaries" quite interesting, it has a more scientific, archaeological and historic look at the conspiracy.
Uenbg 2 years ago
What are you blathering about, Uenbg? What "conspiracy"?
ProfMTH 2 years ago
I though you knew, you seemed pretty smart.
I guess you can have a look and see what I'm talking about.
Uenbg 2 years ago
Prof MTH:
I too struggled with my faith, twisted myself into a pretzel, even while studying for my BA in Philosophy I believed that I too saw what St. Thoms Aquinas saw in Aristotle, but sadly as my arms reached to the heavens, I felt as though I was pushing on the universe and I didn't feel a push back.
Thank you for sharing your story. Maybe one day I'll have the bravery that many here on youtube have to share their stories.
soren1789 2 years ago
Thanks a lot, Soren. I hope you do. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Good, touching story there. So much for the fictional "war on Christmas".
5 stars and a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/New Year to you, good sir. :)
alicizmar 2 years ago
Thanks very much, Alcizmar. Happy Holidays to you and yours, too. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Did you just say "my partner"?
Just say my boyfriend, geez...
DrSwindles 2 years ago
@DrSwindles Are you attempting to inject humor here?
partner is a term used for couples in a life together. Boyfriend/girlfriend is less serious, I'd say.
AuShawster 2 years ago
DrSwindles, first, he's not merely my boyfriend. Second, I'll call him what I want. Geez indeed.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Sorry, it was bad joke. Keep up the vids, I love them!
DrSwindles 2 years ago
A nice encapsulation of what makes the traditional Christmas story and ritual so appealing and endearing. Combined with a fascinating personal moment. Thanks you for sharing Prof. :)
WesternEstatesHOA 2 years ago
Thanks a lot, WesternEstatesHOA.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
That's a pretty dramatic deconversion.
myrmecophilous 2 years ago
Well, I don't know if 'dramatic' accurately captures it. But it certainly was memorable.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Well mine was something like the following. I was just always doubtful of all the religion I was told as a child and eventually realized I'd never really believed any of it anyway. In comparison to mine yours is certainly a dramatic story. That you can point to a specific moment at all is pretty remarkable.
myrmecophilous 2 years ago
Very poignant, great vid as usual Prof ... I haven't had an opportunity to peruse through the rest of the comments but having been raised as a JW (before my eventual conclusion into atheism) myself we never really celebrated christmas. This time of year is difficult for me because I find it so hard to shop for others, or get in the 'chistmas spirit' if you will. I always think "Why?"
I try to exude the fellowship usually indicative of this time the other 360+ days of the year. Not just one!
AngusBull2112 2 years ago
Which is an excellent way to be, AngusBull. It shouldn't be about just one day of the year.
Thanks a lot. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Beautiful!
The JW's don't celebrate xmas (or bdays) cos all bdays described in the bible end in death. Cos the timeline puts Jeebuze's birth around August/Sept.
And most importantly, a star was used to show astrologers where to find Jeebuz. Astrology and "Wise Men" were an abomination in the OT. Herod killed many cos of them. Thus, xmas=bad devil stuff. (JWs think it was a plot from satan.)
Now you know why JWs don't celebrate xmas.
I just like the time off.
ILYIAB 2 years ago
I thought Jehovah's Witnesses didn't celebrate birthdays because every birthday celebrated in the Bible is celebrated by an unbeliever (or, in the case of Herod, a bad believer). I've never heard the "ends in death" angle. Interesting.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
The "death" angle was what I was taught during my years growing up.
Who knows, maybe they changed again. They change their stand all the time.
Just watched their new "creation" vid. They aren't YEC's anymore. They were when I was a kid.
Still, a great vid Prof. Sharing, in a way that only could come from you. :-)
Merry Xmas!
PS. Still like their astrology angle though. ;-) DS.
ILYIAB 2 years ago
Have a happy winter solstice, Prof!
In this case, five stars of the Bethlehem kind.
;-)
hernantoro 2 years ago
"In this case, five stars of the Bethlehem kind. ;-)"
LOL. Thanks, Hernan. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
The divne is in us all and we need to connect with the Divine. Our souls yearn to return to the Divine from whence we came
jam11432 2 years ago
@jam11432
No such yearning here, Jam11434. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Wow, what a heartfelt,, touching and personal video. I understand the liberation you felt, and, though scary at first, it's a truly wonderful feeling.
Despite being an atheist, I still celebrate Christmas in a traditional Polish way (no meat on Xmas Eve, 12 dishes, sharing 'God's Bread' before the meal), but it means more to be because I know it makes my mother happy, and it's just part of our family's history.
Also, Polish herring in onions, with a shot of vodka is AMAZING :P
LostSubsForever 2 years ago
Thanks a lot, LostSubsForever. I didn't know the Polish did no meat on Christimas Eve. The Italians, as you may know. do only fish. Although when my partner and I host Christmas Eve dinner every other year, he and his family (Italians) have had to deal with the fact that some people in my family (Irish and German) insist on having meat. The compromises of Christmas. ;-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Merry Christmas!
I too was deconverted from faith at midnight on Christmas eve when I was 5.
I peeked through my fingers and discovered Santa Claus was a lie, and that it was my loving parents who gave me all the presents!
There is no God - and yet this world is one massive big present nevertheless.
For those struggling to lose their faith in Santa Claus, Richard Dawkins has written a new book:
Here's the audio version: watch?v=U7T-swW8A3Q
jazzx251 2 years ago
He forgot the most important thing about Christmas. The Coca Cola hat! What's Christmas without a good old US multinational I say. Blessed are the rotten of teeth. Ironically that's what Christmas is all about, growth of the economy. All the other things are just padding. Thank you for all the entertainment you have given me throughout the year. You are one of my youtube favourites. I won't be putting on my Coca Cola hat because it's hot here down under. No winter iconography here.
movieklump 2 years ago
"You are one of my YouTube favourites."
Thanks!
ProfMTH 2 years ago
C'mon Prof... don't be getting all mushy on us. By the way.. congrats on your epiphany! And happy festivus, buddy.
Good video.
lagnaf007 2 years ago
"don't be going all mushy on us"
LOL!
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Thank you, Prof, for sharing a personal and touching story. I, and probably more than a few of your subscribers, had a very similar experience. You captured the moment of deconversion very well.
It hardly ever happens for all to see but the freedom and sense of relief it brings are life altering experiences.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
HecticSkeptic 2 years ago
Thanks a million, HecticSkeptic. Good holidays to you and yours, too.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Merry Christmas.
AlmightScoop 2 years ago
To you, too, AlmightScoop.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
A very touching video profmth. I too celebrate Christmas for the reasons you outlined, except for the deconversion moment.
You mention a months long struggle with the God question. I've got you beat. :-)
I've spent years caught in a similar struggle and yet always stop short of "the truth" that "will set me free".
Whenever I think I am close to "the truth" something pops up to remind me of how little I really know and how presumptious it is of me to think I could ever know "the truth".
JohnFredricksen 2 years ago
Even the truth that you don't believe something?
ProfMTH 2 years ago
I am referring to the biggie question here: is there a God? I cannot make my mind up.When I was younger I thought I would decide. This hasn't happened. I am still undecided. I really don't know if there is something rather than nothing. I don't spend my days caught in some horrible feeling of dread or angst over this failure. It is simply the way I am.
Best of the season to you and yours.
JohnFredricksen 2 years ago
@JohnFredricksen
To you and yours, too.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Ought one believe the truth?
If so, why?
I know you aren't particularly interested in Philosophy via Theistic persuasion, but I would be interested in how you would respond to the above that also remains consistent to your conversion to Nihilism video (that I just watched).
Theologica37 2 years ago
'Philosophy via theistic persuasion'
You mean the mental gymnastics of idiots like Swindeburg & Plantinga? You call that philosophy?
Gungfuwarrior 2 years ago
My sense is that one is better off living in a way that conforms with the truth, Theologica. In my experience, struggling against the truth diminishes a person in a variety of ways, including, without limitation, exacting a significant psychological cost. That's what I have in mind when I use "veritas vos liberabit."
ProfMTH 2 years ago
BTW, Happy Bill of Rights Day (apparently).
lisamariefan 2 years ago
Bill of Rights Day?
ProfMTH 2 years ago
I was looking up December on wikipedia, and apparently December 15th is Bill of Rights Day.
I looked into it further, and apparently it's the day that the BOR was ratified on congress in 1791.
Obscure, somewhat. But I couldn't help but mention it.
lisamariefan 2 years ago
Oh! I thought it was some reference to deconversion that I didn't know about. lol
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Prof, could it be said that when one comes to an epiphany or realization about something it means the facts of the matter could have been there for some time but they only just put all the pieces together? Because of this, I would say I have been an atheist for about 18 years but only truly understood that I was in the last 7-8 years. Would something like this apply to you as well?
itry2brational 2 years ago
No doubt an epiphany is preceded by a series of events that led up to it. In the case of the epiphany I describe in this video, the proximate cause was the investigation, as it were, that I'd been engaging in for much of 2006 regarding my faith. That said, I have no doubt that other events preceding all of that contributed to the epiphany. But I was not an atheist for years before that night. I was a believer.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
1 of 3:
A moving story: a very well-told climactic moment.
I re-watched your "Unyielding despair, you say?" and "Why are you an atheist?" videos again and they offer a good overview of what led to your deconversion.
ToddAllenGates 2 years ago
2 of 3:
But as for why the dots all connected during "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" . . . my *guess* is that it was the combination of the lyrics forcing you to consider the whole story + trying to reconcile that story with your recent religious studies + observing that the seductive trappings (the music, the community group joy, etc.) were what was really propelling belief (as opposed to the story being able to hold its own without the trappings).
ToddAllenGates 2 years ago
3 of 3:
Maybe it's not one of those things you can pin down precisely. Or maybe it was just bound to happen given your research, and it was just a coincidence that the "light" went on during a church service. But I was just wondering if you have any further thoughts about why it was that moment.
ToddAllenGates 2 years ago
No doubt it was bound to happen at some point. There were few moments during that period in my life when I wasn't thinking about all of this. My best guess is that the emotions the beautiful singing of the carol evoked, the fact that I was thinking about my faith so much and whether I was still an adherent of it (through much of that Mass), and perhaps even that it was the first Christmas since my mother had died all conspired to make it that moment, but I suppose I'll never know for sure.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
I would just like to add that my deconversion was brought about by the contents of the Bible itself. I was a believer before I read the Bible. After I read it, I was an atheist!
lexmurphy 2 years ago
What sort of religious background are you from? Many churches like to keep a tight rein on what their congregation reads in the Bible, and do their best to ensure that they are told what it means *before* they read it.
My experience was almost the opposite, although I would say I was an agnostic with strong atheist leanings.
boggisthecat 2 years ago
just plain christian, god was there and jesus was someone important, no active church attendance or communication with a priest, just prayer etc. Then one day I picked up the bible and began reading it...
I would not call myself a active atheist though. The question of life, fate and death has become extremely irrelevant for me. Life is as it is and my friends and I are doing well. Death does not concern me, it just happens.
lexmurphy 2 years ago
Presumably you were taught some things by someone -- your parents?
It can be interesting when Christians who follow the claim that the Bible is literally true proceed to actually read it. They must then decide how to deal with the contradiction between biblical literalism (some of what is written down is shocking) with the precepts of Christianity.
boggisthecat 2 years ago
parents, picture book of jesus, visits to churches and missions, friends, school prayer etc...
I never considered it to be true at all, I considered it to be a book of wisdom and spiritual mystery. But to me it is just a glamourless and morbid story of anger, revenge, rules, tales etc... nothing spiritual or deep at all. It did not make any sense and had next to nothing to do with being alive. The only thing I appreciate from the bible is the 'cast the first stone' statement. Spot on!
lexmurphy 2 years ago
There is a very broad and divergent set of ideas contained within the books of the Bible. I have no real problems with anything that Jesus was reported to have said -- and that should be the point if you claim to be a Christian.
Interestingly, the "casting the first stone" story you refer to did not exist in earlier versions of the book of John. It is likely to be either from a different source (possibly lost permanently), or it may simply have been entirely fabricated.
boggisthecat 2 years ago
Well, if the last thing what you say is true, then it just goes to show: life is just what you make of it. In our infinite creativity we can have any purpose we want, as long as we respect the other's too.
The bible i.m.o is a compilation of stories like any other folklore collection about a reverred god or idea, from which one can undoubtedly gain some kind of useful insight... but this still requires independent thought on behalf of the reader, adding no merit to its alleged truthfullness
lexmurphy 2 years ago
Some people worship the Bible, as though a collection of ancient books is somehow a proxy for God. Unfortunately, as you say, there is no "magic" in it, and it is subject to the interpretation that people place upon it.
boggisthecat 2 years ago
agreed... now if these people would only have that simple piece wisdom!
lexmurphy 2 years ago
"The truth will set you free." Nice one bro! :)
lexmurphy 2 years ago
;-) Thanks.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Does it really count if I say I've been an atheist for 22 years, since that's my whole life?
juliecranford 2 years ago
Of course it counts.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
It depends on when you consider you made a decision as to what you believed.
There are no "Christian" or "Muslim" children, and no atheist ones either.
boggisthecat 2 years ago
People are BORN atheists.
But the point I was making is that it's not much of an accomplishment since I was just never indoctrinated.
Except that I actually did believe there was no god when I was 5 years old. So I was not only born an atheist but I was an anti-theist as a child.
juliecranford 2 years ago
The point I am making is that you must be mature enough to be able to make such a decision about what you believe. People are born with no preconceptions.
Additionally, you can only pinpoint reversals of belief or significant changes. (If that. Beliefs may takes years or decades to change so it isn't always obvious where to place the date.)
boggisthecat 2 years ago
"you can only pinpoint reversals of belief or significant changes."
You mean you can't pinpoint small changes? Why not?
juliecranford 2 years ago
It would normally be difficult to detect incremental changes in components of your belief structure. If you kept some form of independent record (i.e. a written record) then I guess you could see small shifts.
Generally you can always point out significant shifts over longish time-scales. Prof's "de-conversion" may well have taken far longer than he realises, but he only became aware of his struggle with reconciling his theoretical and actual beliefs when the situation became critical.
boggisthecat 2 years ago
Beautiful.
AislinCade 2 years ago
Thanks.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
You know, the funny thing about the attention Christmas gets is all the other shit going on in December.
Hanukah and Kwaanza come to mind.
lisamariefan 2 years ago
but kwaanza was invented specifically to compete with chrismas.
juliecranford 2 years ago
Hm, you are right, it seems.
lisamariefan 2 years ago
Merry Christmas, ProfMTH buddy!
I think people who no longer believe in Christianity have better reasons to cherish this tradition than Christians. I think most ex-Christian atheists are aware of this.
Akatam0t0ma 2 years ago
Hey, thanks a lot, Akatam0t0ma. Merry Christmas to you, too.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Wow, that was great. You have a real gift for narration. I find myself WISHING i had such a moment in my life when i realized i was an atheist after that video. I've basically been an atheist my entire adult life, and throughout my teens. I guess i could count my childhood.....but when i was 5 i also believed in santa, and believed in such things as magic until i was...say 13 or so....
Seriously, you're my new favorite youtube subscription. I love your videos, keep it up.
wonslung 2 years ago
"Seriously, you're my new favorite youtube subscription. I love your videos, keep it up."
Wel, thank you very much, Wonslung. I appreciate the very nice words. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
I should have expected it having watched all your videos, but I still had to laugh when the "Three Wise Studs" popped up.
The rest of the video was a surprise however, and not an unwelcome one. I'm glad you chose to share such and intensely personal moment. You described it so beautifully that I brought back some of the emotions I felt during my own deconversion. Thank you.
cyxgun 2 years ago
"...I still had to laugh when the 'Three Wise Studs' popped up."
LOL.
"You described it so beautifully that I brought back some of the emotions I felt during my own deconversion. Thank you."
You're welcome. Thanks for sharing your reaction to it. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Funny, we celebrate Jeavis being born to Mary, who was engaged to Joseph. Biblegod impregnates her and her permission is neither requested or apparently required. Meanwhile, Joseph has to deal w/the fact that his wife is technically an adulteress right out of the gate..hmmm, now which is more likely: A) That Biblegod magically impregnated her or B) A horny teen girl lied about having sex which, wouldn't you just know it, was punishable by being bludgeoned to death with big frickin' rocks.
SecularInquisitor 2 years ago
I'm going with B.
jussts 2 years ago
Dear Inq, Does that make Joe a cuckold then, or is there a loop hole if your wife is raped by a genocidal deity?
Peace,
Biter.
elbowbiter1 2 years ago
One of the common slurs against Jeavis was that he was a mamzer (bastard). A commonly held suspect was a Roman soldier, hence some referring to him as Yeshua ben Pantera. I don't recall where I found it but there is an excellent piece conserning Yeshua bar Abbas and Yeshua ha-notzri and Yeshua ha-moshaich all being the same guy. Mariam is given the same treatment and essentially it claims the bible is combining the Jeavis' and separating Mary into the adulteress and the perpetual virgin.
SecularInquisitor 2 years ago
I celebrate it for my children and the great part of it is, I get to tell them about a guy who they can't see but he sees them and whether they have been good or not...and I get to pretend it is all true and the I get to tell them it is not. Then they can not the similarities between that and God. As far as the whole Jeavis thing goes ultimately will be up to them. Obviously, I have a preference but it is better to teach them critical thinking and let that lead them to what makes more sense
SecularInquisitor 2 years ago
I think you have just marked for us a day we can form a new tradition on.
The tradition of awakening from this maddness.
We can still call it Christmas.
The mass of waking up from the curse of christianity.
colitisscope 2 years ago
There you go!
ProfMTH 2 years ago
agreed. call it something like marry christless.
lol
jrev37 2 years ago
so true about Christmas mass being so beautiful. It's funny how I miss that mass sometimes!
brazentongue 2 years ago
:-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Youve only been an Atheist for three years? Strange, I got a much different impression. So, what events led up to this? (I mean before what you show here.) I mean obviously you didnt spontaneously realize religion was BS.
reprise92 2 years ago
I talk about a lot of it in the other two videos I mention in this one, i.e., "Why are you an atheist?" and "Unyielding despair, you say?"
ProfMTH 2 years ago
wow, moving video.
even though i dont believe in god i do enjoy that song.
once again-oh do i really need to say it?- i will, keep the vids coming!!
:)
rubixxcube 2 years ago
lol Thanks a million, Rubixxcube.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
That really was beautifully put. I concur. My story's not quite as profound. I'd wonder how many non-believers remember the time and/or place when they came to their senses. The real question is, how did your partner handle it? That must have really freaked him out.
fkerpants 2 years ago
"how did your partner handle it?"
I didn't tell him right away. But when I did, he was unhappy about it. However, he's come to terms with it. As NykSciPhi aptly put it, love gets shit done. ;-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
My first Christmas as an atheist was rough since my wife is a Christian. She questioned why I would even want to celebrate Christmas. That argument ended when we had our baby girl on Christmas day. She is MY meaning of Christmas! Of course, my middle child knows what's going on and to see his face light up when he gets all the presents are great. I'm going for custody of my oldest son (from a previous relationship) and have a hearing just before Christmas on the 23rd.
SecularInquisitor 2 years ago
Good luck at the hearing. And Merry Christmas.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Hear, hear!!
Elaina43 2 years ago
Hey, Elaina! Thanks. :-)
ProfMTH 2 years ago
Lifetime original movie not so much ProfMTH, it doesn't have nearly enough rape in it.
studio7manga 2 years ago
Oh, I don't know about that. Did Mary even ASK to have God's seed implanted in her? Sounds like divine rape.
bu1ckgnx 2 years ago
Clearly, I haven't seen enough Lifetime original movies then.
ProfMTH 2 years ago
In his novel Airframe, Michael Crichton took time to screed against television in general and sensational news magazines shows in particular. A character who was an obvious mouthpiece for the author said this:
"Sometimes I look around my living room, and the most real thing is the television. It's bright and vivid, and the rest of my life looks drab. So I turn the damn thing off. That does it every time. Get my life back."
theantithesis1 2 years ago
I cannot help notice a parallel in how christians describe their gods. They give them strength. They give them hope. They give them purpose. They give them love. They give them light. They give them life. They give them comfort. Sometimes they look around and the most real things are their gods. They are so bright and vivid that the rest of their lives look drab. Until they turn their gods off and get their lives back.