An open letter, or rather video, specially for you.

[sexlessparents]

atheists have more comfort then agnostics.You guys are just like muslims or hindus, in the fact that you have a belief in something, you have comfort thinking your right, while the agnostics are the true non believers, because we don't think any thing is true, we have no truth. we are confused . we stand for ??? nothing .

[DaPlegrim]

ehow dott com slash how_874_trim dash mustache dott html

[abortedsoul]

That was actually a bit funny.

[BoozyBeggar]

The part towards the end about "miracles" and pepole getting better, don't forget: there are also medical false positives. Just because a doctor says you have cancer doesn't necessarily mean you do. There is always a margin of error for any test.

As an aside, there are also even far worse false negatives.

[SlapEveryJew]

You kinda look like VenomFangX except you're not an idiot.

[MarkBH70]

Yeah, you seemed to believe in the consciousness. Faith to me is like believing in consciousness; you don't see it.... Five stars by the way. Smart.

[abortedsoul]

Consciousness is demonstrated, it is describable and the study of it is valuable.

Faith is just belief without evidence; why anyone would openly admit that is beyond me.

[MarkBH70]

Ok. :)

[MarkBH70]

As a Christian, but a true Christian, who actually believes this stuff, and not just for a pat on the back, as you said, for I believe most people who claim such are of course full of shit, would believe fairy-/wives' tales, I'd like to explain faith for one such as I: That is, faith is like belief in electrons. It is their activity rather than being seen that causes belief in what we actually cannot see.

Very sensible, without the faith thing. Thanks/interesting. Faith is like "seeing" e-'s.

[abortedsoul]

There is evidence that supports electrons; I believe in electrons the same way I believe in New Zealand.

[HaleyMary]

Great video. My favorite part was defining beliefs by the negative or non beliefs like an a-astrologist. The concept of someone defining themselves by their non belief in astrology seemed rather funny. Great points of the amputees, as well. If miracles really happened, there would probably be historical records by now of limbs growing back, which is scientifically impossible.

[abortedsoul]

"The concept of someone defining themselves by their non belief in astrology seemed rather funny."

I thought so, too. X_x

[lslewis]

Just about everyone that is human wonders whether there is a god at some point(s) in his/her life. This is a good example of being brainwashed by one's own logic and reason. I question a lot of events w/ why and how. Matt, ask yourself, what is it about people of faith that makes us not only willing to die but to live for God? Are we all really crazy fools OR are we right? You don't even believe Christ existed? You must be born again to see the salvation of the Lord. He works!

[Gisburne2000]

Being born once is fine for me. I don't need another birth to realise exactly how divisive Christianity is with its 'praise God or burn in Hell' message.

[abortedsoul]

"Being born once is fine for me."

Hysterical.

[shehanagins]

i didnt here him say he didnt believe that christ exist he doesnt believe he was the son of god and yes you are in a way fools i dont meen to affend but your belief is rediculous you believe because you need to believe but thats ok

[lslewis]

Every person is born w/ a measure of faith, which is why everyone at least wonders if there is a God. People who become atheists HAVE to reason out God from their perception of reality and that's like undoing NATURAL programming as a human being.

[shehanagins]

we dont have to were naturaly skeptical and we dont believe without reason

[lslewis]

Of course we are naturally skeptical; I have a problem putting all my trust in mankind's reason alone.  It actually makes more sense that all of the complexity of the universe and our own human design was no accident.

[shehanagins]

how does it make more sense to believe that?

[abortedsoul]

You are claiming that everyone is born with a measure of faith. How do you know this, exactly?

[lslewis]

The Bible says so. Since this doesn't mean anything to you, then another reason why I'm convinced of this is that i have observed many people question whether or not God is and end up either agnostic or theistic; few become atheists for real.

[pajamadude15]

nice mustache lol. I want to hear another orange story!

[abortedsoul]

Well, as soon as I experience another one, you'll be the first to know.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thanks Matt. I love your long, thoughtful talks. My favorite line, "I have studied plants almost to the point of botany."

Eat your vegetables and stay well.

Phil

[abortedsoul]

Vegetables are awesome, and I have been cooking and eating more of them lately.

Will have internet installed in house on monday; hopefully will be back up and kicking then.

-M

[vicariouspunishment]

Great.

[willnflorida]

good video Matt. May God watch over us all. :) have a great day

[BobsWorld666]

Don't let people get you down. I know we have a lot of intolerant people in our country who trounce on our freedom of religion or refusal to believe. I am a

Christian, but I believe that God is simply Love. No matter what you call it, as long as we love and take care of each other, I believe we are honoring God. More and more I am rejecting the Bible and looking at it as an instigator of hate and intolerance, something I don't believe comes from God.

[shehanagins]

nice belief but love and god arnt the same god is supernatural love is not

[TextAndViolence]

i saw a church sign that said, 'reason is the enemy of faith'. and i was like, you're proud of that?! might as well just have a sign that says 'WE DO THE THINKING FOR YOU'.

[Gisburne2000]

'Reason is the enemy of faith' is a quote from Martin Luther. Unfortunately Luther also wrote a book called 'On the Jews and their lies' in which he advocates burning their synagogues and books, and driving them out.

And this quote of his is a gem:

"Did I not tell you earlier that a Jew is such a noble, precious jewel that God and all the angels dance when he farts?"

So much for the initiator of the Protestant Reformation - anti-semite to the core.

[D4Shawn]

You're really an amazing communicator abortedsoul. You should do this more often IMO. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on all kind of subjects (not just science/atheism).

[abortedsoul]

Well, maybe soon.

[TheBlindWatchmaker]

lol I bet everyone had to rewind the video after a minute because the first minute everyone was thinking "wtf? he got a 'stache?"

[drakeblackhorn]

something related to what you said about shooting someone in the head:

there are many cases in which someone who has suffered brain damage undergoes a change in personality. and let's not forget about trauma-induced amnesia. things like this demonstrate that the mind and consciousness are products of the brain.

[AshMangus]

Interestingly enough, most of the studies we do on the brain consist of a scenario very similar to: "This part of patient X's brain is fucked up; what can (s)he do / not do?"

[drakeblackhorn]

yup. i seriously doubt any of those people claiming the mind is separate from the brain actually know anything about how the brain works.

hmm... i had an interesting thought. technically, it'd be possible to erase 'faith' by manipulating the right parts of the brain. you'd just have to remove the key mental blocks and memes from memory, and belief would crumble or fade. (some believer's probably gonna see this and run around babbling about 'faith-stealing brain surgery' :P)

[PhildotheGreat]

Just for the record, I think the mustache is AWESOME!

[AgainstAllGods]

Do you live in Japan? If so, what are you doing there?

[abortedsoul]

Yes. I am living here.

[AgainstAllGods]

What do you do there?

[AshMangus]

I play video games, eat, sleep, make love, work and study. Mostly the last two, although I doubt it is hard to guess which ones I enjoy the most.

[macadoughshus]

I don't believe in mustaches.

[BlasphemyBaby]

You pretty much just ran the gamut of all the major reasons not to believe in a god, especially in those last five minutes. Cool. XD

[TheAmazingAtheist]

Okay, I'm not trying to be mean, but that 'stache is not working for you.

[numbah1pinoy]

Yea you gotta shave that off. Kinda makes you look like Nacho Libre.

[abortedsoul]

Just too lazy to shave it off.

[ShortbusMooner]

Well, you know that you & I are pretty much of the same mind, regarding this subject.

(great minds think alike!)

Good to see ya, Matt! Hope all is well with you! *hugs*

[dexarouskies]

I reject the supernatural, but I am having a lot of problems getting a grip on the natural. Supernatural by definition must be included in the natural as well, providing you don't go against what is observed.

[abortedsoul]

"Supernatural must be included in the natural..." Wait, what? Doesn't the "super" in "supernatural" mean "above?" Confused me.

[dexarouskies]

Yes, something either exists or not.  If it exists, then it is natural. But some events that are not understood might be classified by some people as supernatural.

[jessie74]

Nice video!

[abortedsoul]

Fuck, I think the audio somehow got out of sync when I uploaded.

[jessie74]

It's a little out of sync....but not by much......your rational opinions are still heard.

[Clutchology]

And recieved whileheartedly.

[jessie74]

It's a little out of sync....but not by much......your rational opinions are still heard.