Me VS God, Part V: Why We Believe

[GiveCourage]

Thanks! I love how you use Dallin Oaks as the quintessential example of an asshole. Dallin Oaks IS a complete asshole.

[kittyloaf]

If you guys want to see something really funny, and completely in tune with the videos you have made about biases and such, go to the mythbusters episode about the moon landing hoax on youtube

The mythbusters take a scientific-ish approach, with evidence and logic. Once they conclude there was no hoax, the comment section blew up with curse words and yelling, something about the illumanti and jews. Really funny stuff that proves your points.

[kittyloaf]

Do the preachers and such actually know they are manipulating people? Or has their own biases blinded them, and therefore they really think what they are saying makes sense

[AntiCitizenX]

@kittyloaf

They have to know. In any other context, such tactics would be condemned as fraud. But I also believe that double-think is very powerful in the religious, such that they honestly don't consciously realize what they are doing. At the end of the day, converts and regular attendance are all that matter to a church. So whatever the leaders do to achieve that goal is considered to be divinely sanctioned.

[tjtheplay]

I also saw that movie in the end.

The religious guy gets fucking owned by the guy who's trying to teach evolution.

[tjtheplay]

I like how I use these exact arguments against theists and all they do is say that I'm going to hell.

If I end up getting far enough in a debate where a theist actually PRESENTS AN ARGUMENT and I end up refuting it, they get mad at me. Several times I was threatened with violence.

[LordHines420]

6:06 i said holy fuck aloud

[ORDERedmime]

welp i guess im crazy-- b/c if it was me vs GOD-- well i stand no chance-- so i surrender-- wave my white flag-- brain washed nah just washed in the blood..

[tacojohn9]

That was awesome! From what movie was the clip at the end? Just kidding. I would like to say however, that I love how your tone shifted from just explaining why the religious are wrong to calling them names and using question begging epithets. I'm not being sarcastic here, I really enjoyed it. 

[sinanatac]

absolutely fantastic haha

[RequinBetafor]

Do part VI addressing the fear of death

[GreenAndGreezy]

dude what's reality. we gather everything we, as humans, fully understand and grasp and label it reality. And how much do we really understand. Your case is less flawed than any other religous one i have come across. But really you can't find anything , which is actually usefull, unless you BELIEVE

[lazyteen123]

@GreenAndGreezy Reality- Anything that can be felt with the five senses or measured.

:D

[GreenAndGreezy]

@lazyteen123 how do you mesaure violence.

[lazyteen123]

@GreenAndGreezy By how my crime there is in an area.

[lazyteen123]

@GreenAndGreezy

"Believe as hard as you want to. But convincing yourself however firmly still can’t change the reality of things. Seeing is believing. But seeing isn’t knowing. Believing isn’t knowing. Subjective convictions are meaningless in science, and eyewitness testimony is the least reliable form of evidence. " -- Aronra

[GreenAndGreezy]

@lazyteen123 but changing ones state of mind and beleifs changes ones bhevour and actions and actions shape the world.

[lazyteen123]

@GreenAndGreezy So you'd rather have false beliefs, but change the world?

[Shadizar666]

what is that movie you used?

[AntiCitizenX]

@Shadizar666

Inherit the Wind.

[kafkaOTS]

Great video, a laudable application of cognitive dissonance.

Festinger's When Prophecies Fail does explore many similar themes present in a doomsday cult. However, it's easy for people to pawn these findings off as exclusive to the fringe nature of cults. It should give many religious folks pause to spot these same, albeit more subtle, methods being employed by mainstream religions.

[twinturbo300zx]

Awesome.

[busterpiggle]

Love the clip at the end. What movie was it from?

[AntiCitizenX]

@busterpiggle

Inherit the Wind.

[kazen2]

@AntiCitizenX It's a fantastic film. Curiously enough, I was shown it in high school.

[vivacristorey2009]

Viva Cristo Rey

[ChristopherConnors]

Fantastic work sir, keep it up :)

[jimu57]

I give you credit, you have some good videos. I dont agree with some of your comments, but some I do. I firmly believe the Bible and yet agree with you on some things. OMG. Am I crazy??? :)

[AntiCitizenX]

@jimu57

[OMG. Am I crazy??? :) ]

Yup. :)

Seriously though, It has been my personal experience that the vast majority of those who genuinely believe in Christianity will have a very high probability of rejecting nearly everything about science, with a very special emphasis on biological evolution. The reasoning is that if humans evolved from primate populations, then there was no Garden of Eden, no Fall, and therefore no need for a redeemer. I am curious what you would say to this.

[jimu57]

Well, like I said, my background is engineering and science. I accept evolution and science and how things happen and change. I accept the Bible as what God did. Not how. Humans did not evolve from a lower primate. There is still that old missing link. Know why? Because it doenst exist. I love science. I love the Bible. I see in many ways they support each other.

[charkopolis]

I'm sorry to inform you, but the "missing link" was found. That term is over 100 years old. And by scientific endeavors, has been rigorously studied. When you can, pick up the book, "Biological Anthropology"by Michael Park. This textbook will get you up to speed in the field of anthropology.

[AntiCitizenX]

@jimu57

[There is still that old missing link]

I am glad that you are reasonable enough to embrace science, so this statement is one you should seriously correct. There are well over a dozen or so known hominid species with truckloads of fossils to show them.

This video has a great discussion of "missing links"

/watch?v=Qfoje7jVJpU

[jimu57]

Sure, I love science. Too many Christians are ignorant to science. I need to check the video. Could you put that link up again. I think you dropped part of it.

[AntiCitizenX]

@jimu57

Sorry, you have to put the" youtube[dot]com" in yourself. YouTube does not like web links in their comments. I think it is an anti-spam feature. Makes it hard to share links though.

[jimu57]

I didnt know that. Ok.

[Tsteve08]

@jimu57 There are no "missing links" open your mind to whats in front of you.

[jimu57]

This was a good video. I like dthe psychology of why people believe certain things. This still doesnt say that God doesnt exist. I believe in God, the Bible, science, evolution. Am I wierd because I find the truth in all of those and see how they work together instead os stretching things to make them seem ridiculous like some do? Dont you ever see that there is a creator, simply because we are here? Science cant make something from nothing.

[jimu57]

at the 4:00 mark, or so, the speaker is not teaching Biblical truth but opinion and tradition. I dont approve of "teaching" like that and God speaks against it.

[etoposide]

a lot of things to look up on wikipedia for the rest of the week at 5:07

[LagMasterSam]

AntiCitizenX, you sir, are a fucking genius.

[Miryr]

What's the name of the Paradise movie?

[AntiCitizenX]

@Miryr

Inherit the Wind.

[BuBBaGump014]

lol at Robot Chicken

[excandersham]

this is a horrible study riddled with subjective assumptions no statistical data value and no p value

a poor effort

[PachucoDesigns]

Magnificent, AntiCitizenX. I can't believe I didn't know about this channel before. Subscribed, and favorited several times over. Brilliant work.

[srelma]

Fantastic. I never thought that as a atheist I should oppose the religion, but instead believed that the freedom of religion is a good thing, but this video made me think...

[AntiCitizenX]

Aaak! Don't go around thinking that "Freedom of Religion" is a bad thing. No one is suggesting that we outlaw religion or anything. I'm just trying to show why religion is an intrinsically ill-supported idea. But the freedom to worship how we please applies just as much to us atheists as it does to the theists.

[srelma]

Ok, can you tell me what you mean by "this is why we fight"? In your opinion, should we atheists be anti-religion (try to get rid of religions) or just be happy with the freedom of religion (fine, everyone should be allowed to believe whatever crap they want)?

So, which one we are fighting for?

[josephrl82]

You'r right everyone should be allowed to believe whatever crap they want, BUT should their beliefs force laws and injustices on other's rights? How many laws have been passed to accomidate to religious beliefs? Stem cell research, gay marriage, prohibition of marijuana, and not teaching the most incredible discovery in the history of mankind evolution.. These are just a few of the injustices the intolerance of religion has bestowed on our nation.

[srelma]

Ok, how do we legislate on things if we don't let people's opinions to make the difference? Shall we go to a technocrat system of enlightened elite leading the way (the USSR tried this)? This is not only going to work, but it is very prone to corruption as well.

If we let people's opinions matter in legislation, how do we differentiate between an atheist homophobic and a religious homophobic? Is the former's opinion ok, but the latter's not if both want to ban gay marriage?

[AntiCitizenX]

Opinions influence politics all the time. This is normal. However, the constitution specifically prohibits laws that are religiously motivated. You can try to support or ban gay marriage all you like. But if your arguments are entirely religious (or even anti-religious), then any laws you pass are doomed to repeal. Laws must be purely secular in nature if they are to remain in force.

[AntiCitizenX]

By "this is why we fight," I was referring to why we have so many arguments and debates with theists. Not any physical conflicts. I would personally love to see religion gone entirely, but only if it is done through the sheer force of reason such that people change their minds on their own. So people can believe whatever they want, but people should also be free to express alternative beliefs and debate their merits openly.

[WolfSyndrome]

@AntiCitizenX

The only problem is some people are incapable of grasping the concepts necessary to making informed decisions...I knew a kid who sold hard drugs and firearms...the only thing that finally controlled him was his "conversion". I'd rather people like him be religious than NOT. Maybe some lies are necessary for maintaining stability.

[AntiCitizenX]

I hear this criticism a lot, but I must say that it is not very compelling to me. You are basically saying that the only way to control some people is to lie to them. I have a hard time accepting that. I also feel that it is a sub-optical perspective. The question you should be asking is not "how can we make people better." The real question is "what is the BEST that people can possibly be?" Religion may improve some folks, but truth, science, and education are always ideal.

[WolfSyndrome]

Ideal, yes. However, reality tends to brutally bludgeon ideologies. I agree with as to what the question should be, and all it does is bring us full-circle back to the initial point I was trying to make. The point is some people can NEVER be "functioning members of society". For animals we have muzzles, cages, euthanasia, etc. Obviously humans aren't so easy to keep in line. Religion is possibly the most humane way of dealing with them, and I bet that's why it was invented in the first place.

[supermanlives1973]

Religious people need to find an avenue which makes them feel 'happy' without the need to believe in what religion preaches to them. If they all 'believed' in humanity, then there wouldn't be a need for the supernatural.

I think what Atheists need to do is to keep pushing their message; however, the more militant that message becomes, the more 'closed in' religious people start acting (imagine a person with their ears plugged, screaming 'La la la la, la la la la!"

[supermanlives1973]

cont...

The message should be "Think about the positive aspects of life...now think about those aspects WITHOUT religion...would it be the same? If so, why?"

The message we get out should make people 'think'...ask the right questions...

What is god? What is humanity? How do the two relate (without relating to anything religion)? As Hitchens pointed out, "Name for me a ethical action taken or moral statement made from a person of faith that I could not make."

[fetzervalve]

The movie is "Inherit the Wind" from the 60's about the Scopes monkey trial - good movie!

[HellsGate9999]

GG your kicking gods ass =) What movie are those clips from?

[janeyanna]

I love your stuff!!

BTW: What's the title of the black and white movie in this video?

[AislinCade]

Don't take this wrong, because it's meant as a compliment, but you totally sound like AronRa's protege. I can see that other people have mentioned it too. I hope this doesn't offend you or anything, 'cause I mean, one more person to count among AronRa's camp is never a bad thing.

[albanaeon]

Definitely feeling the Aronra. Still and maybe because of, a great video.

[dichotomyofone]

The new aronra? Perhaps...

[AntiCitizenX]

I was certainly channeling his essence :)

But seriously, I do like the way he just states the case in a very blunt manner, which is very similar to how I like to discuss such issues as well. So I was very much influenced by his presentation style.

[dichotomyofone]

I can tell and too do enjoy his style. The important question is is do you rock the kick ass facial hair as well as he does? :P

Oh, and keep up the good work.

[technologysucks]

So what your saying is that faith-based homework/aruguments doesn't just get an F, but three Fs. F for fallacious, F or fraudulent and of course an F for feeble

The three Fs of faith

[AntiCitizenX]

That pretty much summarizes this video in a nutshell.

[TGGeko]

Just remember that God isn't religion. Yea, religious people can be idiots, but that doesn't disprove God.

[AntiCitizenX]

You are correct that none of these videos are really directly trying to disprove God. I merely focus on the many aspects surrounding God via all the cooky religious beliefs. However, if you like, I can make a Part 6 that directly debunks God for you. :)

[TGGeko]

Sure, go ahead. However, most such cases only seem to disprove religion, which is really easy.

[AntiCitizenX]

Don't you basically disprove one by disproving the other? They are entirely intertwined, are they not?

[TGGeko]

Nope. People like to think that God is Religion, but its not. Religion is just an attempt by silly humans to understand things beyond this world.

[AntiCitizenX]

Okay, I guess I'll buy that for now. So what would you say as a response to the claim:

"I don't have to disprove God. There is no evidence for God to begin with, therefore I have ample reason to suppose he does not exist."

[TGGeko]

Go ahead, I would love to see your argument!

[JohnMarksTV]

Yes. Please debunk god himself in part 6.

[Viperzka]

How does one know God without religion? If God talks to you that doesn't give you insight into reality, that makes you insane. Aside from that, why would you be the only one God talks to? Why doesn't God talk to the religious nuts? There is absolutely no proof for God. One can't go around claiming things exist for which there is no proof. A warm fuzzy feeling is not proof of God's existence. An internal monologue is also not proof. You can't assert anything about God without one of these

[YumeNoEien]

Well, children are gullible, but that doesn't disprove Santa Claus either ^.^

[MikhalisBramouell]

I lol'd at 5:47. While talking about brainwashing, "THIS IS WHAT HARD DATA LOOKS LIKE"

[talk2sushant]

Great Video! Earth would have been a better place without God..

[TGGeko]

It would be better without religious idiots.

[beanio12]

@talk2sushant

Countless people have died in the name of God. Truly a horrible thing.

[OmnipotentGodOfAll]

Nice stuff.

[RDissonant]

Which old-school movie are you using for that clip at the end?

[AntiCitizenX]

"Inherit the Wind." It is one of my favorite movies ever, so I highly recommend it.

[DarkAngel182]

Wasn't there a newer/more modern version of that film made a few years back?

[AntiCitizenX]

Yes. I've seen that as well. It is basically the same exact movie, but in color. Same script and all.

[AntiCitizenX]

I agree. If he were anyone else, I would be inclined to sympathize. However, Oaks is also a former justice for the Utah Supreme Court. As a matter of professional interest, he should have known that such reasoning is outright manipulative. Part of me can't help but wonder how much his legal judgment was skewed through the years.

[AntiCitizenX]

I'm surprised more people haven't picked up on it. After reading my Social Psych text I was astonished to see how regularly the methods are applied in the name of faith.

[LardFeatures]

Well done. Thanks for the vid.

[sk8njoe]

Pure awesome! You're saving the species!

[PeckerGoblin]

Holy SHit Logs! I dId NoT thiNK a ViDeO Like This ExIsTed! It's almost like you took thoughts out of my head...You son of a bitch! Now I got to find the rest of this series...

[AntiCitizenX]

If you like this vid, just watch AronRa's stuff.

[mtanti87]

Dude, this is not you vs god, this is you vs religion. You're attacking the works of man. I preferred your initial videos where you attacked god itself. I love these psychology related videos a lot, but I don't think they should be in this series.

[AntiCitizenX]

"Dude, this is not you vs god, this is you vs religion."

Is there a difference? The two concepts are very intertwined I feel.

You may have a point about how this video should not have been in the series. I actually debated a little bit on whether it should be part of the series or just a stand-alone vid. I eventually decided to just put it in, but I can sympathize a little with why you feel it should be more stand-alone.

[westhamhaz]

well done great video dude

[Ilegalplayer]

I want a MORMON to Explain to all of us how these SCRIPTURES are not RACIST against BLACK AFRICAN MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN!

LDS MORMON SCRIPTURES CALLED PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

"being of the (BLACK AFRICAN)lineage by which he could not have the right of PRIESTHOOD,(Abraham1:26-27)"

24..from (BLACK AFRICAN)Ham,sprang that race which preserved the curse in the land.(Abraham1:23-24)

"..A BLACKNESS came upon all the (BLACK AFRICANS)..of Canaan..(Moses7:8)"

"..seed of Cain were BLACK..(Moses7:22)"

[Dutchdrummer99]

Great video`s.

[chalkers]

Awesome. I love you.

[AntiCitizenX]

I am somewhat fond of you too :)

[bbugmenott]

great stuff