The religious person was well played -- similar to so many conversations I've had. As for the atheist seems he was a little strong, but atheists are so often overlooked and dismissed for their lack of belief, so it's understandable for the overplay.
Completely and totally ignoring any religious debate (despite that being what this video is about), I would just like to say Bernie has a wonderful voice and I want him to read me bedtime stories.
I'm an atheist, but I really don't like these shallow one siding 'arguing with myself' style videos. Especially since they didn't try to present a balance of arguments from both sides, just made the Christian pugnacious and eventually run away.
Even as a long-time agnostic, I didn't find this video very worthwhile. The arguments on both sides are shallow and ignore the deeper purposes for religions and guiding ethics. Stuff like this only helps fan the flames of resentment between religionists and non-religionists because the subject matter is oversimplified and trivialized in a disrespectful manner.
Today, I went out to lunch with two religious co-workers. They both mentioned what they were doing with their churches this weekend and I had actual interest in their church activities.
However, because of the way atheists are thought of in the USA, I couldn't tell them that me and some of my friends are meeting with the president of American Atheists this weekend regarding the 2011 convention in Des Moines. It's not fair that I can't discuss a big part of my life in public.
Bernie should have been a tad bit smarter and more explanatory in his response instead of being a jumping off point for the atheist. Mark should have expanded on the harms of religion and been more cogent
The prejudice "where a towel on your head" remark was completely uncalled for and hope the makers of the film understand that "towelhead" is a pejorative and often racist implication. They are not towels.
Before I say anything else, I'd better mention I'm not sorry to those I offend.
Think about this. A religious person believes all other religions are crazy. How do they know their's is not the crazy one?
I say all religions are crazy, and anyone who believes in a religion or any supernatural forces is crazy. Become athiest or agnostic, and get a grip on reality. Open your mind a little. I pity those stuck in the grip of religion as you don't truly value your life for what it is.
@ozkidzez91 This is so true. All people don't believe in a god of some kind. Christians don't believe that Zeus or Vishnu is real. The only difference between an atheist and a christian is that we believe in one less god.
Man, I kind of wish the video ened with the two of them agreeing to disagree instead of the whole 'You're going to hell' stuff. Kind of a depressing ending. :P
@DeverHB It was meant to be real, this is how a real xtian reacts, "attacking" their faith with truth and reason will always elicit a spiteful usually spittle filled rebuttal of "you are going to hell"!
@DeverHB That's how these conversations usually end though, the religious person saying something like "you'll be sorry when you're dead". Christians never seem to just 'agree to disagree', even though most atheists would be more than happy to do so.
Is it a coincidence that I find the atheist the biggest douchebag here? Was that design made by choice? Because I wholeheartedly agree with it, at least for the douchebag atheists.
I appreciate this video. I mean, I'm a Christian, with mostly Quaker-type beliefs, and this didn't change my views, but I do agree with some of the things he said. I guess I've thought much more critically about my faith than Bernie has, but I also try to think about political issues separately from my religious views.
I wish all Atheists were that respectful, although he did get a bit irksome at some parts. Most Atheists I know are very mean and condescending.
@SpaghettoStudios The road has to go both ways though. The amount of disrespect religious people endure is but a rain drop in the ocean compared to open discrimination atheist endure.
@SpaghettoStudios And while I cannot predict the future, the fact that you are questioning and critical gives me enough to bet that within 10 years you will be looking back and wondering how you were able to believe in these fairy tales. Welcome to the first steps.
@SpaghettoStudios Most atheists I know, myself included, are quite respectful of other people's beliefs UNTIL a believer puts us down for being atheists. Then, the gloves come off.
But, I have friends that are christian and we're good enough friends that we can needle each other a bit like they do in this video. I've had this conversation a LOT of times myself.
Overall, I like the video. There are definitely some things I would change, though. For one thing, you CAN prove a negative if you allow that demonstrating the incoherence of a definition or description counts as proof of nonexistence (e.g. try it with invisible pink things and you'll see). Also, Bernie seemed too willing to use the word "myth" -- it made it seem like he wasn't serious enough about his own beliefs, especially considering he believes in the existence of Hell.
I've heard all of these arguments before, so I guess this video didn't bring much new to the table for me. But I do like how it brings up the whole doublethink about how people like to think kids are both stupid and smart at the same time whenever it's convenient for them, when they're really just naive as the atheist points out. The "God's giving you a choice" argument is also really fun to pick apart. It's really a false choice, because if you don't pick what God wants, you go to hell.
Yup, and it's doubly false, since it also perpetuates the notion that belief is a conscious choice, as if religious belief were like choosing what to cook for dinner. Christians who use this argument fail to understand that you can't start believing in something simply because someone tells you to. You have to be convinced of its existence first. If they couldn't start believing in Vishnu, why on earth would they think that we could spontaneously start believing in Jesus?
Just been made aware of this via freethoughtblogs. Brilliant.
arcanics1971 3 weeks ago
great film!
philosage 6 months ago
The religious person was well played -- similar to so many conversations I've had. As for the atheist seems he was a little strong, but atheists are so often overlooked and dismissed for their lack of belief, so it's understandable for the overplay.
Ronin69696969 1 year ago
Completely and totally ignoring any religious debate (despite that being what this video is about), I would just like to say Bernie has a wonderful voice and I want him to read me bedtime stories.
Nanabobo 1 year ago
What else is that intro music from? It sounds very familiar.
iamtheryan 1 year ago
@iamtheryan HowStuffWorks podcast?
thunderfirebolt 1 year ago
I'm an atheist, but I really don't like these shallow one siding 'arguing with myself' style videos. Especially since they didn't try to present a balance of arguments from both sides, just made the Christian pugnacious and eventually run away.
89Duo 1 year ago 2
Even as a long-time agnostic, I didn't find this video very worthwhile. The arguments on both sides are shallow and ignore the deeper purposes for religions and guiding ethics. Stuff like this only helps fan the flames of resentment between religionists and non-religionists because the subject matter is oversimplified and trivialized in a disrespectful manner.
dsmfishgal 1 year ago 2
Nicely done guys. If you need atheist extras...
camoguard 1 year ago 2
Today, I went out to lunch with two religious co-workers. They both mentioned what they were doing with their churches this weekend and I had actual interest in their church activities.
However, because of the way atheists are thought of in the USA, I couldn't tell them that me and some of my friends are meeting with the president of American Atheists this weekend regarding the 2011 convention in Des Moines. It's not fair that I can't discuss a big part of my life in public.
pimpdaddyhank 1 year ago
God bless Richard Dawkins and Carl Sagan.
Antiks72 1 year ago
Bernie should have been a tad bit smarter and more explanatory in his response instead of being a jumping off point for the atheist. Mark should have expanded on the harms of religion and been more cogent
The prejudice "where a towel on your head" remark was completely uncalled for and hope the makers of the film understand that "towelhead" is a pejorative and often racist implication. They are not towels.
Could have been way better.
CriticalAtheist 1 year ago
The girl's brain asploded at the end.
corle1 1 year ago
Before I say anything else, I'd better mention I'm not sorry to those I offend.
Think about this. A religious person believes all other religions are crazy. How do they know their's is not the crazy one?
I say all religions are crazy, and anyone who believes in a religion or any supernatural forces is crazy. Become athiest or agnostic, and get a grip on reality. Open your mind a little. I pity those stuck in the grip of religion as you don't truly value your life for what it is.
ATHEISM ROCKS
ozkidzez91 1 year ago
Comment removed
pimpdaddyhank 1 year ago
@ozkidzez91 This is so true. All people don't believe in a god of some kind. Christians don't believe that Zeus or Vishnu is real. The only difference between an atheist and a christian is that we believe in one less god.
pimpdaddyhank 1 year ago
Man, I kind of wish the video ened with the two of them agreeing to disagree instead of the whole 'You're going to hell' stuff. Kind of a depressing ending. :P
DeverHB 1 year ago
@DeverHB It was meant to be real, this is how a real xtian reacts, "attacking" their faith with truth and reason will always elicit a spiteful usually spittle filled rebuttal of "you are going to hell"!
flyingwolf79 1 year ago
@flyingwolf79 and then they comfort themselves with Matthew 5:11
Antiks72 1 year ago
@DeverHB That's how these conversations usually end though, the religious person saying something like "you'll be sorry when you're dead". Christians never seem to just 'agree to disagree', even though most atheists would be more than happy to do so.
pimpdaddyhank 1 year ago
Is it a coincidence that I find the atheist the biggest douchebag here? Was that design made by choice? Because I wholeheartedly agree with it, at least for the douchebag atheists.
snipzor 1 year ago
I appreciate this video. I mean, I'm a Christian, with mostly Quaker-type beliefs, and this didn't change my views, but I do agree with some of the things he said. I guess I've thought much more critically about my faith than Bernie has, but I also try to think about political issues separately from my religious views.
I wish all Atheists were that respectful, although he did get a bit irksome at some parts. Most Atheists I know are very mean and condescending.
SpaghettoStudios 1 year ago
@SpaghettoStudios The road has to go both ways though. The amount of disrespect religious people endure is but a rain drop in the ocean compared to open discrimination atheist endure.
Jewdly 1 year ago 4
Comment removed
42004 1 year ago
@Jewdly Agreed. especially when you happen to live in the bible belt.
42004 1 year ago
@SpaghettoStudios And while I cannot predict the future, the fact that you are questioning and critical gives me enough to bet that within 10 years you will be looking back and wondering how you were able to believe in these fairy tales. Welcome to the first steps.
flyingwolf79 1 year ago
@flyingwolf79 Well, I'm not sure about that, but I guess we'll see what happens...
SpaghettoStudios 1 year ago
@SpaghettoStudios Most atheists I know, myself included, are quite respectful of other people's beliefs UNTIL a believer puts us down for being atheists. Then, the gloves come off.
But, I have friends that are christian and we're good enough friends that we can needle each other a bit like they do in this video. I've had this conversation a LOT of times myself.
pimpdaddyhank 1 year ago 2
i was disappointed with the magic trick as it was just a video edit instead of a 'real' magic trick
cheetmeister 1 year ago
Reminds me of my family reunions
djmadrox 1 year ago 2
Overall, I like the video. There are definitely some things I would change, though. For one thing, you CAN prove a negative if you allow that demonstrating the incoherence of a definition or description counts as proof of nonexistence (e.g. try it with invisible pink things and you'll see). Also, Bernie seemed too willing to use the word "myth" -- it made it seem like he wasn't serious enough about his own beliefs, especially considering he believes in the existence of Hell.
Spootmeister 1 year ago
Simple, honest, friendly, playful and real - very well done.
handygeek 1 year ago 2
I've heard all of these arguments before, so I guess this video didn't bring much new to the table for me. But I do like how it brings up the whole doublethink about how people like to think kids are both stupid and smart at the same time whenever it's convenient for them, when they're really just naive as the atheist points out. The "God's giving you a choice" argument is also really fun to pick apart. It's really a false choice, because if you don't pick what God wants, you go to hell.
CaptainHollyShort 1 year ago 4
Yup, and it's doubly false, since it also perpetuates the notion that belief is a conscious choice, as if religious belief were like choosing what to cook for dinner. Christians who use this argument fail to understand that you can't start believing in something simply because someone tells you to. You have to be convinced of its existence first. If they couldn't start believing in Vishnu, why on earth would they think that we could spontaneously start believing in Jesus?
AnnainCA 1 year ago 2
Well made and entertaining.
ash93 1 year ago 3
"she's a child!"
"sooo she's stupid"
Best line ever
wdiamond05 1 year ago 4
Atheism: Keepin' it real.
AnimeAdictProduction 1 year ago 27