A man's self is his mind - the faculty that perceives reality, forms judgments, and chooses values. Ayn Rand.
The most selfish of all things is the independent mind that recognizes no authority higher than its own and no value higher than its judgment of truth. Ayn Rand
Your self is your mind; renounce it and you become a chunk of meat ready for any cannibal to swallow.
@framerfive We have no sight of a higher being and don't see him greeting us do you. Till he shows us hes real face to face he can stay in the mystical section.
Shouldn't have hung up on the guy. That was kinda lame. It's also an unfair format to have two hosts rebuttals against only one caller. Just my two cents and i'm an atheist.
@overseastom the point of the show is to give an atheist point of view through entertainment. Usually the second host has some topic and having two creates banter and natural conversation.
Wait. now im not your average bible humper, but aren't aethists selfish for spreading their views without any regard for others feelings and arrogant for answering questions they truely cannot answer? Seems to me as though they will never realize it, sad for someone who regards themselves as an intellect. Sincerely LOLS@YOU
Wait. now im not your average bible humper, but aren't aethists selfish for spreading their views without any regard for others feelings and arrogant for answering questions they truely cannot answer? Seems to me as though they will never realise it, sad for someone who regards themselves as an intellect. Sincerely LOLS@YOU
No. Atheists spread their views as a reaction when theists spread their views. And there is nothing wrong with that. And when do atheists answer questions they cannot answer? You mean like the origins of the universe? That concept is only very loosely, indirectly tied to atheism. And no atheist claim absolute knowledge of how it happened. THEISTS are the ones who claim to know, so they are the ones who are supremely arrogant.
@NitroDSP said "aren't aethists selfish for spreading their views without any regard for others feelings?"
Actually, we do care about others. That's one of the reasons that we point out the fact that teaching one's beliefs to children as if they were facts is abusive. Teaching kids that they'll burn forever if they don't believe unbelievable nonsense is a horrible thing to do.
Interesting video. Personally, I think that religion goes far beyond human selfishness and arrogance. Religious itself is selfish and arrogant because it exploits people for it's own profit. It's exploits, twists, perverts and abuses virtues like the need for morality, order, authority, moral responsiblity, altruism, humility as well as the shortcoming of man and the corruption and injustices of this world as a reason for taking over and controlling
Religion is a clever way to control people. It teaches us to be 'good' It teaches us to obey and give up our natural human instincts to better control us. And if we dont listen, we are threatened with Hell. Threatened to be tortured....I for one am not a person who likes being threatened.
3:28 Matt can be kinda annoying when he decides he has a point to make..its usually a good point but reminds me of Bill O'reilly when he does that, yells out their name until they stop talking.
@SkinnyWmn69 Think part of that is for many episodes two people couldn't talk at the same time. Plus they seem to jump the gun sometimes expecting people to pull out the same tired arguments. Matt does bulldoze occasionally, but like you said, he usually makes a good argument.
This whole thing about God giving us free will is just a bandaid used by religion to attempt to explain God's consistent, ever prevalent non-appearance.
What else are they going to say when you point out all the stuff that goes on that makes no sense if an all loving god is watching over us? 7 students from a Christian School get washed away to their deaths by a flash flood... Where's God? "Uhh those kids have free will do do what they want".
Of course it's never an attack on "religion" as in the title, it's always inevitably a personal attack on the Holy God of scripture. Nobody want's to be exposed for the things they've tried so desperately to hide so naturally, we suppress the truth & replace it with the lie. Man being liars & hypocrites by nature will hate a God who is truthful & just the same way a child will hate the just condemnation of the parent & embrace the convenient lie of his piers.
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LEASE DONT READ THIS. YOU WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. TOMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. HOWEVER IF YOU DONT POST THIS COMMENT TO AT LEAST 3 VIDEOS YOU WILL DIE WITHIN 2 DAYS. NOW UV STARTED READIN DIS DUNT STOP THIS IS SO SCARY. SEND THIS OVER TO 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES WHEN UR DONE PRESS F6 AND UR CRUSHES NAME WILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS. THIS IS SO SCARY BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY WORKS
I used to worship a god because I thought he existed and it was nice of him to promise fix all the issues we've got now. I have read the bible cover to cover, but never thought of considering that this god was actually an asshole. I also never considered I could be wrong, despite people asking me...
Have you seen that the universe always existed and will always exist?
How come you have taken one side over the other. It is wiser for you to say 'I don't know,' and I will subject myself to further scrutiny, than to take a stand and say there's 'No God' because you have taken that stand and you have *no* evidence.
How strange it is that you have not been everywhere to know what lies everywhere, but nonetheless you deny what exists there. Would any wise man deny the reality of what he is ignorant of?
And you deny the existence of the Creator because you cannot see him with your eyes.
So, in fact, you have doubts concerning the existence of God; you think He may exist and He may not exist? ...
Perhaps He may be living there. Perhaps a person of extraordinary intelligence may reside in one of those places.
May be you have admitted the *probability* of a creator, you will, I hope, be convinced to admit the certainty. From *flat denial* you may have come to *doubt*, from that perhaps to *faith.*
Imagining is a sign of impotence when confronted with what you cannot be certain of!
Is it at all possible that the cells of the body should learn their functions, pursue their aim in a precise and orderly fashion, and crystallize so miraculously in the world of being, without there being a conscious and powerful being to instruct them?
Is it not rather the case that phenomena such as these prove and demonstrate, with the utmost emphasis, the need for a plan, a design, a guiding hand inspired by conscious will?
For, everything is under the one and the same law-the law of transformation and decline. God, our creator cannot be perceivable by the five senses for, He is not a thing-which is compound elements etc or created. If He was visible to the eye, and perceivable to the senses, He would have resembled the things that are visible and perceivable to the senses on account of their being compound and created and in that case He would no longer have remained a creator.
@Preator6 Things are compound elements atoms etc, made of parts. Every compound elements etc possesses shape and colour that attracts the senses. Therefore, that which is felt or known by the senses, having shape and colour, cannot be God. Your argument for disbelief is foolish, because God cannot be like any of the things perceived by the senses, nor can He be said to bear any resemblance to anything which has to undergo an ordeal of change and decay. ...
very limited space) is visible. It would have a color, and we would not be able to see anything but the air because it fills the atmosphere. Should this be the case, we would not be able to acquire our food or water, nor would we be able to find roads or shelters. If the visibility of the air which exists only in the atmosphere of our little planet would be so blinding and destructive, what would be the case of the visibility of the Creator who encompasses the universe?
The Creator of the universe must be Absolute and Unlimited. He encompasses the whole universe. He is Omnipresent and never absent from anywhere. With His Omnipresence, His visibility is not going to make us believe in Him or know Him. His visibility would be very destructive to us. Before we know Him with His Omnipresence, we would perish. His visibility would be blinding to every human being. Suppose that the air (which exists only in a ...
@Preator6 If god(any) wanted us to believe, then why not just come down from heaven or wutever and ....
_______
He is present everywhere but His is not a bodily presence. He is far away from everything created but this distance is not on account of space or dimensions. His Omnipresence is unmistakably and intelligibly evident but He cannot be seen, discerned or viewed. He is hidden from human sight not because of His fineness and smallness. ...
@Preator6 What I'm trying to say is that if god talks to people, then why not talk to everyone on the planet instead of the very few who has? And if they've seen the christian god, then what about the people who have said they've seen Zeus, Yaweh, Allah, etc.
@Preator6 Well how come he would only talk to like two people in the world and not to everyone else? Also, what about all of the other religions where people say that they've seen allah, or Zeus?
I'm an atheist. Well technically, an agnostic atheist. Most of the time I agree with him but sometimes I don't. EVERYTHING we do of every moment of every day, is a selfish desire for control. That's just human nature. In fact, it's nature for every species on this planet. Everything that every species does on planet earth and probably on other planets, is a selfish desire for control. There's nothing wrong with that, but that's just the truth.
@tjtheplay Agnostic atheist? Hmmmm ok. You sure you really care that there might be a god and that you'd follow it if there was? Just playing. Anyway, if we don't look out for ourselvs, we're evenmore selfish in expecting someone or something else to do it for us and if we don't look out for ourselvs we can't be trusted to do the same for others. This selfishness is very different from the selfishness of just wanting to have a genie grant you wishes or favor you over another.
@clipsryan An agnostic is someone who believes that you can't prove or disprove god. I strongly believe that there isn't a god but if an invisible man from the sky jumps down and tells me that god exists, or the rapture was happening, then I would convert.
@tjtheplay Convert? You can't be serious. I'd first get a catscan, then if there's no doubt that was a god (do to my "extensive experience in knowing what a god looks like) I'd believe but not convert becuase this god still doesn't deserve my following. If you just me you'd convert to deism, alright then.
lmao accusing islam lol for being arrogant how convient for a christian more so a arrogant one who has a mirror flashing at them and they dont see but they see everything
@catnipfever22 uh yeh since he knew EXACTLY what would happen before it happened and put the tree in the garden knowing EXACTLY what would happen so yeh he purposely fucked us and demands we praise him for giving us a way out of his ignorant or should i say STUPID mistake
I have to agree with Matt. Relgious belief is selfish. A good example is the desire for salvation. that has to be the most egregious example of selfishness religious people demonstrate. The peace and love talk is all bullsh*t. All they give a damn about is their precious salvation.
@cateyefilms Yeah yeah, and to the dudes that use signs saying God Kills Fags and Thank God for Dead Soldiers at funerals, you aren't a true Christian. to you they aren't. So what the hell IS a true Christian. Because it seems to me it means "me" for every Christian you ask. You're all retarded.
you can see these guys have some days where they get pretty annoyed when dealing with the idiot callers all the time.
hard to keep your cool all the times.
I like the show, but I want to point out that episodes where they get so snappy and hangup on people do more harm to the show then good. Better to show your professional side and let the callers talk themselves into a corner, even if they are talking over you. I think the hangup harms the show and it shows a little weakness & arogance
Read the Book of Acts. Jesus was a communist. Some of us are both Christian and Communist. It's where my conscience and Christian background leads me. God bless.
I've always said that the best thing one can do is to be selfish. This seems to hit a nerve but hear me out. Without being selfish, in the broadest sense, no1 could recognize good. Our ability to observe & do good things, starts 1st as a recognition of one's self. Take empathy for example. It's by definition the understanding of another person by referencing your own emotions. In other words, only after consistently acknowledging the needs of the self can a person understand the needs of others.
I disagree. I think only by being shown compassion from others do we understand the value in being compassionate ourselves. I spent five years working in a facility trying, in part, to teach empathy to people who didn't understand it because they had never received any themselves.
Learning that other people have worth and value, learning they are not there solely for our benefit, learning empathy... these are things we all have to learn.
I agree in part, but there is no level of of compassion by example that will make someone value others' emotions if they aren't first able to value their own thoughts & well being. Also, you've introduced a chicken & the egg scenario. If the only way to learn compassion is to be shown it & showing it is in an act of compassion, then where does it begin? It begins as a recognition of the self & our own need. External display protects our self interest because it establishes a societal precedent.
That of course is not to say that simply recognizing the self's needs will result in empathy. It is however, in my opinion, a necessary requirement, but as in your example, not a sufficient precursor to empathy. I'd be interested to know if you've come across a patient that successfully & genuinely "learned" empathy, but was still unable to value their own self. If so, without the internal reference, how do you distinguish their learned behavior from simple mimicry?
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you stupid athiests are stupid. you lie about your religion so you don't have to be moral. Most of you celebrate christmas, a celebration to the birth of christ, insult him, take your gluttonous presents. You know who you are. You don't want to give anything to god, just yourselves, so you pick atheism just so you don't have to respect god.
LOL, you just showed the world how deep can stupidity be by simply saying atheism is a religion (we don't believe god exists like you don't beilieve santa exists, do you "respect" santa), christmas isn't christian (it's pagan)... Stupid, ignorant and arrogant... That's all you just looked like...
We don't pick atehist, do you pick disbelief in unicorn ?
What the fuck are u talking about? U can choose your religion! I can become a jew right now if I wanted to! and religion is your faith, what you commit to, what you believe in. Even if your beliefs are running around spewing trash all over other religions with your holier than thou beliefs.
When will you people understand that being an atheist has nothing to do with religion or lack of. It simply means to not believe or trust in what can not be proven as historical factual events! Religious arguments never hold water. So don't be angry if you don't understand the concept. Maybe you should try a little harder to understand the differences between what is scientifically possible and what mythical claims actually claim as factual events? What does religion actually explain?
I happen to like that he hung up. Reasoning is because the guy was going into the typical talking points used to make points that aren't points to start with. Raising your voice or talking over others doesn't prove anything. All human beings are selfish as he said. But that said religion itself is a selfish unrealistically bias interpretation of history founded on myth not factual events. Thus basing ones life on it is also unrealistic. Being good does not mean being religious!
He hung up on the guy when he started to get rude, and how is the hypocrisy? I'd be willing to say that the caller was upset that he was stopped in mid-rant, and wanted to get back to "showing" them, why continue?
Why don't we look at all the good that ACTUALLY does happen in this world? Oh wait, I forgot if something good happened we'd attributed it to luck or chance something bad happens we attributed it to a lack fo God not doing anything right? Mankind doesn't like to recognize good as we can see with television itself because it doesn't make money.
Science says they deserve to die because natural selection says so. We always blame God because he doesn't do anything? Yet we don't praise him when he actually does something good? That my friend is a flawed belief system.
God lets people in Africa starve ok well I can understand that point. But you just as well as many other people are letting people in Afica and everywhere else starve. Don't blame God when you aren't doing anything yourself. That could be the point of having suffering so us all high mighty humans could help people. And why don't we say that natural selection makes them deserve to die then? That would be a good Atheistic point to bring in.
Then, 2000 years ago - in bronze-age palestine, (not even china where they could READ), he chose to manifest himself. Then sacrifice himself to himself in order to create a small loophole out of the hell, that he condemned us all to. Sounds like a dick to me.
A whole lot doesn't make any sense about christianity.
From the smallest things to the biggest things.
Like. I don't know.
Off the top of my head: why didn't he manifest himself now, when we have video cameras and stuff instead of back when most people went on word of mouth?
Unless he wanted there to be less evidence for him so that all skeptical people go to hell because he only wants a heaven full of mindless slaves.
That is just a random thing, but is as good as example as any.
@tdjdk If you don't believe in God, why are you so mad at Him? And if you do believe He is who he says He is, a more respectful tone would be more logical given His power over you.
@the1dionysius If you don't believe in Thor, why are you so mad at him? Why do you insist on REJECTING him? Why do you insist on calling the Almighty Thor non-existent? Why do you fight every attempt of his followers to establish his ABSOLUTE laws and judgments as the foundation of our society? Why are you so vocal about your lack of belief in Thor if you don't believe he exists? Truly you're only rebelling against him. You will never enter Valhalla in this DENIAL. Praised be his Mighty Hammer!
@the1dionysius Have a more respectful tone towards Darth Vader. Your feeble fairytales are no match for the power of the Dark Side. Convert now or suffer the consequences. His Death Star will incinerate you if you don't believe he exists! Join us!
Yeah, you get the picture. Your puny threats of hell and stupid Pascal's Wager don't convince anyone.
Blasphemy is censorship. Besides, why would anyone fear a loving God? Ah. He condemns free speech and thoughtcrime. What a (fictional) guy!
You two don't know what in the fuck you are talking about! Ok yes, some religious people are selfish. If people give their life to God and go to church and read the bible and other things then is it not for God that they do for? A lot of christians believe they are humble servants of God.
BTW I don't pray to get what I want, I pray for others and to make the right choices in life.
By you trying to shove your BS down other peoples throats does that not make you just like THEM?
all they are saying is that religious people on some level are motivated out of selfishness. Doing something with hopes of bettering oneself is not neccisarily a bad thing and they never said it was. I don't think that is such an absurd claim considering most human actions are done to service some sort of desire. There are certainly other factors as you described, however denying any sort of self interest in religion is a load of bull.
If you think that the creator of everything, the God of this universe, is interested in your particular life then you are a narcist. If you think he cares about your job, the annoying kids you have, your wife who has headache's for 5 years now, the extra bonus or your well being you are narcist. The only divine creator that cares about you is the guy looking back at you in the mirror. That is as divine as it will get. So make something out of it, don't waste your time on hope.
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Not everybody has problems like you do obviously. I believe God does listen to us and that we do matter and have purpose. Oh yes I know this sounds soooo crazy to believe that each person has a soul and that all human life is precious, yes that just sounds so stupid doesn't it? If God did create us don't you think he would care about us and why is it selfish to think he would? Even if I didn't believe in God, you make absolutely no sense and are obviously ignorant when it comes to religion.
God let's millions starve in Africa but he helps you with your daily problems. That is why it is selfish. You have great pleasures in your live and you attribute that to God because you are so amazed by the beauty and wonders of the world but why is he supposedly doing all that for you and let's children die of aids or cancer at the same time? They didn't deserve it and you do? How does that work with your loving God?
Ok please, please do not tell me about how blessed I am to be an American and live in luxury believe me I know. Even though I'm below the poverty level and struggle everyday. I have a goal in life to one day meet the right person to spend the rest of my life with, a selfless person and travel throughout the world and help people who are plagued with disease and famine, particularly I am drawn to the slave labor and sex trade. I will do this soon.
And I don't shove this in anybody's throat. I just state this on youtube. I don't come knocking on doors. I don't indoctrinate children like religion does. I just state what I think. If you or anyone else disagrees they should comment and express their opinion.
About people who starve and suffer in Africa and here as well because there is disease and many people go hungry here as well. There is still sin in the world and punishment for sin and not that these people deserve it but maybe it's for a purpose like to open the hearts of the heartless to bring hope and love. I don't know. God left the world to man's own imagination, for them to do with it what they will. You cannot blame God for man's doings and their responsibilties.
I really like how theists like to say everything that happens is part of god's divine plan in one breath and then say that he leaves man to his own devices in another. So which is it? He plans for americans to have the good life, but leaves much of africa to poverty and disease because man is sinful?
If the problems in areas like africa are part of "gods plan" then it doesn't matter what his reason is, he's still a dick for doing it.
And yes you have the right to your own opinion, perhaps I really was a bit too harsh but I still feel like atheists are sort of a religion in a way because they show their views like religions do in many different ways and can be very hypocritical. I especially see this during Christmastime when I as an American am told by people that I can't say Merry Christmas when I live in the Bible Belt for for God's sake!
I am non-religious because I don't want to tell people how they should believe.
They usually have good content on this show, but why did he have to be so mean and say "I can hang up on your ass like that"? The caller really wasn't being THAT rude/stupid.
If you listen carefully, you can hear he's getting very angry. The only way it could've gone on would be an angry, loud argument, which would've been useless.
I kind of agree. They didn´t really let the caller talk much, interrupted him a lot and hung up on him. I like this show and the hosts and am an atheist myself but I still think this was unfair.
Mithcoriel - I agree - I think Matt is very intelligent and great at explaining arguments against religion, but he interrupts callers way too much. In this case, he really let his his anger get the best of him.
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They don't even know what prayer is for. Athiests love to say that prayer is to ask for something. It can be to a certain degree, but it's mainly to give thanks to God for giving you life and for the help provided by him. If only athiest would study christianity not religion they would understand. But you will never have any of that coming from an athiest.
A lot of atheists are very open minded people... I don't know what you're talking about. All the atheists I'm friends with all have studied religion or have been formerly Christians who grew out of the little box Christianity put them into without choice as a child. I'm an atheist and I know what prayer is because, at one point in my life before I began studying science it just gave me self comfort (which is what it is in reality). Don't make universal statements like that... they contradict
Christiainity is also incredibly narcissistic: the creator of the universe is not only aware, but has a personal interest in your day to day activities. Give me a break. If there is a God, he's a kid with an ant farm.
Well I'm sorry but the prayer is evidently selfish. He's praying for rain, and if he gets it, the guy who really DOESN'T need is screwed.
Same as when Olympic athletes. What, are you praying that everyone else's years of training has been completely futile, even if they happened to have trained harder?
I would agree about the selfishness in the human expeirence, including religion, but would disagree that this selfishness is innately negative. Only when this selfishness consumes you to the negative detriment to yourself and others is it bad. For example: would you say that eating sustenance (that, may I tell you, could have gone to someone else) for your survival is selfish? Yes, it is. Is it negative? No. Is making money for YOUR family selfish? Yes, in a sense. Negative? No.
I'm a Christian myself. My main selfish "religious" desire is that the promise of God to make myself like Christ, conformed to His will and able to be perfectly obedient by His grace and mercy to do as He wills comes to its completion. Is this technically selfish? Yes. Is it negative? Definately not. My selfish desire is that my selfish desire is replaced by immediate obedience and concern for the affairs of God and not of myself, which I cannot achieve now.
"My selfish desire is that my selfish desire is replaced by immediate obedience and concern for the affairs of God and not of myself, which I cannot achieve now."
What compels you to believe in God though? What makes you hear the story of the Bible and say "Oh, okay, I'll buy it. I want to serve God." There's something missing here. What you're saying is that you believe in God for absolutely no reason.
I'm not saying that at all. What makes me believe the bible is not only intangible things like grace (anyone of any faith can claim they are moved by God, after all) but also the bible's prophetic record, it's recorded history of the early church and it's accuracy on the human condition in the face of humanity's white washing.
Yes, faith is very important in Christianity, but fideism (reason and faith are opposed; and faith is important) is never taught or encouraged by the bible.
You're missing the point. Even if we decide that the Bible is prophetic or historical (it is neither), we still must have a reason to worship God. What is your reason?
That is not a reason. There must be some reason that you heard the story about Jesus and not only decided to believe that it was real, but to also base your life around it.
...unless you truly do not have any reason for believing, but I'm assuming you're not that stupid.
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You asked what my reason for worshipping God was, I answered. And, as I said before, it's not only the intangible things, but the bible itself that convicts me.
Simply put, there's the "spiritual" reason I believe, that is because I was drawn to do so. There's also the "reasonable" reason I believe, which I think you're trying to ask me, and that is the circumstances surrounding the disciples enabled me to give them the benefit of the doubt, on top of the bible's insight and prophecy.
"You asked what my reason for worshipping God was, I answered."
No you didn't. You do realize the difference between what you believe and why you believe it, right?
The closest thing you gave is this:
"there's the "spiritual" reason I believe, that is because I was drawn to do so."
So basically, you had a spiritual need which your religion filled. That's a selfish reason. But being a "spiritual" person certainly isn't a reason to select the Jesus story over any other religion.
Okay... why I worship God and why I believe in God are two entirely different matters. "Why I worship God" is essentially asking "why do I esteem God", which would be because of His manifestation in Christ.
I realize that the "spiritual" aspect can't be proven or disproven and can be claimed by anyone, granted, but it needed to be stated regardless.
It's funny how you twist your answer around to make your chosen answer fit. You just do not want to answer the question with anything but Jesus Christ.
Regardless, you have still failed to explain any kind of logical reason for either believing in God (the Bible version, that is) or buying all the ridiculous stories in the Bible. What makes a person think that stories like Noah's Ark or ACTUALLY happened? I would love to know.
I don't think either of them ever characterized such selfishness as negative. They simply stated that human nature and religion are selfish. You are simply assuming that the use of the word is negative.
It is similar to the way that Richard Dawkins used the word in the title of his book "The Selfish Gene". There is absolutely no negative connotation in that title.
Ergh. Usually I'm right with you guys but I thought you were too short with that guy. He was kind of being rude too but you could have handled it better. And he had some good points.
to go to chruch cause unfortunetly at the church i was made fun of because i would always ask questions about what i was learning. But it wasn't till i got older i learned to understand the right and wrong of everything. Cause from what i learned from God, Buddha, (and many other texts and classes i've taken) the real purpose of any religion is to spread peace, and unity. They talk about violence yet most usuaually DO NOT want someone to act on it. People I think seem to forget that fact today.
Unfortunetly such as the KKK, white supremists group, and anti white groups, the list goes on and on. These people use religion as a way to say, "we are what the TRUE god wants etc" Yet, these people are the ones that are against the very thing they are preaching=O. Cause religion is a basis with a god, higher power, spritual awakening, etc. To say it's selfish when certain people use it in a negative way YES it can be if it is protrayed in a negative way. I'm religious but i don't feel the need
literally and then the religion losses it's TRUE meaning. Which is simply just having those around you and being kind to others, and spreading, peace, love, and hope. Now to say religion is selfish then what does he say buddism is? Personally out of all the religions i think Buddism is the most rational religion to me because Buddism isn't formed with a god in mind=O more like just being a kind person and just trying to be a more spiritually awakened person. Those that use it negatively...
What the guy says at 3:42 to me seemed way to harsh=O about religion. Now I think the only reason people see religion as a negative thing is because certain people use religion in the wrong ways=O. Example, when certain chrisitians, Jewish, Evangelicals, etc, use it as a way to tell people this is how you should live, and my trying ot change a government with there religious backrounds. Those that have a religion and know ONLY of that certain type of religion start taking their books TOO..
I would say that "some" have these attributes. But they don't see that from where they are sitting. But I would say that the whole after life and heaven bit is the ultimate motivator for religious folks. Yah it's selfish, but in a really weird kinda way.
i have watched many of these videos and i am an aithest but i do know a bit about pychology and i find this a bit worrying. praying is pointless because it obviously wont do a thing and with the modern world its obviuos that it wont. only direct action by all of us will do anything about it. this frustration at non action by people who are religous and not engaging in solving a problem construtivly does need to be addressed but i feel in a better way than was shown here by the presenters.
at its most basic level praying is the first step at trying to do something about a sitaution that you have no control over or you think you dont. simple education of what is possible by science and constructive advice is more helpful than just brushing them away as stupid. religion playes a very big part of our history and our areas of our brain kicked in to things we dont understand tend to go to supernatural beliefs or god before rational ideas. i do just think its education thats needed.
Way to hang up on ed, he was just pissed off because they cut him off before. If you are so sure you know whats going on, what harm could come from letting the guy make his point?
The public rain prayer was in Georgia. Our dumbass governor, Sonny Perdue, led a rain prayer. The really funny part is that they did see a tiny, 10-second trickle. Oh, and this was when even the weather forecast for that day predicted a heavy rain. If that's the best they can do, I'm sticking with atheism, thanks.
Here's a prime example of where prayer is very selfish and very fucked up. When it comes to someone needing an organ for transplant to save their life. They pray to God for this miracle gift of life which essentially means God must take someone out in the process, perhaps an innocent teenager on the way home from school.
"They pray to God for this miracle gift of life which essentially means God must take someone out in the process, perhaps an innocent teenager on the way home from school."
Err .. if god is all powerful, he could just create an organ because [sarcasm] the organ is too complex to have been created without evolution so god must be the creator. [/sarcasm]
Well if you heard what he said before he was hung up on, he was getting mouthy like he had this righteous indignation that Matt wanted to say something on their own show.
I wouldn't have hung up on him, but maybe Matt wasn't in the most patient mood. I can understand why he hung up on him entirely.
I did indeed, and he was trying to mention that there was anecdotal evidence . . . then he was very rudely cut off by Matt. I listened to the tone of his voice and it was no more mouthy then they where at that time.
My point is that as a long time listener it would have been more interesting to have heard this anecdotal evidence then have Matt rip that apart vs, Matt being rude and shutting down the possibility for interesting dialog.
To me it sounded like the caller was a rageoholic about to blow his top and go on an anger binge. The tone of voice sounded like a temper tantrum baby redneck redlining. Better to talk to him after he calmed down, if he ever does.
How about some good selfishness. I like the term, rational self-interest. If I better myself, i'm in better shape to help others. If I better myself, i'm pushing ahead and others can see to follow. Follow?
Yes, its still selfishness, and its common in a happy society.
You get on the road and see typical selfishness all the time.
The only issue matt had was that all are selfish because if something made you sad, you wouldnt do it. He was just pointing out that religious people are as selfish as any other and shouldnt put themselves above atheists when it comes to doing good or level of altruism.
"He was just pointing out that religious people are as selfish as any other and shouldnt put themselves above atheists when it comes to doing good or level of altruism."
5:55 He basically said that religion is the apex of self-interest. I agree with you. It would be nice if he did say what you typed out but it seems slightly different. I think the caller was being more defensive rather than saying religion is less selfish than atheism. Of course, that's only my interpenetration.
I may be wrong in his exact meaning. Its what I think after I heard it
As far as apex of self interest, its because they believe in a power so high yet that still thinks they are special. Its like ego
Its conscious as opposed to subconscious or necessary self interest. Therefore, the apex
Its true I went where matt didnt, because religious often think they are above us all and care more then atheists do. Its simply not true. Their basic nature is like ours which I think connected to his point
Did he end up calling back?
IoEstasCedonta 1 week ago
Define your terms:
A man's self is his mind - the faculty that perceives reality, forms judgments, and chooses values. Ayn Rand.
The most selfish of all things is the independent mind that recognizes no authority higher than its own and no value higher than its judgment of truth. Ayn Rand
Your self is your mind; renounce it and you become a chunk of meat ready for any cannibal to swallow.
framerfive 5 months ago
@framerfive We have no sight of a higher being and don't see him greeting us do you. Till he shows us hes real face to face he can stay in the mystical section.
Sugardaddy501 2 months ago
Shouldn't have hung up on the guy. That was kinda lame. It's also an unfair format to have two hosts rebuttals against only one caller. Just my two cents and i'm an atheist.
overseastom 6 months ago
@overseastom the point of the show is to give an atheist point of view through entertainment. Usually the second host has some topic and having two creates banter and natural conversation.
parkerthehicks 1 month ago
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Wait. now im not your average bible humper, but aren't aethists selfish for spreading their views without any regard for others feelings and arrogant for answering questions they truely cannot answer? Seems to me as though they will never realize it, sad for someone who regards themselves as an intellect. Sincerely LOLS@YOU
NitroDSP 7 months ago
Wait. now im not your average bible humper, but aren't aethists selfish for spreading their views without any regard for others feelings and arrogant for answering questions they truely cannot answer? Seems to me as though they will never realise it, sad for someone who regards themselves as an intellect. Sincerely LOLS@YOU
NitroDSP 7 months ago
@NitroDSP
No. Atheists spread their views as a reaction when theists spread their views. And there is nothing wrong with that. And when do atheists answer questions they cannot answer? You mean like the origins of the universe? That concept is only very loosely, indirectly tied to atheism. And no atheist claim absolute knowledge of how it happened. THEISTS are the ones who claim to know, so they are the ones who are supremely arrogant.
steviej321 6 months ago
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@NitroDSP said "aren't aethists selfish for spreading their views without any regard for others feelings?"
Actually, we do care about others. That's one of the reasons that we point out the fact that teaching one's beliefs to children as if they were facts is abusive. Teaching kids that they'll burn forever if they don't believe unbelievable nonsense is a horrible thing to do.
ndrthrdr1 3 months ago
That was quite gratifying when they hung up on him.
urcritic 8 months ago
Interesting video. Personally, I think that religion goes far beyond human selfishness and arrogance. Religious itself is selfish and arrogant because it exploits people for it's own profit. It's exploits, twists, perverts and abuses virtues like the need for morality, order, authority, moral responsiblity, altruism, humility as well as the shortcoming of man and the corruption and injustices of this world as a reason for taking over and controlling
Chuloloc 8 months ago
@Chuloloc people's lives. In other words, religious is essentially a virus, especially when it reaches the state of fanaticism. Good video.
Chuloloc 8 months ago
How can it selfish when it's about giving? How can it be arrogant when it is about being a servant to our fellow man....and woman obviously !
no1hoopsman 8 months ago
Religion is a clever way to control people. It teaches us to be 'good' It teaches us to obey and give up our natural human instincts to better control us. And if we dont listen, we are threatened with Hell. Threatened to be tortured....I for one am not a person who likes being threatened.
commenterofsorts 9 months ago
3:28 Matt can be kinda annoying when he decides he has a point to make..its usually a good point but reminds me of Bill O'reilly when he does that, yells out their name until they stop talking.
SkinnyWmn69 10 months ago
@SkinnyWmn69 Think part of that is for many episodes two people couldn't talk at the same time. Plus they seem to jump the gun sometimes expecting people to pull out the same tired arguments. Matt does bulldoze occasionally, but like you said, he usually makes a good argument.
mistereveready 10 months ago
Arrogance is something that many people have and they don't even notice it
robloxplox 1 year ago
This whole thing about God giving us free will is just a bandaid used by religion to attempt to explain God's consistent, ever prevalent non-appearance.
What else are they going to say when you point out all the stuff that goes on that makes no sense if an all loving god is watching over us? 7 students from a Christian School get washed away to their deaths by a flash flood... Where's God? "Uhh those kids have free will do do what they want".
Atheists understand why but Christians don't...
warren52nz 1 year ago
Of course it's never an attack on "religion" as in the title, it's always inevitably a personal attack on the Holy God of scripture. Nobody want's to be exposed for the things they've tried so desperately to hide so naturally, we suppress the truth & replace it with the lie. Man being liars & hypocrites by nature will hate a God who is truthful & just the same way a child will hate the just condemnation of the parent & embrace the convenient lie of his piers.
sKewbrain 1 year ago
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chesmalemry 1 year ago
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chesmalemry 1 year ago
@Preator6
I used to worship a god because I thought he existed and it was nice of him to promise fix all the issues we've got now. I have read the bible cover to cover, but never thought of considering that this god was actually an asshole. I also never considered I could be wrong, despite people asking me...
laflugantabastardo 1 year ago
@Preator6
He is. He's not actually talking to you. It's the site al-islam org he's copypasting from.
laflugantabastardo 1 year ago
So how do you know what is there?
Have you seen that the universe always existed and will always exist?
How come you have taken one side over the other. It is wiser for you to say 'I don't know,' and I will subject myself to further scrutiny, than to take a stand and say there's 'No God' because you have taken that stand and you have *no* evidence.
1tabligh 1 year ago
@Preator6
Now tell me, have you ever been everywhere?
How strange it is that you have not been everywhere to know what lies everywhere, but nonetheless you deny what exists there. Would any wise man deny the reality of what he is ignorant of?
And you deny the existence of the Creator because you cannot see him with your eyes.
So, in fact, you have doubts concerning the existence of God; you think He may exist and He may not exist? ...
1tabligh 1 year ago
Perhaps He may be living there. Perhaps a person of extraordinary intelligence may reside in one of those places.
May be you have admitted the *probability* of a creator, you will, I hope, be convinced to admit the certainty. From *flat denial* you may have come to *doubt*, from that perhaps to *faith.*
Imagining is a sign of impotence when confronted with what you cannot be certain of!
1tabligh 1 year ago
Have you ever ascended or visited this sky, which you behold with your eyes, or been in the depths of the earth?
Have you traversed the world, dived in every sea, and moved through the Universe?
To *presumptuously* deny the existence of an Omniscient, Omnipotent Creator, you must have been to all these places.
Well, How can you say that He is not in those places where neither you *nor* your *senses* have ever been? ...
1tabligh 1 year ago
@Preator6
Dodging questions and quibbling in vain!
Is it at all possible that the cells of the body should learn their functions, pursue their aim in a precise and orderly fashion, and crystallize so miraculously in the world of being, without there being a conscious and powerful being to instruct them?
Is it not rather the case that phenomena such as these prove and demonstrate, with the utmost emphasis, the need for a plan, a design, a guiding hand inspired by conscious will?
1tabligh 1 year ago
@Preator6 Is your denial of God, then is, because, you have not felt Him with the senses given to us for knowing objects?
1tabligh 1 year ago
For, everything is under the one and the same law-the law of transformation and decline. God, our creator cannot be perceivable by the five senses for, He is not a thing-which is compound elements etc or created. If He was visible to the eye, and perceivable to the senses, He would have resembled the things that are visible and perceivable to the senses on account of their being compound and created and in that case He would no longer have remained a creator.
1tabligh 1 year ago
@Preator6 Things are compound elements atoms etc, made of parts. Every compound elements etc possesses shape and colour that attracts the senses. Therefore, that which is felt or known by the senses, having shape and colour, cannot be God. Your argument for disbelief is foolish, because God cannot be like any of the things perceived by the senses, nor can He be said to bear any resemblance to anything which has to undergo an ordeal of change and decay. ...
1tabligh 1 year ago
very limited space) is visible. It would have a color, and we would not be able to see anything but the air because it fills the atmosphere. Should this be the case, we would not be able to acquire our food or water, nor would we be able to find roads or shelters. If the visibility of the air which exists only in the atmosphere of our little planet would be so blinding and destructive, what would be the case of the visibility of the Creator who encompasses the universe?
1tabligh 1 year ago
The Creator of the universe must be Absolute and Unlimited. He encompasses the whole universe. He is Omnipresent and never absent from anywhere. With His Omnipresence, His visibility is not going to make us believe in Him or know Him. His visibility would be very destructive to us. Before we know Him with His Omnipresence, we would perish. His visibility would be blinding to every human being. Suppose that the air (which exists only in a ...
1tabligh 1 year ago
@Preator6 If god(any) wanted us to believe, then why not just come down from heaven or wutever and ....
_______
He is present everywhere but His is not a bodily presence. He is far away from everything created but this distance is not on account of space or dimensions. His Omnipresence is unmistakably and intelligibly evident but He cannot be seen, discerned or viewed. He is hidden from human sight not because of His fineness and smallness. ...
1tabligh 1 year ago
People are good IN SPITE of religion, not BECAUSE of it.
JazzyJonas 1 year ago
@Preator6 What I'm trying to say is that if god talks to people, then why not talk to everyone on the planet instead of the very few who has? And if they've seen the christian god, then what about the people who have said they've seen Zeus, Yaweh, Allah, etc.
tjtheplay 1 year ago
@Preator6 Well how come he would only talk to like two people in the world and not to everyone else? Also, what about all of the other religions where people say that they've seen allah, or Zeus?
tjtheplay 1 year ago
@Preator6 I'm going by what the bible says.
tjtheplay 1 year ago
I'm an atheist. Well technically, an agnostic atheist. Most of the time I agree with him but sometimes I don't. EVERYTHING we do of every moment of every day, is a selfish desire for control. That's just human nature. In fact, it's nature for every species on this planet. Everything that every species does on planet earth and probably on other planets, is a selfish desire for control. There's nothing wrong with that, but that's just the truth.
tjtheplay 1 year ago
@tjtheplay Agnostic atheist? Hmmmm ok. You sure you really care that there might be a god and that you'd follow it if there was? Just playing. Anyway, if we don't look out for ourselvs, we're evenmore selfish in expecting someone or something else to do it for us and if we don't look out for ourselvs we can't be trusted to do the same for others. This selfishness is very different from the selfishness of just wanting to have a genie grant you wishes or favor you over another.
clipsryan 1 year ago
@clipsryan An agnostic is someone who believes that you can't prove or disprove god. I strongly believe that there isn't a god but if an invisible man from the sky jumps down and tells me that god exists, or the rapture was happening, then I would convert.
tjtheplay 1 year ago
@tjtheplay Convert? You can't be serious. I'd first get a catscan, then if there's no doubt that was a god (do to my "extensive experience in knowing what a god looks like) I'd believe but not convert becuase this god still doesn't deserve my following. If you just me you'd convert to deism, alright then.
clipsryan 1 year ago
@clipsryan Yeah but still, I don't wanna go to hell for the rest of eternity. So I would convert out of fear lol.
tjtheplay 1 year ago
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The biggest problem with Darwinism is that it makes ruthlessness and reason kissing cousins, when in truth they are mutually exclusive.
GhostofCliffGullett 1 year ago
lmao accusing islam lol for being arrogant how convient for a christian more so a arrogant one who has a mirror flashing at them and they dont see but they see everything
catnipfever22 1 year ago
god created a mistake and made us to beg for forgiveness for it
catnipfever22 1 year ago
god created a mistake a makes us beg for forgiveness for it???? lmao
catnipfever22 1 year ago
@catnipfever22 uh yeh since he knew EXACTLY what would happen before it happened and put the tree in the garden knowing EXACTLY what would happen so yeh he purposely fucked us and demands we praise him for giving us a way out of his ignorant or should i say STUPID mistake
patrickledford420 1 year ago
I have to agree with Matt. Relgious belief is selfish. A good example is the desire for salvation. that has to be the most egregious example of selfishness religious people demonstrate. The peace and love talk is all bullsh*t. All they give a damn about is their precious salvation.
nosajj12345 1 year ago
The caller sounds like George W Bush. I was hoping he would say " internets"
nosajj12345 1 year ago
True Christianity, is meant to be selfless. The shame is that their are not too many true chritains out in the world, mostly hypocrites
cateyefilms 1 year ago
@cateyefilms Yeah yeah, and to the dudes that use signs saying God Kills Fags and Thank God for Dead Soldiers at funerals, you aren't a true Christian. to you they aren't. So what the hell IS a true Christian. Because it seems to me it means "me" for every Christian you ask. You're all retarded.
Pinworm4 1 year ago
you can see these guys have some days where they get pretty annoyed when dealing with the idiot callers all the time.
hard to keep your cool all the times.
I like the show, but I want to point out that episodes where they get so snappy and hangup on people do more harm to the show then good. Better to show your professional side and let the callers talk themselves into a corner, even if they are talking over you. I think the hangup harms the show and it shows a little weakness & arogance
ooosteve 1 year ago
coming from someone who can't even spell right, LOL look who's the retard...AHAHHAHAHA u make me laugh...
BleachFans4ever 1 year ago
"I can hang up on your ass just like that."
who's the arrogant one again?
insaneboar 1 year ago 2
LOL i second that...hahahaha
BleachFans4ever 1 year ago
they should really make this a metal station hahah
69Thrasha69 1 year ago
Read the Book of Acts. Jesus was a communist. Some of us are both Christian and Communist. It's where my conscience and Christian background leads me. God bless.
MrRedFredSaid 1 year ago
I've always said that the best thing one can do is to be selfish. This seems to hit a nerve but hear me out. Without being selfish, in the broadest sense, no1 could recognize good. Our ability to observe & do good things, starts 1st as a recognition of one's self. Take empathy for example. It's by definition the understanding of another person by referencing your own emotions. In other words, only after consistently acknowledging the needs of the self can a person understand the needs of others.
eyeammi 1 year ago
I disagree. I think only by being shown compassion from others do we understand the value in being compassionate ourselves. I spent five years working in a facility trying, in part, to teach empathy to people who didn't understand it because they had never received any themselves.
Learning that other people have worth and value, learning they are not there solely for our benefit, learning empathy... these are things we all have to learn.
aeroldoth 1 year ago
I agree in part, but there is no level of of compassion by example that will make someone value others' emotions if they aren't first able to value their own thoughts & well being. Also, you've introduced a chicken & the egg scenario. If the only way to learn compassion is to be shown it & showing it is in an act of compassion, then where does it begin? It begins as a recognition of the self & our own need. External display protects our self interest because it establishes a societal precedent.
eyeammi 1 year ago
That of course is not to say that simply recognizing the self's needs will result in empathy. It is however, in my opinion, a necessary requirement, but as in your example, not a sufficient precursor to empathy. I'd be interested to know if you've come across a patient that successfully & genuinely "learned" empathy, but was still unable to value their own self. If so, without the internal reference, how do you distinguish their learned behavior from simple mimicry?
Thanks for the comment.
eyeammi 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
you stupid athiests are stupid. you lie about your religion so you don't have to be moral. Most of you celebrate christmas, a celebration to the birth of christ, insult him, take your gluttonous presents. You know who you are. You don't want to give anything to god, just yourselves, so you pick atheism just so you don't have to respect god.
arthurcscds2 2 years ago
Nothing about god makes since. We do have morals if someone wrongs me i do not kill him because it is wrong. I feel guilt, love, anger, sadness, etc.
We bleed, we eat, we sleep.
Most atheist don't feel like debates. But I wont put up with someone saying i have no morals
JeremyLeroy96 2 years ago
and about Christmas. It is not a celebration about jesus christ anymore. You paint eggs on easter that does not make since.
JeremyLeroy96 2 years ago
How hard is it to understand that some people don't buy into your God myth. The hardheadedness there may be why you are so deep in belief.
2003SCT 2 years ago
Is this a joke?
hpholland 2 years ago
@arthurcscds2 christmas isnt the birth of christ. look it up.
dragonicmonkey7 2 years ago
LOL, you just showed the world how deep can stupidity be by simply saying atheism is a religion (we don't believe god exists like you don't beilieve santa exists, do you "respect" santa), christmas isn't christian (it's pagan)... Stupid, ignorant and arrogant... That's all you just looked like...
We don't pick atehist, do you pick disbelief in unicorn ?
Can't believe how dumb you are...
Acrimonator 1 year ago
What the fuck are u talking about? U can choose your religion! I can become a jew right now if I wanted to! and religion is your faith, what you commit to, what you believe in. Even if your beliefs are running around spewing trash all over other religions with your holier than thou beliefs.
arthurcscds2 1 year ago
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@arthurcscds2
"Even if your beliefs are running around spewing trash all over other religions with your holier than thou beliefs."
i think that is insane.
Shaunthesushi 1 year ago
When will you people understand that being an atheist has nothing to do with religion or lack of. It simply means to not believe or trust in what can not be proven as historical factual events! Religious arguments never hold water. So don't be angry if you don't understand the concept. Maybe you should try a little harder to understand the differences between what is scientifically possible and what mythical claims actually claim as factual events? What does religion actually explain?
CAJUNNSC 2 years ago 28
@CAJUNNSC lol, religion explains how worthless and how much we deserve to be tortured and that god the evil prick deserves praise for not doing shit
patrickledford420 1 year ago
I happen to like that he hung up. Reasoning is because the guy was going into the typical talking points used to make points that aren't points to start with. Raising your voice or talking over others doesn't prove anything. All human beings are selfish as he said. But that said religion itself is a selfish unrealistically bias interpretation of history founded on myth not factual events. Thus basing ones life on it is also unrealistic. Being good does not mean being religious!
CAJUNNSC 2 years ago
i agree with the bald fucker on almost everything he says, but hanging up on that guy was weak...
he ran away from that argument and overabused his power.
fucking hypocritical
surroundedbyfuckwads 2 years ago
He hung up on the guy when he started to get rude, and how is the hypocrisy? I'd be willing to say that the caller was upset that he was stopped in mid-rant, and wanted to get back to "showing" them, why continue?
OPE08 2 years ago 3
Yeah, Matt said one small thing and Ed suddenly flipped.
ByTor190 2 years ago
Why don't we look at all the good that ACTUALLY does happen in this world? Oh wait, I forgot if something good happened we'd attributed it to luck or chance something bad happens we attributed it to a lack fo God not doing anything right? Mankind doesn't like to recognize good as we can see with television itself because it doesn't make money.
Kitacub 2 years ago
Science says they deserve to die because natural selection says so. We always blame God because he doesn't do anything? Yet we don't praise him when he actually does something good? That my friend is a flawed belief system.
Kitacub 2 years ago
Exactily, I knew this before, but this was quoted in futurama
arthurcscds2 2 years ago
God lets people in Africa starve ok well I can understand that point. But you just as well as many other people are letting people in Afica and everywhere else starve. Don't blame God when you aren't doing anything yourself. That could be the point of having suffering so us all high mighty humans could help people. And why don't we say that natural selection makes them deserve to die then? That would be a good Atheistic point to bring in.
Kitacub 2 years ago
In other words :
God created the playingfield as he saw fit.
God created the players as he saw fit.
God created hell as he saw fit.
God condemned us all to eternal torture.
Then, 2000 years ago - in bronze-age palestine, (not even china where they could READ), he chose to manifest himself. Then sacrifice himself to himself in order to create a small loophole out of the hell, that he condemned us all to. Sounds like a dick to me.
And now, suddenly, we can't blame him?
I beg to differ
tdjdk 2 years ago 70
A whole lot doesn't make any sense about christianity.
From the smallest things to the biggest things.
Like. I don't know.
Off the top of my head: why didn't he manifest himself now, when we have video cameras and stuff instead of back when most people went on word of mouth?
Unless he wanted there to be less evidence for him so that all skeptical people go to hell because he only wants a heaven full of mindless slaves.
That is just a random thing, but is as good as example as any.
AEgamesFtw 2 years ago 5
@tdjdk That was absolutely beautiful. Very well said.
clipsryan 1 year ago
@tdjdk If you don't believe in God, why are you so mad at Him? And if you do believe He is who he says He is, a more respectful tone would be more logical given His power over you.
the1dionysius 11 months ago
@the1dionysius If you don't believe in Thor, why are you so mad at him? Why do you insist on REJECTING him? Why do you insist on calling the Almighty Thor non-existent? Why do you fight every attempt of his followers to establish his ABSOLUTE laws and judgments as the foundation of our society? Why are you so vocal about your lack of belief in Thor if you don't believe he exists? Truly you're only rebelling against him. You will never enter Valhalla in this DENIAL. Praised be his Mighty Hammer!
viridismonasteriense 9 months ago
@the1dionysius Have a more respectful tone towards Darth Vader. Your feeble fairytales are no match for the power of the Dark Side. Convert now or suffer the consequences. His Death Star will incinerate you if you don't believe he exists! Join us!
Yeah, you get the picture. Your puny threats of hell and stupid Pascal's Wager don't convince anyone.
Blasphemy is censorship. Besides, why would anyone fear a loving God? Ah. He condemns free speech and thoughtcrime. What a (fictional) guy!
viridismonasteriense 9 months ago
You two don't know what in the fuck you are talking about! Ok yes, some religious people are selfish. If people give their life to God and go to church and read the bible and other things then is it not for God that they do for? A lot of christians believe they are humble servants of God.
BTW I don't pray to get what I want, I pray for others and to make the right choices in life.
By you trying to shove your BS down other peoples throats does that not make you just like THEM?
violent10dency 2 years ago
all they are saying is that religious people on some level are motivated out of selfishness. Doing something with hopes of bettering oneself is not neccisarily a bad thing and they never said it was. I don't think that is such an absurd claim considering most human actions are done to service some sort of desire. There are certainly other factors as you described, however denying any sort of self interest in religion is a load of bull.
1casey1brady1 2 years ago
If you think that the creator of everything, the God of this universe, is interested in your particular life then you are a narcist. If you think he cares about your job, the annoying kids you have, your wife who has headache's for 5 years now, the extra bonus or your well being you are narcist. The only divine creator that cares about you is the guy looking back at you in the mirror. That is as divine as it will get. So make something out of it, don't waste your time on hope.
philateliceun 2 years ago
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Not everybody has problems like you do obviously. I believe God does listen to us and that we do matter and have purpose. Oh yes I know this sounds soooo crazy to believe that each person has a soul and that all human life is precious, yes that just sounds so stupid doesn't it? If God did create us don't you think he would care about us and why is it selfish to think he would? Even if I didn't believe in God, you make absolutely no sense and are obviously ignorant when it comes to religion.
violent10dency 2 years ago
God let's millions starve in Africa but he helps you with your daily problems. That is why it is selfish. You have great pleasures in your live and you attribute that to God because you are so amazed by the beauty and wonders of the world but why is he supposedly doing all that for you and let's children die of aids or cancer at the same time? They didn't deserve it and you do? How does that work with your loving God?
philateliceun 2 years ago 7
Ok please, please do not tell me about how blessed I am to be an American and live in luxury believe me I know. Even though I'm below the poverty level and struggle everyday. I have a goal in life to one day meet the right person to spend the rest of my life with, a selfless person and travel throughout the world and help people who are plagued with disease and famine, particularly I am drawn to the slave labor and sex trade. I will do this soon.
I'm going to continue this in another reply...
violent10dency 2 years ago
And I don't shove this in anybody's throat. I just state this on youtube. I don't come knocking on doors. I don't indoctrinate children like religion does. I just state what I think. If you or anyone else disagrees they should comment and express their opinion.
philateliceun 2 years ago 2
About people who starve and suffer in Africa and here as well because there is disease and many people go hungry here as well. There is still sin in the world and punishment for sin and not that these people deserve it but maybe it's for a purpose like to open the hearts of the heartless to bring hope and love. I don't know. God left the world to man's own imagination, for them to do with it what they will. You cannot blame God for man's doings and their responsibilties.
violent10dency 2 years ago
I really like how theists like to say everything that happens is part of god's divine plan in one breath and then say that he leaves man to his own devices in another. So which is it? He plans for americans to have the good life, but leaves much of africa to poverty and disease because man is sinful?
If the problems in areas like africa are part of "gods plan" then it doesn't matter what his reason is, he's still a dick for doing it.
Arkalius80 2 years ago 3
And yes you have the right to your own opinion, perhaps I really was a bit too harsh but I still feel like atheists are sort of a religion in a way because they show their views like religions do in many different ways and can be very hypocritical. I especially see this during Christmastime when I as an American am told by people that I can't say Merry Christmas when I live in the Bible Belt for for God's sake!
I am non-religious because I don't want to tell people how they should believe.
violent10dency 2 years ago
do you believe in magic and unicorns 2?
necrotic43 2 years ago 3
They usually have good content on this show, but why did he have to be so mean and say "I can hang up on your ass like that"? The caller really wasn't being THAT rude/stupid.
Mithcoriel 2 years ago
If you listen carefully, you can hear he's getting very angry. The only way it could've gone on would be an angry, loud argument, which would've been useless.
Oiaku 2 years ago
I kind of agree. They didn´t really let the caller talk much, interrupted him a lot and hung up on him. I like this show and the hosts and am an atheist myself but I still think this was unfair.
rokkvi1 2 years ago
The guy is talking BS from the start. Matt asked what is honest religion and he just started spouting bs all over the place.
philateliceun 2 years ago
Mithcoriel - I agree - I think Matt is very intelligent and great at explaining arguments against religion, but he interrupts callers way too much. In this case, he really let his his anger get the best of him.
itonlyhappens 2 years ago
the bible is the word of god.
because the bible says that it is the word of god
any quack on drugs couldve of wrote the damn thing
SkatingHigh69 2 years ago 5
I'm fairly sure some of them were.
maslab 2 years ago 2
i can hang up on your ass like that lol
DjHopies07 2 years ago 2
This is a jenius way to make people sad and get away with it.
saltfan2 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
They don't even know what prayer is for. Athiests love to say that prayer is to ask for something. It can be to a certain degree, but it's mainly to give thanks to God for giving you life and for the help provided by him. If only athiest would study christianity not religion they would understand. But you will never have any of that coming from an athiest.
easymak1234 2 years ago
A lot of atheists are very open minded people... I don't know what you're talking about. All the atheists I'm friends with all have studied religion or have been formerly Christians who grew out of the little box Christianity put them into without choice as a child. I'm an atheist and I know what prayer is because, at one point in my life before I began studying science it just gave me self comfort (which is what it is in reality). Don't make universal statements like that... they contradict
Entertainmentwf 2 years ago 7
I wish I could find that song at the beginning of this video.
JJGMTS 2 years ago
i wouldve hung up on the guy too, i didnt like the tone in his voice towards the end. f*ck em!
Key2daUnderground 2 years ago
Christiainity is also incredibly narcissistic: the creator of the universe is not only aware, but has a personal interest in your day to day activities. Give me a break. If there is a God, he's a kid with an ant farm.
dougmanjones 2 years ago 7
Well I'm sorry but the prayer is evidently selfish. He's praying for rain, and if he gets it, the guy who really DOESN'T need is screwed.
Same as when Olympic athletes. What, are you praying that everyone else's years of training has been completely futile, even if they happened to have trained harder?
Selfish : check.
Arrogant : check.
PurushaDesa 2 years ago 5
Religion is selfish and hypocritical
bnbalenda 2 years ago 2
I think Matt is a little quick on the hang up button. I was actually interested in what the guy had to say.
Muskett333 3 years ago 2
yeah but you must understand i probably gets people like that every week
Zuurkool1 2 years ago 4
yeah, this Matt guy is smart (and right, in my opinion) but he's also a total prick.
dougmanjones 2 years ago
Well, I doubt he's a prick. Look at it his way: He has calls like these quite often.
Burori1 2 years ago 5
our genes are selfish too lol
XxAlitoxX 3 years ago
I would agree about the selfishness in the human expeirence, including religion, but would disagree that this selfishness is innately negative. Only when this selfishness consumes you to the negative detriment to yourself and others is it bad. For example: would you say that eating sustenance (that, may I tell you, could have gone to someone else) for your survival is selfish? Yes, it is. Is it negative? No. Is making money for YOUR family selfish? Yes, in a sense. Negative? No.
NothingForBreakfast 3 years ago
I'm a Christian myself. My main selfish "religious" desire is that the promise of God to make myself like Christ, conformed to His will and able to be perfectly obedient by His grace and mercy to do as He wills comes to its completion. Is this technically selfish? Yes. Is it negative? Definately not. My selfish desire is that my selfish desire is replaced by immediate obedience and concern for the affairs of God and not of myself, which I cannot achieve now.
NothingForBreakfast 3 years ago
"My selfish desire is that my selfish desire is replaced by immediate obedience and concern for the affairs of God and not of myself, which I cannot achieve now."
What compels you to believe in God though? What makes you hear the story of the Bible and say "Oh, okay, I'll buy it. I want to serve God." There's something missing here. What you're saying is that you believe in God for absolutely no reason.
787Bisurdaddy 3 years ago
I'm not saying that at all. What makes me believe the bible is not only intangible things like grace (anyone of any faith can claim they are moved by God, after all) but also the bible's prophetic record, it's recorded history of the early church and it's accuracy on the human condition in the face of humanity's white washing.
Yes, faith is very important in Christianity, but fideism (reason and faith are opposed; and faith is important) is never taught or encouraged by the bible.
NothingForBreakfast 3 years ago
You're missing the point. Even if we decide that the Bible is prophetic or historical (it is neither), we still must have a reason to worship God. What is your reason?
787Bisurdaddy 3 years ago
Jesus Christ, to put it simply.
NothingForBreakfast 3 years ago
That is not a reason. There must be some reason that you heard the story about Jesus and not only decided to believe that it was real, but to also base your life around it.
...unless you truly do not have any reason for believing, but I'm assuming you're not that stupid.
787Bisurdaddy 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
You asked what my reason for worshipping God was, I answered. And, as I said before, it's not only the intangible things, but the bible itself that convicts me.
Simply put, there's the "spiritual" reason I believe, that is because I was drawn to do so. There's also the "reasonable" reason I believe, which I think you're trying to ask me, and that is the circumstances surrounding the disciples enabled me to give them the benefit of the doubt, on top of the bible's insight and prophecy.
NothingForBreakfast 3 years ago
"You asked what my reason for worshipping God was, I answered."
No you didn't. You do realize the difference between what you believe and why you believe it, right?
The closest thing you gave is this:
"there's the "spiritual" reason I believe, that is because I was drawn to do so."
So basically, you had a spiritual need which your religion filled. That's a selfish reason. But being a "spiritual" person certainly isn't a reason to select the Jesus story over any other religion.
787Bisurdaddy 3 years ago 2
Okay... why I worship God and why I believe in God are two entirely different matters. "Why I worship God" is essentially asking "why do I esteem God", which would be because of His manifestation in Christ.
I realize that the "spiritual" aspect can't be proven or disproven and can be claimed by anyone, granted, but it needed to be stated regardless.
NothingForBreakfast 3 years ago
It's funny how you twist your answer around to make your chosen answer fit. You just do not want to answer the question with anything but Jesus Christ.
Regardless, you have still failed to explain any kind of logical reason for either believing in God (the Bible version, that is) or buying all the ridiculous stories in the Bible. What makes a person think that stories like Noah's Ark or ACTUALLY happened? I would love to know.
787Bisurdaddy 3 years ago 3
I don't think either of them ever characterized such selfishness as negative. They simply stated that human nature and religion are selfish. You are simply assuming that the use of the word is negative.
It is similar to the way that Richard Dawkins used the word in the title of his book "The Selfish Gene". There is absolutely no negative connotation in that title.
787Bisurdaddy 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
these couple of atheist idiots will only get one star from me.
and one ticket to hell.
Frankgone2010 3 years ago
That's not very Christ-ly of you.
orientrat 3 years ago 4
what does "Religion Is Selfish And Arrogant" mean?
Frankgone2010 3 years ago
'what does "Religion Is Selfish And Arrogant" mean?'
I think it means something along the lines of...
'these couple of atheist idiots will only get one star from me.
and one ticket to hell.'
787Bisurdaddy 3 years ago
they mock us but don't mock them!
Frankgone2010 3 years ago
I do not know of which you speak
orientrat 3 years ago
You are the GOD then if your giving tickets to hell. Not the one in the bible
revemupman 3 years ago
Ergh. Usually I'm right with you guys but I thought you were too short with that guy. He was kind of being rude too but you could have handled it better. And he had some good points.
AbbeyNormal 3 years ago
yea matt does in a later episode bring this point up.. and does apologise, and talks bout other similar things.
marcarmstrong88 3 years ago 4
to go to chruch cause unfortunetly at the church i was made fun of because i would always ask questions about what i was learning. But it wasn't till i got older i learned to understand the right and wrong of everything. Cause from what i learned from God, Buddha, (and many other texts and classes i've taken) the real purpose of any religion is to spread peace, and unity. They talk about violence yet most usuaually DO NOT want someone to act on it. People I think seem to forget that fact today.
PharaohessSetsume 3 years ago
Unfortunetly such as the KKK, white supremists group, and anti white groups, the list goes on and on. These people use religion as a way to say, "we are what the TRUE god wants etc" Yet, these people are the ones that are against the very thing they are preaching=O. Cause religion is a basis with a god, higher power, spritual awakening, etc. To say it's selfish when certain people use it in a negative way YES it can be if it is protrayed in a negative way. I'm religious but i don't feel the need
PharaohessSetsume 3 years ago
literally and then the religion losses it's TRUE meaning. Which is simply just having those around you and being kind to others, and spreading, peace, love, and hope. Now to say religion is selfish then what does he say buddism is? Personally out of all the religions i think Buddism is the most rational religion to me because Buddism isn't formed with a god in mind=O more like just being a kind person and just trying to be a more spiritually awakened person. Those that use it negatively...
PharaohessSetsume 3 years ago
What the guy says at 3:42 to me seemed way to harsh=O about religion. Now I think the only reason people see religion as a negative thing is because certain people use religion in the wrong ways=O. Example, when certain chrisitians, Jewish, Evangelicals, etc, use it as a way to tell people this is how you should live, and my trying ot change a government with there religious backrounds. Those that have a religion and know ONLY of that certain type of religion start taking their books TOO..
PharaohessSetsume 3 years ago
I would say that "some" have these attributes. But they don't see that from where they are sitting. But I would say that the whole after life and heaven bit is the ultimate motivator for religious folks. Yah it's selfish, but in a really weird kinda way.
InFromTheVoid 3 years ago
i have watched many of these videos and i am an aithest but i do know a bit about pychology and i find this a bit worrying. praying is pointless because it obviously wont do a thing and with the modern world its obviuos that it wont. only direct action by all of us will do anything about it. this frustration at non action by people who are religous and not engaging in solving a problem construtivly does need to be addressed but i feel in a better way than was shown here by the presenters.
moggyEm 3 years ago
at its most basic level praying is the first step at trying to do something about a sitaution that you have no control over or you think you dont. simple education of what is possible by science and constructive advice is more helpful than just brushing them away as stupid. religion playes a very big part of our history and our areas of our brain kicked in to things we dont understand tend to go to supernatural beliefs or god before rational ideas. i do just think its education thats needed.
moggyEm 3 years ago
Matt was being pretty Orielyish in this segment, which isn't a good thing at all.
Interrupting people is counterproductive to discussion, unless it's warranted, but I don't think it was in this case.
Koshy2 3 years ago
Hanging up on the guy was uncalled for. Matt can be a dick a lot of the time.
petfoodonly 3 years ago
Way to hang up on ed, he was just pissed off because they cut him off before. If you are so sure you know whats going on, what harm could come from letting the guy make his point?
wheelchairassassin 3 years ago
The public rain prayer was in Georgia. Our dumbass governor, Sonny Perdue, led a rain prayer. The really funny part is that they did see a tiny, 10-second trickle. Oh, and this was when even the weather forecast for that day predicted a heavy rain. If that's the best they can do, I'm sticking with atheism, thanks.
necrolord00000 3 years ago 4
Here's a prime example of where prayer is very selfish and very fucked up. When it comes to someone needing an organ for transplant to save their life. They pray to God for this miracle gift of life which essentially means God must take someone out in the process, perhaps an innocent teenager on the way home from school.
xrayman7040 3 years ago 2
"They pray to God for this miracle gift of life which essentially means God must take someone out in the process, perhaps an innocent teenager on the way home from school."
Err .. if god is all powerful, he could just create an organ because [sarcasm] the organ is too complex to have been created without evolution so god must be the creator. [/sarcasm]
Japanseb 3 years ago
Don't mention irreducible complexity, It's like a magnet for Creationists! :(
EikC 3 years ago
It's not possible to not be selfish, and still be living. So, to say religion is selfish does not make a point.
poorkinghaggard 3 years ago
Ok, fine. Self preservation makes everyone selfish. However, that's totally irrelevant.
sputnikowns 3 years ago
No, I am actually talking about the ability to make conscious choices. It's impossible to not be selfish as long as you are able to do so.
Self-preservation is different, because that actually lends itself to a community or species, which is still selfish as long as there is a choice.
poorkinghaggard 3 years ago
That is absolutely irrelevant. All life is selfish. We're talking about religion itself.
sputnikowns 3 years ago
caller owned heh heh heh 5/5
sicros 3 years ago
You guys should lighten up a bit with the callers that actually have flexible beliefs.
This guy sounded like he wanted to have a good convo, and you jumped him when it could have been interesting.
Xulld00 3 years ago
Exactly. Good comment.
drchaffee 3 years ago
Well if you heard what he said before he was hung up on, he was getting mouthy like he had this righteous indignation that Matt wanted to say something on their own show.
I wouldn't have hung up on him, but maybe Matt wasn't in the most patient mood. I can understand why he hung up on him entirely.
Promatheos 3 years ago 4
I did indeed, and he was trying to mention that there was anecdotal evidence . . . then he was very rudely cut off by Matt. I listened to the tone of his voice and it was no more mouthy then they where at that time.
My point is that as a long time listener it would have been more interesting to have heard this anecdotal evidence then have Matt rip that apart vs, Matt being rude and shutting down the possibility for interesting dialog.
Xulld00 3 years ago
To me it sounded like the caller was a rageoholic about to blow his top and go on an anger binge. The tone of voice sounded like a temper tantrum baby redneck redlining. Better to talk to him after he calmed down, if he ever does.
Redbeardian 3 years ago
How about some good selfishness. I like the term, rational self-interest. If I better myself, i'm in better shape to help others. If I better myself, i'm pushing ahead and others can see to follow. Follow?
johnnyk2112 3 years ago
Yes, its still selfishness, and its common in a happy society.
You get on the road and see typical selfishness all the time.
The only issue matt had was that all are selfish because if something made you sad, you wouldnt do it. He was just pointing out that religious people are as selfish as any other and shouldnt put themselves above atheists when it comes to doing good or level of altruism.
waltermh111 3 years ago
"He was just pointing out that religious people are as selfish as any other and shouldnt put themselves above atheists when it comes to doing good or level of altruism."
5:55 He basically said that religion is the apex of self-interest. I agree with you. It would be nice if he did say what you typed out but it seems slightly different. I think the caller was being more defensive rather than saying religion is less selfish than atheism. Of course, that's only my interpenetration.
Japanseb 3 years ago
I may be wrong in his exact meaning. Its what I think after I heard it
As far as apex of self interest, its because they believe in a power so high yet that still thinks they are special. Its like ego
Its conscious as opposed to subconscious or necessary self interest. Therefore, the apex
Its true I went where matt didnt, because religious often think they are above us all and care more then atheists do. Its simply not true. Their basic nature is like ours which I think connected to his point
waltermh111 3 years ago 4
I agree. I wasn'nt disagreeing, just adding a thought.
johnnyk2112 3 years ago
Matt is my favourite tv-show personality ever, but that was rude. The guy had no intention of harm or insults, n