think about it. a person gives money to attend once a week. To listen to some dude read from the bible. If i was a good speaker and reader and had the gift of speaking i would do the same thing. I just work for 2 hrs during the week and get cash. only in america
not all churches are corrupt. yes some have done terriblre things claiming it is in the name of Jesus Christ but just cause some are corrupt does not mean all of us are. my church does not do these things the 10% if correctly used should support causes such as missionaries and helping the poor some of the money is necessary to keep the church funtional but not all churches use the money for the purposes portrayed in this video.
As a Christian I agree PARTIALLY, that there are Churches that have really lost their way and are all about the money, all about fancy cars and houses and churches. HOWEVER, those are the few. The rest of us are out here gathering in aged, normal buildings living normal lives and tithing our money towards things like FEEDING THE HUNGRY and CLOTHING THE NAKED. In my church, our annual financial report is published publicly and we all vote on issues/direction of the church.
@ITTutorCanada EXACTLY. my church building is actually falling apart has been for years but we dont shovel our money into making nice buildings and buying cars. most of our money goes to community outreach. we did consider getting a new building at one time but decided that outreach and helping the community was more important.
My goodness there are quite a few theists with their feelings hurt in the comments. Also, a few of the points in the video seem to have flown over those same fuming heads. The video isn't asserting church in general is bad all the time. The message is more one of questioning the continued rise of bloated mega-churches that aren't accountable for how their money is spent. And it offers the notion that it might make more sense to give to organizations where it's clearer how the donations are used.
@twvankleeck Sorry but you're wrong, this is plainly an anti-church video. You can gather this all by reading the posters top comment, where he mocks Christianity at its core.
@ITTutorCanada We'll have to agree to disagree. Again, if this video is plainly against anything, it's mega-churches, not church in general. The author's sidebar criticism of the faux blood sacrifice to atone for something that didn't happen (Adam & Eve, (or just any 2 humans) populating the Earth has been scientifically controverted) is just incidental to the topic at hand. You are free to lazily conflate, but it is an individual's failure if he cannot separate two or more distinct arguments.
@ITTutorCanada How anyone will react to my comments is out of my control. Unlike others on this thread, I'm not intending to be provocative. Along with tackling your assertion that the uploader is being purposely insidious, I have now reiterated my point regarding what I understand the video's sincere purpose to be. And, regrettably, instead of actually addressing anything I wrote, you opted for a straw man accusation.
@twvankleeck You didn't just explain the intentions behind the video, you stated your opposition to both the biblical account of Genesis and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and referred to both situations as "faux", with emphasis on the Sacrifice of Christ. That's not explaining the video, that's adding your own opinion in a passive-aggressive way. Like I said, you failed.
@ITTutorCanada You don't seem to understand that there are two different arguments going on. 1) The metaphysical claims of Crucifixion and 2) the purpose of this video. Two different arguments; you began conflating them in the service of criticizing the uploader. Then, I tried to point out the merits of the video's arguments are distinct from the merits of the uploader's assertions against Christ's crucifixion. We can debate the bedrock narrative of Christianity but, please, one thing at a time.
I am a follower of the lord Jesus Christ and i agree with most of this. I believe in helping those who need the help not just a cause. The tithe is not scriptural but is taken out of context threw the deception of doctrines of demons that have been inside the church. The bible doesn't teach greed and the manipulation that you have seen. Church is not suppose to be a business or an organization, it is a community of believers, that believe in Jesus Christ and in his command. love..
As for the thought of Jesus sacrificing himself to show us the way to a better life, a chance at life, and a path where love can reign, it is not grotesque...think about this: you have a son or daughter and they're in the street trying to catch their ball that rolled away and you see this drunkard coming up fast in a car, so your reaction is to jump up and save your kid before they become roadkill...
Now I attend a smaller church ministry, its more of a group of ministries put together...now dont get me wrong, I dont expect to see churches poor and suffering either, but I prefer the teaching over all the fancy stuff like inner TVs, the light shows, the giant speakers, those things arent bad but come on, isnt it more important to know how to love a person personally too??
this is my truth: i was raised in a mega-church, but it did not become one until I was in college. I got out. I dont HATE the churches, I have seen beautiful things happen in all sizes of churches, I've met wonderful people, but I dont agree with the fact that the pastors of such institutionalized buildings run home to mansions while majority of us come home to the average dollar paycheck every two weeks. Shouldn't we see more givings on the return as well?
cont. told them too and people would get better care if they joined the religion. have you seen a buddist raised child be taught about christianity? it terrified most of them and people think that america was based on that religions values? how come it takes a forgeiner to see thats not true. to know that there demi-gods the founding fathers never mentioned the christian god most of them where either deist or atheist. and they say they are patriots?
i would say even if chruches did do things for other people such as mission trips it would still be bad. well from my experience anyways. when i was young i went from a small town in south america to guatamala. we gave them some help but they would get more for converting to christ. this appauled me. but i tired it again after i moved to the US after one of the big oil spills that ruined my town and did it there. it was the same goddamn thing. people where only helping out because there dogma
"they are God's doghouses," my dear brother dick used to say. "they rule by law and guilt, and those who don't behave are sent there to be trained and broken." how much truth in that, huh? the church needs Christ more today than ever. "alms for the new church building!" God help us.
Christ is not a man, but an idea...how we should act with our brother's and sisters...be humble, help them, teach them, educate them, do not turn them away....
@TheRestlessRhyme - Why are you so afraid of the Church? Why are you so afraid of a man who laid down his life and took your place at the cross and died so you could live? Face it, God loves you. You will never be able to change that fact.
@HonorBoundRider Who said anything about being afraid? God is an ever-evolving idea that changes with humanity. Your claim that an omniscient super-intelligence sent his mortal son to be tortured and sacrificed for my sake is both disturbing and grotesque.
@TheRestlessRhyme Ah, so you are an atheist, I thought I sniffed that foul smell in your video. You can think think of your Savior as being disturbing and grotesque all you want, He still died for your sins 2000 years ago. All you have to do is Believe. But if this Recovering Atheist can do it, so can you. The disease of Atheism has a strong power over the arrogant mind because it appeals to our logic and ego: but it is a false doctrine because God does in fact exist.
@TheRestlessRhyme What gives you the authority to judge Holy Scripture? Have you studied deep in the Bible? Or do you think just because you have a youtube account you have earned the place of a philosopher? I agree some "people" are corrupt, but don't judge Jesus or The Bible on the mistakes of some Church leaders. You are making extremely risky claims, and I would think real hard about what your doing.
@TheRestlessRhyme God is not an ever-evolving idea. Perhaps it is in some religions, but in the major religions it is not. For instance, nothing new has been added to the bible in roughly 2000 years. That fact right there pretty much puts down your argument. Also next time you want to make a point, I think you can do it like a grown up and forego a trailing mocking comment. Really such childish things are a tell of your insecurities.
@TheRestlessRhyme What makes Jesus dying for your sake disturbing and grotesque? Saying something doesn't make it so. I would like an explaination to your statement.
@Porche911Turbo71 Probably because torture and death are grotesque things. That, and it could all be just as made-up as the Tooth Fairy. Consider the thousands of other religions that have existed throughout human history - "God is an ever-evolving idea that changes with humanity." Also consider that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John lived hundreds of years after Jesus' death and, according to early versions of the scripture, may have only written about him allegorically, not as a real person.
@CrunchBogus I would agree, torture and death are things that are not good. Though I would argue that Man's VIEW or CONCEPT of "God is an ever-evolving idea that changes with humanity," because to someone who knows or believes there is a God (in the classic monotheistic sense) would be contradicting their own beliefs if they thought their God "changed" simply due to human views. The rest of what you said needs to be cited though, they are huge claims that, to my knowledge, have no backing.
@Porche911Turbo71 On further inspection, I did mis-quote how long these authors lived after Jesus, but they did write about him decades-to-a-century after his death all the same, according to most accounts. I can't post any links in a YouTube comment, but I recommend checking out the documentary "The God Who Wasn't There" by Brian Flemming. He was raised a fiercely fundamentalist Christian who realized the hypocrisy of his own church and sought to argue much of what... (cont.)
@Porche911Turbo71 ...he'd been raised to believe. Now being 5 or 6 years after the doc came out, I've started to find some counter-arguments for some of his claims. It could be argued that, though Matthew and friends didn't write about Jesus til 40-80 years after his death, basing their writing on oral tradition, Jesus may have well existed and they just happened to get the most accurate version. Point is, if you don't believe, it's all very obscure and fishy.
@Porche911Turbo71 But really the point here, in relation to this video, is that mega churches are a shill that cash in on religion to exploit the faithful to satisfy their own mortal vanity. Whether you are a believer or not, that can't sit well with a decent human being, and I am sorry to lead the topic off-track to an irrelevant side-argument.
@Porche911Turbo71 Let me make it clear that I'm not insinuating you are either right or wrong. I'm just giving you things to consider, and an answer to your question from an onlookers' perspective in case TheRestlessRhyme doesn't get back to you.
@HonorBoundRider Because arguing that mega-churches exploit the faithful to line their own pockets, instead of spending their tax-exempt income on things that actually further the tenets of their religion, is equal to dissing said religion entirely. God sure blessed you with one logical mind!
the church is supposed to build up the community...feed the homeless and take care of the children. how many are doing that? i only know of a very few and they are not taking in millions.
There's a reason America's money has "In God we trust" printed on it. To these people... the Republicans, the Conservatives, the megachurch preachers... God and money are one in the same.
Tithing is a ripoff. Buth do you notice how they advise giving to humanistic, left wing causes first? Education thats already funded by tax dollars,music, art and ru kidding me, yoga? What a crock! I really like how you threw in the homeless and elderly for window dressing. Pure atheist B.S.!
How Sad. This video mischaracterizes so much about religion and non-profits in general. Lets start with MOST homeless shelters have started because of CHURCHES. So, by the way, have most hospitals in our past. But now that healthcare has become big business - not so much anymore. Oh, and that money to 'faithbased' groups while others budgetst were slashed? Well its because studies show the local faith groups use it better than big gov. It goes farther & lasts longer. Thats why the initiatives!
Isn't this just propaganda against the churches in texas... where there is a vote that is going to be brought before the people to decide whether or not to make churches pay tax? Sure make them ALL (501.c.3 organizations) pay taxes. Make it so that when we give to the Red Cross for diaster, that money will have to be taxed... make it so that when we give to Susan Komen foundation for breast cancer research, that money will be taxed... make it so that when we give to any non profotit, Gov. gets %
..."my religion to do good' If we only would/could do this all over the world! Anyone who calls this wrong is sad and mistaken. Yet, there's nothing you can do about those who believe that only with the reason of a "god" one can exist. Ah, if only they could see! What does the bible say: God forgive them 'cause they don't know what they are doing!
If this is some kind of clever effort by some atheist to demonstrate that good works can be separated from a permanent moral order it is a failure. There is no point in doing good works if there is no permanent source and exemplar of all good.
@MrEthekyaa Good works can indeed be separated from a permanent moral order, as there is no proof for a consistent moral order having ever existed. Good works, on the other hand, can be seen and verified and do not exist solely for our own postulation.
And aside from being "clever", this video won the 2011 Project Reason video contest, earning us a handsome cash prize.
How convenient that the video fails to mention that churches are doing the majority of the good works in the alternative areas that the video suggests with the exception of maybe yoga?. Churches have always stepped in and are continuing to step in where the government bureaucracies have failed. Who do you think provided free medical care for the poor before there was any semblance of government welfare?
I don't know what they're referring to in grant money. Have to know more to comment on it. The federal government has given tax breaks for charitable organizations because they uplift and transform people's lives at a far more effective and efficient rate than the government can. As for churches, they are the glue of a healthy society - healthier marriages, reduction in substance abuse, greater work ethic, people becoming more honest and law abiding, etc. This is historically proven.
As an ordained minister (whose personal theology would best be described as "conservative") I gladly confess that I liked this, I liked it a lot. In fact, I'd very much like to share it with my congregation. But only with your permission of course.
"Written by Tony Wann & Justin Wilson"
Two familiar names, that hearken back to former days of mine. I am glad to see their creativity and vitality continues.
@MatthiasProspero Good to see you're still kicking, Matthew Nine-Nine! Share with your congregation at will, sir. And have them share it with anyone who believes in or doubts the existence of a omniscient super-intelligence that listens to our thoughts from the skies.
So biased against Christianity! News flash - no one is stealing from these people, and they're not deceived. They ARE giving to a cause they believe in - GOD AND HIS WORK!! If you want to give to yoga or animal rights, no one is criticizing you. You shouldn't criticize people who love God and His work, just because you don't.
@warnockchuck Did you miss the part about the federal government giving 40 Billion dollars to churches in grant money? Considering our deficit, I don't think it is appropriate for the fed to be giving grants to any religion.
I have a better proposition.You can't say all churches misuse the money of their people, because though many do, some do not. Just attend and give to a church that is meeting the needs and sharing the Gospel with the community. Because if you distrust a church enough not to give to them, why would you waste your time even attending there?
@TheRestlessRhyme oh ok. I assumed your audience was people who were considering attending church. You're right. You didn't say all churches misused money, you just suggested it. To be totally honest, I like the issue you bring up. I really hate that churches that claim Christ steal people's money.
This video is obviously well made, but can someone tell me why yoga seems a better choice to actually donate money to? I'm open minded, and I do yoga, but I really don't get how that can be a "cause"...
@coloraturajoy yoga can be regenerative for people with injuries, or at the very least a community based activity that brings people together. we opened that section with "art" and "music" to show you how broad the ideas could be. it could be yoga, it could be volunteering at a clinic, or it could be teaching skateboarding to some kids. we aren't prescribing orders, we're asking you to think about what you would give your money to.
anything to a church. Although I respect your opinion (which seems to be stop wasting money on churches and give it to something *You deem* important) the message is misplaced. You can tell people how to believe in their faith, but it's a wasted effort. At least in my opinion.
Side note: Though not always the case, most churches use tithe money to fund charities or charities of their own...as well as the upkeep for the church/organizations. Books aren't fee to publish ya know...
I enjoyed the music but....the problem with your logic behind tithing is wrong. God calls all of his followers to tithe in the Bible. Not as a passage to heaven, but as a way of giving thanks for blessings He has bestowed upon his children. Jesus actually rebukes the church officials in his day who made a big deal about tithing. He said it was better to give in private and that 10%, even if only 1 cent, was all God wants from you. I can't think of many non-Christians who would give
"I can't think of many non-Christians who would give "
You are wrong, I am an atheist and I spent 2500 euros on charity every year for the last 5 or 6 years and continued to do so even when I lost my job. I had to stop Plan International after 20 yr Many none-believers I know spend money for charity like Plan International, Amnesty international, poor people in Ukraine,... Many none believers I know spend time and money to be a red cross volunteer and lose money doing it in gas...
My thought was continued in another post right above the first. It says, "I can't see why any non-Christians would give any thing to a church." That's the point. I think that will clear up this confusion.
Why is "amnesty" (2:30) a black man sweeping a gutter? and why aren't the windmills turning in the next frames? Weird. I'm all for secularity, haven't been a churchgoer since I was "confirmed", but clear communication is everything, and you gotta be focussed! Overall I like the tone and the message. Sharpen your edge a bit more...
FINALLY! Other people who have noticed this nonsense! That's pretty much the reason why I stopped going to church not because I hate religion but because I hate how Christians sell out their religion like it's a fashion statement. I'll be sure to post this on my facebook and hopefully this video will open peoples eyes.
I already give to those other causes - at the tune of 35-45% of my money (in the form of taxes). Besides, I'd rather give toward a cause with eternal ramifications, rather than a temporal -feel good effort.
I have set back a tithe for a year now. I am going to give part to Church (I like going there and would like our church not to have the lights turned off), but I don't trust them with all of my hard earned money. So I'm going to look for other charities also. Preferably those that do what Jesus did.
Fantastic video. I sure hope in our lifetimes we see a fundamental shift away from religion and all the bullshit they embody. Not looking good right now, but I have faith! ;)
First of all, truly excellent video. Wonderful transitions between the data sets. It didn't mask or disguise what the data actually are.
Second, why aren't churches taxed? If they are such a business as you've shown them to be, don't they deserve to be taxed, too? If we don't tax them, does it show a superiority of church to the state?
I loved this and agree with it so much. I would much rather donate to a school, a police station or a hospital before I would ever give it to a church.
if they have businesses then they can handle themselves. Its also not fair that they are immune to taxes (especially in a recession)
think about it. a person gives money to attend once a week. To listen to some dude read from the bible. If i was a good speaker and reader and had the gift of speaking i would do the same thing. I just work for 2 hrs during the week and get cash. only in america
MrSantikos 1 week ago
Mmmm.
mjb519 3 months ago
not all churches are corrupt. yes some have done terriblre things claiming it is in the name of Jesus Christ but just cause some are corrupt does not mean all of us are. my church does not do these things the 10% if correctly used should support causes such as missionaries and helping the poor some of the money is necessary to keep the church funtional but not all churches use the money for the purposes portrayed in this video.
lunethbilford 3 months ago
As a Christian I agree PARTIALLY, that there are Churches that have really lost their way and are all about the money, all about fancy cars and houses and churches. HOWEVER, those are the few. The rest of us are out here gathering in aged, normal buildings living normal lives and tithing our money towards things like FEEDING THE HUNGRY and CLOTHING THE NAKED. In my church, our annual financial report is published publicly and we all vote on issues/direction of the church.
ITTutorCanada 4 months ago
@ITTutorCanada EXACTLY. my church building is actually falling apart has been for years but we dont shovel our money into making nice buildings and buying cars. most of our money goes to community outreach. we did consider getting a new building at one time but decided that outreach and helping the community was more important.
lunethbilford 3 months ago
Comment removed
BlacktopMagazine 4 months ago
Churches don't sell hope, they sell FEAR!
BlacktopMagazine 4 months ago
If secularists want to fund yoga classes and wind farms, I humbly suggest that they pony up the money themselves.
FormosusII 4 months ago
why yoga..?
embbaker 5 months ago 2
My goodness there are quite a few theists with their feelings hurt in the comments. Also, a few of the points in the video seem to have flown over those same fuming heads. The video isn't asserting church in general is bad all the time. The message is more one of questioning the continued rise of bloated mega-churches that aren't accountable for how their money is spent. And it offers the notion that it might make more sense to give to organizations where it's clearer how the donations are used.
twvankleeck 6 months ago 3
@twvankleeck Sorry but you're wrong, this is plainly an anti-church video. You can gather this all by reading the posters top comment, where he mocks Christianity at its core.
ITTutorCanada 4 months ago
@ITTutorCanada We'll have to agree to disagree. Again, if this video is plainly against anything, it's mega-churches, not church in general. The author's sidebar criticism of the faux blood sacrifice to atone for something that didn't happen (Adam & Eve, (or just any 2 humans) populating the Earth has been scientifically controverted) is just incidental to the topic at hand. You are free to lazily conflate, but it is an individual's failure if he cannot separate two or more distinct arguments.
twvankleeck 3 months ago
@twvankleeck Trying to get a rise out of people? Fail.
ITTutorCanada 3 months ago
@ITTutorCanada How anyone will react to my comments is out of my control. Unlike others on this thread, I'm not intending to be provocative. Along with tackling your assertion that the uploader is being purposely insidious, I have now reiterated my point regarding what I understand the video's sincere purpose to be. And, regrettably, instead of actually addressing anything I wrote, you opted for a straw man accusation.
twvankleeck 3 months ago
@twvankleeck You didn't just explain the intentions behind the video, you stated your opposition to both the biblical account of Genesis and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and referred to both situations as "faux", with emphasis on the Sacrifice of Christ. That's not explaining the video, that's adding your own opinion in a passive-aggressive way. Like I said, you failed.
ITTutorCanada 3 months ago
@ITTutorCanada You don't seem to understand that there are two different arguments going on. 1) The metaphysical claims of Crucifixion and 2) the purpose of this video. Two different arguments; you began conflating them in the service of criticizing the uploader. Then, I tried to point out the merits of the video's arguments are distinct from the merits of the uploader's assertions against Christ's crucifixion. We can debate the bedrock narrative of Christianity but, please, one thing at a time.
twvankleeck 3 months ago
Children in the world starve while Mega Churches spend millions on fancy buildings. It's not the way of Jesus, and it's sinful. GodorMen.com
Godormen 7 months ago
i think if a church operates like a business, it should be taxed like one...
koala8 7 months ago 9
Tax our nation's churches. Pay our nation's teachers.
withoutadout 7 months ago 2
I am a follower of the lord Jesus Christ and i agree with most of this. I believe in helping those who need the help not just a cause. The tithe is not scriptural but is taken out of context threw the deception of doctrines of demons that have been inside the church. The bible doesn't teach greed and the manipulation that you have seen. Church is not suppose to be a business or an organization, it is a community of believers, that believe in Jesus Christ and in his command. love..
TaGospel 8 months ago
This is a very effective piece of Communist Propaganda. Karl Marx and Vladdy Lenin would be very proud of you. Raise the Hammer and Sickle!
drdst17 8 months ago
I guess its grotesque that your love is so strong you got up and gave yourself up for your baby...suuuuure...think.
LotusBlossom86 8 months ago
As for the thought of Jesus sacrificing himself to show us the way to a better life, a chance at life, and a path where love can reign, it is not grotesque...think about this: you have a son or daughter and they're in the street trying to catch their ball that rolled away and you see this drunkard coming up fast in a car, so your reaction is to jump up and save your kid before they become roadkill...
LotusBlossom86 8 months ago
Now I attend a smaller church ministry, its more of a group of ministries put together...now dont get me wrong, I dont expect to see churches poor and suffering either, but I prefer the teaching over all the fancy stuff like inner TVs, the light shows, the giant speakers, those things arent bad but come on, isnt it more important to know how to love a person personally too??
LotusBlossom86 8 months ago
this is my truth: i was raised in a mega-church, but it did not become one until I was in college. I got out. I dont HATE the churches, I have seen beautiful things happen in all sizes of churches, I've met wonderful people, but I dont agree with the fact that the pastors of such institutionalized buildings run home to mansions while majority of us come home to the average dollar paycheck every two weeks. Shouldn't we see more givings on the return as well?
LotusBlossom86 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
And that's why im not christian :)
BRATEKPOLSKI 8 months ago
cont. told them too and people would get better care if they joined the religion. have you seen a buddist raised child be taught about christianity? it terrified most of them and people think that america was based on that religions values? how come it takes a forgeiner to see thats not true. to know that there demi-gods the founding fathers never mentioned the christian god most of them where either deist or atheist. and they say they are patriots?
TheAmazeingAnarchist 8 months ago
i would say even if chruches did do things for other people such as mission trips it would still be bad. well from my experience anyways. when i was young i went from a small town in south america to guatamala. we gave them some help but they would get more for converting to christ. this appauled me. but i tired it again after i moved to the US after one of the big oil spills that ruined my town and did it there. it was the same goddamn thing. people where only helping out because there dogma
TheAmazeingAnarchist 8 months ago
"they are God's doghouses," my dear brother dick used to say. "they rule by law and guilt, and those who don't behave are sent there to be trained and broken." how much truth in that, huh? the church needs Christ more today than ever. "alms for the new church building!" God help us.
slukky 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This is ridiculous
SuperRaceify 9 months ago
This is ridiculous.
SuperRaceify 9 months ago
@SuperRaceify i know, right? mega-churches have got to go.
TheRestlessRhyme 9 months ago 5
Christ is not a man, but an idea...how we should act with our brother's and sisters...be humble, help them, teach them, educate them, do not turn them away....
ShotCallz 11 months ago
yeah, i completely agree with that dudes, oh btw I'm Christian, and yeah, churches did the faults and manipulated sincere Christians.
oblivionoflight 11 months ago
Well done, Justin.
cutes22 11 months ago
@cutes22 thanks, although Tony deserves some gratitude as well. His motion graphics make the piece.
TheRestlessRhyme 11 months ago
This should be a public service announcement. Churches need to fill out tax returns and show that they are truly non-profit.
cutes22 11 months ago
@TheRestlessRhyme - Why are you so afraid of the Church? Why are you so afraid of a man who laid down his life and took your place at the cross and died so you could live? Face it, God loves you. You will never be able to change that fact.
HonorBoundRider 11 months ago
@HonorBoundRider Who said anything about being afraid? God is an ever-evolving idea that changes with humanity. Your claim that an omniscient super-intelligence sent his mortal son to be tortured and sacrificed for my sake is both disturbing and grotesque.
TheRestlessRhyme 11 months ago 22
@TheRestlessRhyme
amen! (lol)
renetrice 11 months ago
@TheRestlessRhyme Ah, so you are an atheist, I thought I sniffed that foul smell in your video. You can think think of your Savior as being disturbing and grotesque all you want, He still died for your sins 2000 years ago. All you have to do is Believe. But if this Recovering Atheist can do it, so can you. The disease of Atheism has a strong power over the arrogant mind because it appeals to our logic and ego: but it is a false doctrine because God does in fact exist.
I will pray for you.
drdst17 8 months ago
@TheRestlessRhyme No matter how times you shrug him off or try to explain him away, he still died for YOU. He still loves you.
HonorBoundRider 7 months ago
@TheRestlessRhyme What gives you the authority to judge Holy Scripture? Have you studied deep in the Bible? Or do you think just because you have a youtube account you have earned the place of a philosopher? I agree some "people" are corrupt, but don't judge Jesus or The Bible on the mistakes of some Church leaders. You are making extremely risky claims, and I would think real hard about what your doing.
MrRyansickenger 6 months ago
@TheRestlessRhyme God is not an ever-evolving idea. Perhaps it is in some religions, but in the major religions it is not. For instance, nothing new has been added to the bible in roughly 2000 years. That fact right there pretty much puts down your argument. Also next time you want to make a point, I think you can do it like a grown up and forego a trailing mocking comment. Really such childish things are a tell of your insecurities.
ITTutorCanada 4 months ago
@TheRestlessRhyme What makes Jesus dying for your sake disturbing and grotesque? Saying something doesn't make it so. I would like an explaination to your statement.
Porche911Turbo71 1 month ago
@Porche911Turbo71 Probably because torture and death are grotesque things. That, and it could all be just as made-up as the Tooth Fairy. Consider the thousands of other religions that have existed throughout human history - "God is an ever-evolving idea that changes with humanity." Also consider that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John lived hundreds of years after Jesus' death and, according to early versions of the scripture, may have only written about him allegorically, not as a real person.
CrunchBogus 4 weeks ago
@CrunchBogus I would agree, torture and death are things that are not good. Though I would argue that Man's VIEW or CONCEPT of "God is an ever-evolving idea that changes with humanity," because to someone who knows or believes there is a God (in the classic monotheistic sense) would be contradicting their own beliefs if they thought their God "changed" simply due to human views. The rest of what you said needs to be cited though, they are huge claims that, to my knowledge, have no backing.
Porche911Turbo71 3 weeks ago
@Porche911Turbo71 On further inspection, I did mis-quote how long these authors lived after Jesus, but they did write about him decades-to-a-century after his death all the same, according to most accounts. I can't post any links in a YouTube comment, but I recommend checking out the documentary "The God Who Wasn't There" by Brian Flemming. He was raised a fiercely fundamentalist Christian who realized the hypocrisy of his own church and sought to argue much of what... (cont.)
CrunchBogus 2 weeks ago
@Porche911Turbo71 ...he'd been raised to believe. Now being 5 or 6 years after the doc came out, I've started to find some counter-arguments for some of his claims. It could be argued that, though Matthew and friends didn't write about Jesus til 40-80 years after his death, basing their writing on oral tradition, Jesus may have well existed and they just happened to get the most accurate version. Point is, if you don't believe, it's all very obscure and fishy.
CrunchBogus 2 weeks ago
@Porche911Turbo71 But really the point here, in relation to this video, is that mega churches are a shill that cash in on religion to exploit the faithful to satisfy their own mortal vanity. Whether you are a believer or not, that can't sit well with a decent human being, and I am sorry to lead the topic off-track to an irrelevant side-argument.
CrunchBogus 2 weeks ago
@Porche911Turbo71 Let me make it clear that I'm not insinuating you are either right or wrong. I'm just giving you things to consider, and an answer to your question from an onlookers' perspective in case TheRestlessRhyme doesn't get back to you.
CrunchBogus 4 weeks ago
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znechor 7 months ago
@HonorBoundRider Because arguing that mega-churches exploit the faithful to line their own pockets, instead of spending their tax-exempt income on things that actually further the tenets of their religion, is equal to dissing said religion entirely. God sure blessed you with one logical mind!
CrunchBogus 4 weeks ago
I thought religion was dying..... bummer :C
freshmeat98607 11 months ago
the church is supposed to build up the community...feed the homeless and take care of the children. how many are doing that? i only know of a very few and they are not taking in millions.
29psalm 11 months ago
There's a reason America's money has "In God we trust" printed on it. To these people... the Republicans, the Conservatives, the megachurch preachers... God and money are one in the same.
Asurei 11 months ago
Tithing is a ripoff. Buth do you notice how they advise giving to humanistic, left wing causes first? Education thats already funded by tax dollars,music, art and ru kidding me, yoga? What a crock! I really like how you threw in the homeless and elderly for window dressing. Pure atheist B.S.!
DetoxMansion 1 year ago
How Sad. This video mischaracterizes so much about religion and non-profits in general. Lets start with MOST homeless shelters have started because of CHURCHES. So, by the way, have most hospitals in our past. But now that healthcare has become big business - not so much anymore. Oh, and that money to 'faithbased' groups while others budgetst were slashed? Well its because studies show the local faith groups use it better than big gov. It goes farther & lasts longer. Thats why the initiatives!
pilotrite 1 year ago
Isn't this just propaganda against the churches in texas... where there is a vote that is going to be brought before the people to decide whether or not to make churches pay tax? Sure make them ALL (501.c.3 organizations) pay taxes. Make it so that when we give to the Red Cross for diaster, that money will have to be taxed... make it so that when we give to Susan Komen foundation for breast cancer research, that money will be taxed... make it so that when we give to any non profotit, Gov. gets %
robert1xyz 1 year ago
..."my religion to do good' If we only would/could do this all over the world! Anyone who calls this wrong is sad and mistaken. Yet, there's nothing you can do about those who believe that only with the reason of a "god" one can exist. Ah, if only they could see! What does the bible say: God forgive them 'cause they don't know what they are doing!
evawilhelm 1 year ago
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LiberalMediaFilms 1 year ago
@evawilhelm thank you for the kind words, eva.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
Congrats on winning!
ToListen 1 year ago
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LiberalMediaFilms 1 year ago
If this is some kind of clever effort by some atheist to demonstrate that good works can be separated from a permanent moral order it is a failure. There is no point in doing good works if there is no permanent source and exemplar of all good.
MrEthekyaa 1 year ago
@MrEthekyaa Good works can indeed be separated from a permanent moral order, as there is no proof for a consistent moral order having ever existed. Good works, on the other hand, can be seen and verified and do not exist solely for our own postulation.
And aside from being "clever", this video won the 2011 Project Reason video contest, earning us a handsome cash prize.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
How convenient that the video fails to mention that churches are doing the majority of the good works in the alternative areas that the video suggests with the exception of maybe yoga?. Churches have always stepped in and are continuing to step in where the government bureaucracies have failed. Who do you think provided free medical care for the poor before there was any semblance of government welfare?
MrEthekyaa 1 year ago
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MrEthekyaa 1 year ago
I don't know what they're referring to in grant money. Have to know more to comment on it. The federal government has given tax breaks for charitable organizations because they uplift and transform people's lives at a far more effective and efficient rate than the government can. As for churches, they are the glue of a healthy society - healthier marriages, reduction in substance abuse, greater work ethic, people becoming more honest and law abiding, etc. This is historically proven.
warnockchuck 1 year ago
As an ordained minister (whose personal theology would best be described as "conservative") I gladly confess that I liked this, I liked it a lot. In fact, I'd very much like to share it with my congregation. But only with your permission of course.
"Written by Tony Wann & Justin Wilson"
Two familiar names, that hearken back to former days of mine. I am glad to see their creativity and vitality continues.
Keep up the good work gentlemen.
Sincerely,
Matthew NineNine
MatthiasProspero 1 year ago
@MatthiasProspero Good to see you're still kicking, Matthew Nine-Nine! Share with your congregation at will, sir. And have them share it with anyone who believes in or doubts the existence of a omniscient super-intelligence that listens to our thoughts from the skies.
- Justin
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
LET’S MAKE ALL MYTHS, RELIGIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS HISTORY.
mohfoz77 1 year ago
So biased against Christianity! News flash - no one is stealing from these people, and they're not deceived. They ARE giving to a cause they believe in - GOD AND HIS WORK!! If you want to give to yoga or animal rights, no one is criticizing you. You shouldn't criticize people who love God and His work, just because you don't.
warnockchuck 1 year ago
@warnockchuck Did you miss the part about the federal government giving 40 Billion dollars to churches in grant money? Considering our deficit, I don't think it is appropriate for the fed to be giving grants to any religion.
...
Great video TheRestlessRhyme! Keep it up!
geraldadamson 1 year ago
@geraldadamson thanks for the encouragement, warnockchuck.
TheRestlessRhyme 11 months ago
Brilliant! Donating money to church is like flushing it down the toilet.
Shteve67 1 year ago 2
I have a better proposition.You can't say all churches misuse the money of their people, because though many do, some do not. Just attend and give to a church that is meeting the needs and sharing the Gospel with the community. Because if you distrust a church enough not to give to them, why would you waste your time even attending there?
mdb2087 1 year ago
@mdb2087 that isn't a valid proposition for anyone who doesn't want to attend church. where did we say all churches misuse their people's money?
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
@TheRestlessRhyme oh ok. I assumed your audience was people who were considering attending church. You're right. You didn't say all churches misused money, you just suggested it. To be totally honest, I like the issue you bring up. I really hate that churches that claim Christ steal people's money.
mdb2087 1 year ago
The video is well done and nicely produced, but there seem to be a number of factual errors.
- Churches are required report giving and file Form 990-EZ to the IRS.
- Churches are required to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes on their employees.
- “The most profitable makes over $70 million a year” $70M in revenue maybe, but not profit.
You might also want to see what the research shows about who really gives
youtube.com/watch?v=LjysKT6KUQs
pdstein007 1 year ago
Is this meant to be anti-Christian message or just simply a protest against the modern-day greed of many churches?
TheHumpadump 1 year ago
This video is obviously well made, but can someone tell me why yoga seems a better choice to actually donate money to? I'm open minded, and I do yoga, but I really don't get how that can be a "cause"...
coloraturajoy 1 year ago
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LiberalMediaFilms 1 year ago
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LiberalMediaFilms 1 year ago
@coloraturajoy yoga can be regenerative for people with injuries, or at the very least a community based activity that brings people together. we opened that section with "art" and "music" to show you how broad the ideas could be. it could be yoga, it could be volunteering at a clinic, or it could be teaching skateboarding to some kids. we aren't prescribing orders, we're asking you to think about what you would give your money to.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
anything to a church. Although I respect your opinion (which seems to be stop wasting money on churches and give it to something *You deem* important) the message is misplaced. You can tell people how to believe in their faith, but it's a wasted effort. At least in my opinion.
Side note: Though not always the case, most churches use tithe money to fund charities or charities of their own...as well as the upkeep for the church/organizations. Books aren't fee to publish ya know...
losermuzick 1 year ago
I enjoyed the music but....the problem with your logic behind tithing is wrong. God calls all of his followers to tithe in the Bible. Not as a passage to heaven, but as a way of giving thanks for blessings He has bestowed upon his children. Jesus actually rebukes the church officials in his day who made a big deal about tithing. He said it was better to give in private and that 10%, even if only 1 cent, was all God wants from you. I can't think of many non-Christians who would give
losermuzick 1 year ago
@losermuzick
"I can't think of many non-Christians who would give "
You are wrong, I am an atheist and I spent 2500 euros on charity every year for the last 5 or 6 years and continued to do so even when I lost my job. I had to stop Plan International after 20 yr Many none-believers I know spend money for charity like Plan International, Amnesty international, poor people in Ukraine,... Many none believers I know spend time and money to be a red cross volunteer and lose money doing it in gas...
obaeyens 1 year ago
@obaeyens
My thought was continued in another post right above the first. It says, "I can't see why any non-Christians would give any thing to a church." That's the point. I think that will clear up this confusion.
losermuzick 1 year ago
Why is "amnesty" (2:30) a black man sweeping a gutter? and why aren't the windmills turning in the next frames? Weird. I'm all for secularity, haven't been a churchgoer since I was "confirmed", but clear communication is everything, and you gotta be focussed! Overall I like the tone and the message. Sharpen your edge a bit more...
neverbeabletoremembe 1 year ago
FINALLY! Other people who have noticed this nonsense! That's pretty much the reason why I stopped going to church not because I hate religion but because I hate how Christians sell out their religion like it's a fashion statement. I'll be sure to post this on my facebook and hopefully this video will open peoples eyes.
SpookyCrypt 1 year ago 4
Wow, $40,000,000,000 in grants to something that does not exist. American's are officially the stupidest of people.
MunchMan 1 year ago 3
what the fuck
jhaaa100 1 year ago
I already give to those other causes - at the tune of 35-45% of my money (in the form of taxes). Besides, I'd rather give toward a cause with eternal ramifications, rather than a temporal -feel good effort.
dpatrick1002 1 year ago
@dpatrick1002 good luck with that
neverbeabletoremembe 1 year ago
@dpatrick1002 good luck with that
neverbeabletoremembe 1 year ago
I love these kinds of videos. With cool animations, good information, and a though-provoking soundtrack. Love it!
PullyElbow27 1 year ago 2
May god bless this video
16235 1 year ago
I have set back a tithe for a year now. I am going to give part to Church (I like going there and would like our church not to have the lights turned off), but I don't trust them with all of my hard earned money. So I'm going to look for other charities also. Preferably those that do what Jesus did.
AppalachianScholar18 1 year ago
...so much wasted money...and to think how much this would help people if it were given to REAL charities and not all this fairytale crap
Pirokiko 1 year ago
Here's the problem. If churches started getting taxed they would also start to demand even MORE of a voice/role in government.
Dinglebarriez 1 year ago 2
This is very well done, and presents a lot of good information. Keep the videos coming.
jackminardi 1 year ago 2
Megachurches are just another form of entertainment.
ButtplugClock 1 year ago 2
Fantastic video. I sure hope in our lifetimes we see a fundamental shift away from religion and all the bullshit they embody. Not looking good right now, but I have faith! ;)
skel625 1 year ago
First of all, truly excellent video. Wonderful transitions between the data sets. It didn't mask or disguise what the data actually are.
Second, why aren't churches taxed? If they are such a business as you've shown them to be, don't they deserve to be taxed, too? If we don't tax them, does it show a superiority of church to the state?
jcbahr 1 year ago
that guy has the shittiest ass haircut I've ever seen
5celery 1 year ago
Great video, only criticism is the music. I like the song, but maybe add another halfway through.
sledge241 1 year ago
Good shit man.
MA7KDaViS 1 year ago
This is fantastic, well done and thank you!
Glamdering 1 year ago 15
@Glamdering thanks for watching, don't forget to vote for us in the project reason video contest. voting ends today!
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
Guy in the video looks like Jim Carey
holyhackjackson8 1 year ago
Great video!
luenatic2 1 year ago
I completely agree with you. Nice work with the info graphic, typography, and overall design.
MrPalmReader 1 year ago 5
@MrPalmReader thanks, we appreciate the kudos to our design.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
Why on earth does this have so little views?
zaksundi 1 year ago 6
@zaksundi because i only recently uploaded it to youtube. it's originally posted at on vimeo, now with over 10K views and counting.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
@TheRestlessRhyme Im relieved. This is ridiculous.
zaksundi 1 year ago
I worked for element X creative, we were in the same building. Nice video in any case. Also I like this Morrissey haircut.
illflowmaster 1 year ago
I worked for element X creative, we were in the same building. Nice video in any case.
illflowmaster 1 year ago
Wow.
Just...wow. Thank you so much for this video - A LOT of people need to see it.
TezQuetz 1 year ago 2
@TezQuetz thanks, that's our hope too.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
10/10 would watch again
HLGViper 1 year ago
I loved this and agree with it so much. I would much rather donate to a school, a police station or a hospital before I would ever give it to a church.
if they have businesses then they can handle themselves. Its also not fair that they are immune to taxes (especially in a recession)
Joey3264 1 year ago 24
@Joey3264 thanks for your input. we're working on a way to make it easier to people to donate to secular causes. more on that as it progresses...
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
But do you donate to a school, a police station or a hospital?
grgibson60 1 year ago
@Joey3264 But do you donate to a school, a police station or a hospital?
grgibson60 1 year ago
I feel like I know that girl doing yoga. Her name isn't sierra is it?
illflowmaster 1 year ago
@illflowmaster it is, how do you know her?
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
Fantastic!
CoryDambach 1 year ago 8
@CoryDambach thanks cory
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
Awesome work.
prescod 1 year ago 2
@prescod thanks, it was a blast to make.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago
Love your work Justin, sorry about before and hopefully I will be putting some of my own ideas up soon :)
TheATHEISTNOW 1 year ago
@TheATHEISTNOW great, let me know when you post something new.
TheRestlessRhyme 1 year ago