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From: mahalodotcom
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  • They say that the thought processes of men and women are different. I've heard that it is practically impossible for women to stop thinking, while it is incredibly easier for men to do so. My friend has a boss who frequently does this and calls doing this going into his "Nothing Box."

  • Message to young atheists: if you want to seem intellectually superior, stop arguing with trolls in youtube comments. When an atheist and a theist argue on youtube they are both on the same intellectual tier: the bottom.

  • @vinoberg And might I suggest that if YOU want to seem intellectually superior, stop using the term "troll" incorrectly, stop telling others what they should and shouldn't post and be aware of the fact that those who cast aspersions on the intellectual capacity of others (for any reason) are rarely as clever as they think they are.

  • @Ellie8969 two points - 1) I never made any claim to intellectual superiority, and 2) anyone who tries to get a rise out of people over religious beliefs on the internet is trolling as far as I'm concerned. Well written books may change religious convictions, but youtube comments do not. Done responding now, lest I go against my own advice.

  • @vinoberg Any conversation in any arena about this subject is worth having. You are quite welcome not to read the threads - but please avoid taking it upon yourself to tell others what to do. And, seriously, stop misusing the term troll, it's tiresome.

  • @vinoberg

    That's an interesting statement, on a few levels. Are people who debate any topic on the threads intellectually void? Are all theists trolls?

    Are you sure the goal is to feel intellectually superior?

  • No. Sam That was not real communism in USSR! That was quasi-communism, but even in this case there was real difference between Nazi Germany and USSR. Not all was so bad in USSR, please don't demonize USSR, there was bad stuff especially under rules of Stalin. But there was also some good stuff. This idea maybe not so popular in US, but there was humanism, and internationalism in USSR, and science popularization, and medicine, food standards etc. etc.

    USSR != North Korea,

  • Gosh... I remember thinking, before I saw this, that Sam Harris should teach meditation classes because he has the most soothing voice.... and then I find out that he actually practiced meditation... and so that explains it x-D

  • Sam is one of the most clear thinking and well spoken people I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

  • i was a catholic and got reasoned out of my beliefs by people like sam, hitchens, and dawkins

  • "It's hard to be an intelligent and active...uh...and FIT vegetarian. At least it was for me." I love that quote.

  • not that im pro religion or anything but he says we need to fine tune our bullshit detectors lol... fair nuff but all science is actually based on an element of possibility that its findings could be wrong. So relly if we fine tuned our bullshit detectors to much we might have to assume we actually know nothing.

  • @shunysham bullshit

  • @shunysham The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

    Anyone who understands science knows better than to assume we have it all figured out. If we did, we wouldn't need scientists anymore. Science is the product of skepticism and study and all our knowledge is growing and changing. Religious faiths resist change and reject skeptical analysis.

  • @MisterCommentCritic you explained science perfectlly. If he dosen't understand after that don't waste your time..

  • Anyone, Theist or Atheist, who has to get upset or offended in any argument especially here on the tube, is not entirely confident as to why they "think" they are. You can sit here and try to knock each other down but the real ignorance is not having the knowledge to let the other party sink his own ship in the battle. The word "argument" seems to be misinterpreted these days. And to use that term "ignorance" seems to be coming from such a dogmatic point of view. Anger is the sign of weakness!

  • God damn "I'm a Mormon" commercials on Sam Harris videos!!!

  • Damn Bahai Faith ads...

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  • The atheist must dwell upon his ignorance.

  • @TAXtheAtheist No just yours!

  • Looking at these comments, atheists seem to be just as easily offended as religious believers.

  • @squamish4244 About what?

  • @yackon4game Just the constant arguing back and forth, calling each other idiots, etc.

  • @squamish4244

    I would say that, in general, atheists' counterarguments are rooted in reality, as the attacks against them frequently amount to unwarranted fabrications. While they may fight with venom, they seem to fight fair more so than theists. 

  • Don't waste time with onefodderunit. I remember a long time ago talking to this character about various conspiracy nonsense and in the end all onefodderunit had to show for it, was calling me fat.

    There is no reasoning with these kind of people, no matter what amount of evidence you give them. Don't waste your time.

  • Sam Harris, you disingenuously titled a book "The End of Faith"

    There isn't even a scientific theory for the Atheist faith that inanimate matter once animated itself with life, and you are Atheist.

  • @onefodderunit

    Labeling doubt "faith" only insults the theist.

  • @infideluxe

    There is no evidence that life is created by anything other than conscious intent.

    There is no evidence that anything besides intelligence designs and creates.

    The Atheist faith that life is unintentional byproduct of happenstance is based purely on desire to believe.

    Harris is a weaselly deceiver and professional life cheapener.

  • @onefodderunit

    "There is no evidence that life is created by anything other than conscious intent."

    There is no evidence that life is created. Your statement assumes what it needs to prove.

    "There is no evidence that anything besides intelligence designs and creates."

    See above. Further, evolution is observed "designing." Your willful ignorance of the matter is a personal problem, regardless of how much you assert it.

  • @onefodderunit

    "Harris is a weaselly deceiver and professional life cheapener."

    Your jealousy is showing.

  • @infideluxe

    Those 'rebuttals' were very Atheistic. Thanks.

  • @RosesOfTime Punch yourself in the face, please.

  • Sam Harris meditates as a discipline, and has studied under guru's from India & elsewhere. Dr. Harris & Mr. Chopra's perspective do vary on many issues but they r both at the core very Eastern in their spirituality & are both strong proponents of a secular society. T H X 4 P O S T I N G T H I S CLIP!
  • @Bigbillpipps Chopra is a scam artisit i heard?

  • @Bigbillpipps Deepak Chopra is a fraud. Dawkins destroyed him.

  • Sam Harris is the white-man's Deepak Chopra, only a bit more militant in his crusade against religion

  • @Bigbillpipps Don't be so stupid or slanderous. It's not very attractive.

  • @Bigbillpipps a bit? he doesnt even believe in equal opinion.

  • @Bigbillpipps Actually he's the everyman's complete-polar-opposite-of-Dee­bag-Chokecock, but I what you're trying to say :-)

  • @Bigbillpipps how anyone could give you a thumbs up is amazing. I also think you'd be better off watching something a little more inline with your abilities, perhaps the wiggles would be a better fit.

  • @Bigbillpipps You are a fool.

  • @lifeschild1 tsk tsk

  • @lifeschild1

    Yet, preaching to the choir also has its limitations. I think that there enough converts from supernaturalism to skepticism to justify addressing theists' absurd beliefs. Sure, they can only change on their own, but providing the means to at least think about cannot hurt.

  • @infideluxe You're missing the point. Trying to discuss anything at all with those indelibly charred religious fanatics, regarding proven scientific theorized explanation for reasoning purposes, will only render a fruitless result.

  • @lifeschild1

    Perhaps the immediate response will seem so. But I believe that inroads are still made. Minds are changed. Look at Dan Barker. I just think that many theists who seem to deny reality to your face are still incubating the message of reason. Some never grow, but many do.

  • What I got from this: "Go forth and roll." -Sam Harris 24:49

  • He definitely has a way with words. I love his style, both in speech and and in writing.

  • Sam...You formulate creative insightful arguments, with a knack for cutting through the hypocrisy of evidence-free supernaturalists. And you're cute as hell too!

  • I preferred Ben Stiller when he stuck to comedy. He's gone the way of Woody Allen, now, all metaphysical and serious.

  • @RYISCO I LOLed so hard.

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  • I dont think its racist to find african americans unattractive and say so. Is it?

  • @orbital92hotmail There are some very attractive afro-americans, but I don't think it's racist to say that you are not attracted to afro-americans. And any person of any race can say they are not attracted to Caucasians.

  • @orbital92hotmail I agree. A person is welcome to have a preference, without being racist. However, phrasing is important. While features of African Americans may not appeal to you, making a blanket statement about all African Americans walks the line, and so if not speaking carefully it could be interpreted that way.

  • Sam Harris is God, lol

  • mdma is so 90's. Nobody takes that anymore, at least outside of Amsterdam or the Bay area.

  • @charlesvan13 I would, if I could get hold of it (o:

  • sam harris is so good at explaining his views

  • I think the resistance to new and correct ideas is actually quite rational. In the same way that we form the incorrect old ideas, it is possible for us to for new incorrect ideas, and it often takes a long time for the evidence to make itself known, so anyone capable of a long-term view is perhaps right to be suspicious of making sudden changes to long-held beliefs that seem to have much evidence behind them. One has to reflect on the new idea in light of history, which takes time...

  • With respect to the idea of changing peoples' minds through reason, I advise that we atheists think of "planting seeds" instead. When you have a conversation with someone and testify to them honestly about how you think and feel about God, then it works well to think of it as having planted a seed that will grow slowly. Give them room to think about it without pressuring them to change. Your testimony will move them and you won't always see it, but the seed is planted. Have faith! :-)

  • oh my god I'm beating off so fucking hard right now

  • Hey, isn't that Glaber from Spartacus Blood and Sand?

  • My question:

    Why are you using an Apple product?

  • we need to learn to get thru to people... thank G we have this long history of atheist vs religion debate, we can use this experience to talk to people about the goals of the ZEITGEIST movement....

  • @TZMrazvitie We need patience, too. "Getting through" sometimes takes a while. Just have faith that your words will take hold over time, and don't rush someone.

  • How do we ask a question?

  • @kusalaviro

    It was on reddit.com a while back

    A lot of good information on reddit :) And even more crap :D

  • Google her and then look at your response ("hmmmm"). Maybe it'll make sense (but the humour's long deceased now...).

  • I've done a couple of vipassana retreats (in Japan) and H. does a really good job of explaining why people should try practicing vipassana. I had the most incredible 'spiritual' experiences while on the retreats, but whereas religious people will tend to explain such experiences in terms of the god they believe in, the reality is probably more natural (release of serotonin/endorphins and higher states of consciuosness etc). I like that H. doesn't dismiss such experiences (cf. Hitchens Dawkins).

  • @mycal64 Of course, it's silly to dismiss those experiences (and I'm not sure if the worthy folks you mentioned do that), just as it's silly to take them as proof of divinity. But I must add that those experiences dismiss me, unfortunately.

  • Now I definitely need to read his books. He just addressed and clarified a few major philosophical issues that I've been mulling over for awhile now. The basic arguments against irrationality are easy, but it's great that he tackled things like the common secular articulation of "spirituality" and the full potential of human experience- as well as dealing with the pitfalls of pseudoscience and pseudospirituality that surround our perception of it.

  • Mahalo: you guys should upload each question individually or 10 minutes tracks, that way it would be easier for us to keep track of the answers and you would get the same amount of views but in different videos. :) It gets kinda heavy to see the whole hour video, more if you are a busy person.

  • Go forth ye disciples and do ecstasy!

  • What is Sam so angry about?

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  • @1212kpm What are you so deaf, dumb and blind about?

  • @mycal64 hmmmm

  • @1212kpm Helen Keller? ; )

  • @mycal64 8~|

  • @1212kpm Your mom fucked him all wrong last night. Go yell at her.

  • @beatonm198 Why would I need to yell?

  • At 34:50 Harris is being simplistic, he doesn't at all touch the issue of people less intelligent/aware than, say for example, a pig.

    Don't get me wrong, I'm sure H. isn't advocating eating the retarded over eating pigs!

    It's just that he should have explained in more detail how he explains the logic.

  • @orp0piru

    A retarded person is still smarter than a pig or gorilla.

  • 25 people dislike the truth

  • What was the name of the school of Buddhism that Sam was involved in?

    I heard him say the name but I don't know how to spell it.

  • @Freethinker12341 Just call it breathing. Read "The Power of Now." If you aren't keen on its occasional discussion of God, ignore it and enjoy the rest.

  • @Frisbeetime it was vipassana, thats what i was referring to. And no sorry, Eckhart Tolle is a fraud and a weirdo

  • @Freethinker12341 well said. tolle is every bit as much of a fraud as chopra. tolle (unlike chopra), cleverly, avoids debating anyone who may challenge him and show the emperor has no clothes...

  • @knightm27 haha ya, and getting popular by being friends with Oprah. and Oprah loves him hahaha, and I think Jim Carey likes him too

  • He really has a talent for clarity of thought.

    Conversely, some of his debate opponents are experts at white noise, e.g. Hedges.

  • I wish some of his boos were made into movies (documentaries), that way I would really pay more attention. Books are so 20th century... :(

  • @samhamels Oh dear.

  • "Living in an echo chamber of confirmation bias" - that some good talking right there!

  • Sam Harris seems like an awesome cool dude.

  • love his responses.. but whoever transcribed the audio to captions failed miserably. lol

  • Bullshit detector is actually a lot more precise than any proper word or phrase I can think of. Also, I think charlatan is possibly too gracious a description for Chopra.

  • Thank you for calling Deepak Chopra what he is: a charlatan.

  • @SheStillRuns That insults charlatans though.

  • "Bullshitdetector"....... Awesome phrase :)

  • Wow, an hour of Sam Harris seems a lot shorter than an hour...

  • @onefodderunit

    I see you're unable to stop muttering to yourself. You have fun with that. 

  • Are u another Jewish clown on the media?

  • ik,ben,niets,zonder,the,power,­of,love,ik,heb,houvast,kracht,­eraanmet,ziekte,byv.of,trouble­s,met,jou,het,werkt,by,my,ande­rs,was,ik,allang,weg,by,jou,ve­rgeven,de,onmogelyke,kracht,te­rug,naar,jou,ik,verloor,alles,­in,myn,leven,niet,mn,geloof,ik­,laad,op,by,god,tv,het,werkt,s­nel,my,drug,to,forgive,you,go,­back,the,love,stays,after,alwa­ys,wat,geloof,jy,jy,krygt,my,n­iet,van,mn,geloof,ja,ik,was,ev­en,boven,nam,een,kykje,geloof,­my,niet,zyn,shit,angel,robbie,­too,changed,wy,ik,jou,

  • Sam Harris is an incredibly interesting person. I'd like to have some more of him.

  • Sam, Matter isn't creative, intelligence is. Matter can't turn itself organic. What makes you believe it created nature and could turn itself into human consciousness - intelligence?

    Also: There's no evidence for your faith that matter created life but you pretend it's scientific. That's dishonest. Children who believe you think they are animals, life has no purpose, they have no soul, and if they kill themselves, the only result would be early unending unconsciousness. Do you hate children?

  • @onefodderunit lol there is absolutely no way any reasoning is going to get through to you. Just by reading your comment I can tell that a debate with you would be long and repetitive.

    By the way, everyone is born an atheist and remains one until their parents force religious ideology down their throat.

  • @onefodderunit

    "Children have innate wisdom that intelligence creates,"

    This little word salad is as meaningless as it is lovely.

    "Leave to an Atheist to lie to them and tell them matter can and did turn itself into life"

    Leave it to a woo-addled god-botherer to tell them that a magical sky-daddy *poofed* everything into existence.

    I'm sorry you're going to die someday. You might consider creating some true meaning in the only life you have by actually using your brain.

  • @infideluxe

    *poofed* - That's the Atheist term for creation of existence. Atheists are of the faith that no intelligence was involved in creation, and the universe just *poofed* itself into existence and inanimate matter just *poofed* itself into life.

    Intelligence is the only creator.

    From where do you believe the energy originated to create the universe, and do you realize that there is no scientific evidence that inanimate matter can turn itself into life?

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  • @onefodderunit The general response is that there is no evidence that the universe was created intelligently, so asserting such is dishonest.

    There is no reason to believe that energy/matter "came from" anywhere. If time is a property of matter, you would EXPECT matter/energy to have always existed. However, since we don't know what happened before the Big Bang, we cannot know for certain.

    And actually yes, the Miller-Urey experiments prove that life can originate from non-life.

  • @mistajames3213

    Yes, there is evidence that the universe was created by intelligence because intelligence is the only creator. No functional system has been known to have been created by anything but intelligence. Big Bang is an outdated theory which is being displaced with the Electric Universe model.

    This was a blatant lie by you: "Miller-Urey experiments prove that life can originate from non-life." <<<

    That was in 1953 - and were it true, Miller-Urey would be famous.

  • @onefodderunit "No functional system has been known to have been created by anything but intelligence."

    Nonsense. What about geological rock formations? Planetary systems? Plenty of functinal systems haveby non-intellient causes. Wait... are you trying to weasel out of this by offering a constained definition of "system"?

    The Miller-Urey experiment is famous. It proves that life CAN originate from non-life (it does not show how it did so on earth). This fact is well-known amongst biologists.

  • @onefodderunit

    "there is no scientific evidence that inanimate matter can turn itself into life?"

    Then I guess humans can't be poofed into existence from dust or clay, huh? Pretending to know things that you don't know is going to get you into deep water.

    Historically, scientific explanations have supplanted supernatural ones, so you only need be patient. Or you might die before knowing, but that's life!

  • @Expert1911

    Well, yes, I agree 100%. Were you intending to address someone else?

  • @onefodderunit you are a sick fuck

  • @TheJonnynerd You're upset. About what, specifically? 

  • Freedom with a loss of sense of self? I am at a loss to understand. I know namaste and all that.

  • @Keeban3 We're all familiar with the feeling that we are "riding around in our heads and controlling a body." In reality we are our bodies, and we are our experience. Everything you see and hear etc. is you in a sense. Why? Because everything you experience is something your brain is doing, and your brain is essentially you. This feeling that we are something seperate from our experience is an illusion neurologically and meditation is a tool to break that illusion.

  • Have faith but start with faith in yourself ... only from there can you branch faith.

    Because without faith in your self , and considering your self first (this does not mean being selfish)? What would anything else matter?

    Meaning you have no more important reason to participate in life than for your own enjoyment and well being.

    From this observation (which your own is all you have) can you make a true decision towards happyness.

    Anything else is being subjagated

    I felt sam needs help

  • @fuck192ass I heard nothing that I would consider rhetorical in lieu of reason in this video. All rhetoric is is the art of using language to successfully convey ideas to someone else. The problem is it has a negative connotation because many of our congressman are simply unqualified to hold positions of delegation and don't have thoughts or ideas that are conducive to this, so they have to use rhetoric to convince you of their usually archaic thoughts. This however is reasonable AND rhetorical

  • ha

  • Atheists could affect a little change if all of us were extremely courteous online. When talking to theists resist insults and smugness, these just brings up the believers defensive mechanisms instantly. It also furthers the prevalent stereotype that atheists are bad people. If you can't change someones theological beliefs, at least being nice will diminish their atheist hate. Also atheists need to clarify that we don't know there is no gods, we just think/believe that (most anyways).

  • @mrpayne123

    I partially agree. However, all an atheist has to do is say something that's logical in order for a theist to accuse him of being "arrogant." At its foundation, religion requires the type of blind faith I reject, and that simple rejection of illogical thinking offends many theists, regardless of the language that delivers it.

    Also, I do more than clarify that I "believe" there are no gods by also reminding theists that I believe the possibility is so minimal as to be dismissible.

  • Thumbs up if you watched the full video.

  • Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins...the 3 Musketeers!

  • @weintertwined1234

    Yes, but wouldn't it also be cool if they wore Mousekateer hats so they could be the Three Mousekateers?

  • @weintertwined1234 2 musketeers :( But there is also Daniel Dennett.

  • Nice, logical, informed, concise . . .

  • sam you sound like a cool dad explaining mdma to a teenager haha. like the parts on meditation any recommendations for books on the subject?

  • yes I believe he is all powerful, and if someone wants to help me get out of my delusion, then receive prophecy so you can show me the way to reason. and by the way I support science and everything it does, I'm not one of does crazies trying to stop science from anything.

  • this is easily one of the most clear and useful videos I've seen from Harris so far. his experience with meditation gives him a clarity and edge beyond even his best contemporaries.

  • @lizardstyle101 Go away.

  • @lizardstyle101 Seems you are saying the church you belong to is the REAL way to go out of the 2000 + religions in the world ! I too was religious once but could see the insanity,absurdity and futility of it all. Are you sure you havn't merely convinced yourself those prophecies are true ? This is a new American religion I suppose. Answer me this : Is God infinitely powerful ? I am atheist but would like you to answer this question.

  • @brindow1 Just google it (IGLESIA DE DIOS MINISTERIAL DE JESUCRISTO INTERNACIONAL), I will give you the address to the closest church and receive prophecy before you think I'm delusional. I will put this church to the test with any investigation.

  • @lizardstyle101 I'm sure you would give me the address of your church in my area..but why would I, an atheist bother going to church? Be reasonable ! I know you are totally immersed into what you believe but you must have respect for other peoples beliefs and respect them as well. So instead of sending me off to church why not answer the question I have asked you for and allow other people in that read this site. Here it is again: Do you believe God is ALL POWERFUL ?

  • @brindow1 By the way,in the last part of your comment you said you would put your church to the test by any investigation..bold words indeed ! I'll take your test ! And i'll cause a lot of people to leave if they read my reply, but tell you what-you can represent them if you like ! Actually iv'e already asked you the question that I would ask them "Do you believe God is all powerful. Give me your best answer and get ready to be subverted !

  • @lizardstyle101 what evidence are they going to provide that I have not heard? Also, it appears religious individuals seem to have a hard time understanding what evidence is; or facts for that matter..

  • @FoxvoxDK No I know what you're saying I just meant my girlfriend looks great with makeup, but I do prefer her without it or very little makeup.

  • He's an atheist yet he has a wedding ring around his finger. It would seem as though participating in a religious marriage ceremony is hypocritical to his personal beliefs. I'm not questioning his love for his wife or his devotion to her, it just seems strange to see such an archaic ceremonial symbol on an atheist.

  • @N1C0L3ify Heh, and ignorance about marriage is equally so. Marriage, existed long before the church decided to make it a "Holy Matrimony".

    It has nothing to do with religion :p.

    /facepalm

  • @FoxvoxDK I wasn't being ignorant to the concept of marriage. I completely acknowledge the fact that people have loved each other and participated in monogamous relationships since before recorded time. I simply found it strange that he wears a wedding ring and claims to be an atheist. I understand he could have been married in a court room, which rules out any religious significance in his marriage. But thanks for the thought.

  • @N1C0L3ify Ehm, I'm not sure what you mean by that. A marriage or a unison/alliance between families, marked by rings, tattoos, scarf, scars, earrings etc, etc. Has existed for a thousands of years, what I said was; the "Holy Matrimony" i.e the wedding and reading of the bible and such, was hijacked by religion. A ring or any sign of "I care for a mate/partner/life-companion is customary throughout the ages of human time.

  • @FoxvoxDK That's true enough. However, the fact of the matter is he is most likely wearing a wedding ring. I'm not disagreeing with you by any means. I'm simply pointing out something that would seem to be a glaring contradiction of Sam Harris' life work. No trolling intended.

  • @N1C0L3ify Arh well, only he knows I guess.

    But to be honest I seriously doubt that he'd have a wedding, with priest, vows and all that stupid nonsense :P.

    Nah didn't figure you for a troll, many people are unknowing in the ways of bonding, in cultures before christianity/islam and all that.

    Take care!

    On a side-note, most guys like girls/women without make-up, or very little. Don't overdo it like Jenna w/o her Marbles :p. Ask some male friends close to you if in doubt :p.

  • @FoxvoxDK lol it's funny you should say that about the make-up because this has actually been her boyfriend the whole time. I actually love the way she looks.

  • @N1C0L3ify You like how she looks with all the make-up? Arh well each to his/her own I guess.

    I think Jenna looks amazing without make-up though, and, well, fake with "make-up" it is after all made-up :p. I definitely like women with none at all.

  • @N1C0L3ify

    An archaic ceremonial symbols need not signify belief in any god, and therefore need not contradict atheism. Nothing hypocritical here.

  • Neurology and social psychology expose religion to be completely irrational to subscribe to. Sam presents an exquisite balance of the biologcal (by way of neurology) and psychological (by way of philosophy) causes for belief, values, and motivation.

  • Nice biceps Mr Harris!