Daniel Dennett takes the Blasphemy Challenge

[maxpainfu1]

The real blasphemy statement (according to some theist site) - is to attribute the powers of Jesus given by the holy spirit as being 'demonic'

However; you have to believe Jesus's powers were supernatural in the first place to actually do this challenge.

So its more like "Jesus received power from the devil" than "I deny the holy spirit"

(I'm an Atheist)

[CambridgeHeights]

One more log to fuel the fires of hell! muahahahahah

[xhemexx]

@CambridgeHeights sir that is a sadistc comment and you ought to be ashamed of yourself. you need Jesus in your life.

[eXecutivedirectress]

All of these people speak about RELIGION... but what about faith? If religion is bad, faith is not.

[sulljoh1]

@eXecutivedirectress They feel that faith (belief without evidence) is the problem to begin with.

[EPR89]

@eXecutivedirectress Ever heard of the funny little word blind faith?

[eXecutivedirectress]

@EPR89 every faith is blind. Every, because if you have evidence, it's simply not faith anymore because it's proven.

[EPR89]

@eXecutivedirectress Actually that is a very interesting definition and I would say it is a valid one too. But what I meant is the concept of blind faith as a kind of faith that makes you put religious dogmas over rational thought. An example would be someone who actually believes that the pope is infallible.

[eXecutivedirectress]

@EPR89 well I do agree on that. That is simply opposite to logic. I have my personal reasons to believe that Jesus exists though. Respect.

[dragoneyez67]

Even though I'm a proud atheist/agnostic, I don't know if this works.

I believe the catch is that the bible in some spots says 'speaking against holy spirit = hell' and in others (Hebrews 10:26-27) implies that you must first 'fully understand' the holy spirit. The catch being that if you did 'fully understand' you would understand and believe 100% and know the consequences, and would thus be incapable of rejecting it. Completely understanding precludes rejection, except in cases of insanity.

[ctvwr]

@dragoneyez67

Horseshit. Understanding something only precludes rejecting it if the person is reasonable and the thing under consideration is true and well-supported. Otherwise, you can reject it all day long.

[roryoc31]

the holy spirit is the most retarded thing in christianity, even when i believed in god i didn't believe in that.

Deny the holy spirit is THE ONE INFORGIVEABLE SIN in christianity, if you dine it you can never be forgiven you go to hell (according to the church)

[jedaaa]

ok? what was that about? better vid description might have helped.

[piecharthosen]

Sigh, really now

Could have been epic win, just semi win

[kmish213]

damn you made him fuck it up.

just tell him to say his name and that he denies it, like everyone else.

[LordZero666]

Man, if i get paid for my blasphemy... ill be rich by now... and buy all of those idiotic mind controlling religious stuff and banish them from earth...

[marshall1959now]

I don't understand how God is supposed to be holy and the Bible says all things are created by Him. Yet Satan is the unholy being, created by God, is God unholy, or part unholy?

[ilikeninjacats]

No, satan chose to do what he did. Holy means "set aside". So technically unholy things are just not things chosen by God.

[marshall1959now]

check

[wayzey]

So the most powerful, perfect being is not the strongest or is equal to another being. If God controls all good and Satan controls all evil, then wouldn't Satan be just as powerful as god and be just as likely to have created us?

Man Christianity is fucked up.

[myxoluser]

Even though I think the challenge is "bullshit". It is sad that this "Christian" is thinking that he is trapping Dennett into eternal damnation by denying the HOLY SPIRIT. Then he just leaves. Such fucking hypocrites!!

[MichealNBurress]

What? isnt the Ratinal Response squad atheist?

[LordEsel88]

Yes.

[jamhiereus]

A monkey would have answered the same!

[MikaylaStarstuff]

LOL "Do you deny the Holy Spirit?" "Ok, yea"

XD

[ElJefer]

hhahaha he's just like "Ok, yes"

[calum66]

How foolish. Why ask an atheist such a question.The world is growing so tired of America's smug , trite version of Christianity.

[quathar]

But I believe in the Buddha... no wait.. the Tao... err... was it Allah... no no... now I remember, it was Jahwe...

Now excuse me while I go eat a bowl of flying spagetti.

[MikaylaStarstuff]

I wonder if the FSM would stick to the fridge...

[esoervik]

No point in replying, really, but let's give it a go. I grew up devout and believed everything I was told because I had no reason to suspect that people were lying to me. I gave it a good 11 years before I started questioning things, and "God" never chose to give me a feeling of supernatural awe or anything to that effect.

Mother Theresa was as frustrated as I, as you might know, as she couldn't hear Jesus' voice. I decided to let go of frustration and embraced reason instead :)

Ok?

[AJ78910]

lol you krazy kristianz n ur illogikl believez

[brutalsheldon]

haha i cant tell is vitalSigns is joking or not.

[samdathi]

This guy is not a Christian. Check out his favourites. He's into erotic, female wrestling and foot licking.

[CursedKrade]

Atheists, do you not see? This man is trying to help you. VitalSigns1, speaking to them through this computer, will do as little as banging them on the head, for all things are possible through God, Pray to god that the holy spirit would enter these sinners.

[Shadoboy]

My beleif is that if there is a God, he has no reason to only care if people are kissing up to him 24/7 and sending to eternal torture those that doesn't. That sounds something that the worst dictator in the history of the universe would do.

[gusphraba]

Thanks so much, I hope you will pray a lot for me, because I swear and love logic and science. Now I don't have to worry anymore to go to hell because you pray for me. Awesome.

[scarmullet]

Sorry, accepting things with out question is against my nature.

[workingclasstheist]

fail

[AeriaGl0ris]

You lost right at the beginning of your comment. Logic is what keeps many out of trouble and keeps people from getting their hearts broken, and you want them to toss that away just to appease your personal god that probably doesn't even exist? FAIL!

[StridentLobster]

I may or may not have a soul, but I know I have a mind, and it's my responsibility to take care of it and use it to the utmost. Logic and reason stay right where they are; at the forefront of my consciousness.

[PiecesofEternity]

Funnily enough, Jim Jones told his followers the same thing when he forced them all to drink cyanide.

"Don't think, just trust and believe. It's for Jesus; Jesus is always right. Trust and believe. This won't hurt. Just trust and believe."

Any belief system that advocates blind faith wants you to stop thinking for yourself, which is just a touch too cult-like for comfort.

[bosnia91]

@PiecesofEternity actually, most drank that shit because they where forced to.

[PiecesofEternity]

@bosnia91 If you listen to the tape--yes, he actually recorded it, and it is just as horrifying as you'd imagine--you hear him saying that Jesus wants them to do this; it will take them to a better and holier place. That and the children crying as the female assistant claims that it's because of the 'bitter taste' and not because said children are in pain, are the most terrifying parts of the whole thing, in my mind.

[Saerain]

Heh, I love it. He seemed so underwhelmed.

[schweitzerei]

deny the Holy Spirit? why do these dumb atheists do that? it is so stupid. The unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which IS NOT DENYING HIS EXISTENCE. How can you deny something you've never known? Anyway, the blasphemy is attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil. So now the challenge just got harder huh?

[Saerain]

deny

1. To contradict or gainsay (anything stated or alleged); to declare to be untrue or untenable, or not what it is stated to be.

2. The opposite of affirm; to assert the contradictory of (a proposition).

3. To refuse to admit the truth of (a doctrine or tenet); to reject as untrue or unfounded; the opposite of assert or maintain.

4. To refuse to recognize or acknowledge (a person or thing) as having a certain character or certain claims; to disown, disavow, repudiate, renounce.

[Saerain]

That is from the Oxford English Dictionary. To deny the existence of the Holy Spirit (i.e. to be an atheist) is an act of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, defined as the unpardonable sin.

The Catholic Church specifically outlines sin against the Holy Spirit, three of which very easily apply to atheists:

- Presumption i.e. to believe one does not need or already has grace

- Obstinacy i.e. unwillingness to seek God

- Resisting the known truth

[JamesThWilliams]

Yeah i don't think the Catholic church has the right to accuse anyone of sin or immoral behaviour, its history precludes it from ever being in a moral position to judge others.

The current pope was in the Hitler youth for crying out loud. I can think of at least 5 billion people who hven't partisipated in something that evil.

[gusphraba]

It was the place to be, he was young, can't blame him.

[canuckmel]

Of course but it proves beyond any doubt whatsoever he is no moral compass. There were some Germans who resisted and did not tow the line, very few of course, but they were of obviously higher moral standard than the pope.

The pope is supposed to represent the highest moral standard of mankind, and pope Benedict is certainly not that.

[JamesThWilliams]

Ignore the previous post by canuckmel. My sister was previously logged on to youtube and I didn't notice. Respond to this comment here.

[gusphraba]

I think you are somewhat very right but compared to former popes he isn't that bad (ie no rapist or murderer). I always disrespected the last pope until he actually forgave the man who attacked him, which is something most Christians preach but would never do. So at least to his own rules he followed which is a lot considering how extreme these rules are (I wouldn't show you my other cheek so you could hit me again). We'll see how well he does.

[AnunC8]

I too think their methods are a bit... nickelodeon, but I see what they are doing. It is simply a parody of the reverse, being the typical baptism query "Do you renounce Satan and all spiritual forces which rebel against God?" In a way, that has its own form of ridiculousness.

[Domzdream]

Aw. Dennet should have done it more in style. Damn it. Like I deny the holy spirit by shoving my intellectual eight inch cock down god's fucked up mouth and pissing in the holy spirit's eyeballs, then skull fucking god at the same time. Something like that.

[Jinmarui]

Mmm...intellectually kinky.

[Domzdream]

Ha ha.

Thank you.

[Slaytounge]

thats so sad, poor guy, hes not going to heaven no matter what.

[ahm319]

are you being serious, I'm curious

[Slaytounge]

yep

[gertnood]

I'd hate to go somewhere that doesn't exist either. As for your comment, you can bet your ass Dr. Dennett doesn't give a flying crap what you think. Besides, think how much he'd enjoy spending eternity with a bunch of brain dead sheep.

[Provocarate]

Haha, what a great response.

[jrcanary]

"Daniel Dennett" Hat's off to you you Darwin lookalike you ;)

[mrpossibilities]

I was fearing that the guy was about to insult Dennett. Thank God he didn't.

[chsbcg]

Dennett believes in freewill aka the Holy Spirit you idiot.

[ilgeah555]

free will = holy spirit?? ummmm explain?

[chsbcg]

It is not made of matter and it is our rational thought.

[agryson]

So if the holy spirit is our rational thought, and superstitious and religious beliefs can be shown to be irrational (which they often are shown to be), then you are saying that religious people deny the holy spirit and in a weird twist of fate only rational atheists truly accept it... the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first kind of thing... interesting!

[ChristianLinnell]

Hahaha - I love it!

[gertnood]

I prefer free spirits myself! Nothing like a good wedding or party to get a free buzz going. That leaves, let's see.. holy will? Or is that a willy hole (shame!)? Or.. hmm, I need another drink.

[multard]

..and the point of this video is what exactly? That Daniel Dennett is a rational person (who recognizes a cheap, childish, rhetorically intended threat when he comes accross one), or just that Christians are more than willing to go around fishing for offenses they consider hellworthy? Isn't daring someone to curse God coming awfully close to vicarious blasphemy?

Some of you Christians just make it too easy to dismiss you as irrational adherents to an archaic, man-made superstition.

[abcbakerbaker]

video is not made by christians

[Cypherus21]

Should we have a Priest come to this guy's funeral when he dies?

[doc101b]

Geuss not..(darn)

Still got no friggin teeth...LOL

[doc101b]

My turn..

Jesus was the fucking devil in sheeps clothing.

Merril clark. (forever unforegivin.)

Am I a vampire now???

[Geprodis]

Genesia - there is no evidence whatsoever that even the ordinary man Jesus of Nazareth existed. The people that wrote about Jesus were people that believed he was a divine being.

[Cypherus21]

Historical atheists validated Jesus's existence on earth. Whether he was the Son of God is up to you.

[anthwhite91]

Do tell of these atheists and their sources.

[Wiggam666]

Let us know these sources. I, and an entire community of historians would like to know.

[Cypherus21]

Thallus (c. 50-75AD), Phlegon (First century), Galen (various writings, c.150), Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, c.93), Tacitus (Annals, c.115-120), Suetonius (Lives of the Caesars, c. 125), Celsus (True Discourse, c.170).

Atheist Historian: "Jesus historically existed; and we know more about him than any Palestinian Jew before 70 C.E. ore even Alexander the Great" [Charlesworth, James H.].

[clarkent69]

Cypherus21:So you mean to tell me that Josephus, an pharisee till the day he dies, admitted that Jesus was the 'Messiah'? Or that Tacitus 'Christus' which has been studied under ultra-violet light to be 'Chrestus' wasnt an obvious alteration? I dont even know why you are bringing up Celsus, a pagan who accused Christians of altering their own scriptures "as if drunk". Dude, I've read your bible and you seem like someone who thinks for himself but please...get serious man!

[MTFFFG]

What sways from side to side?

Jesus on a rubber cross!

What's the difference between Jesus and a picture of Jesus?

It only takes one nail to hang the picture!

[crazybas1992]

why did jesus croos the road

because he was nailed to the chicken

[FA113]

lawl

[mmafan35]

That was dumb. He was like..."uh, yeah sure." Thank God that he didn't give it much interest. I would have lost faith in him.

[practicing]

Let me take that challenge! I deny the holy spirit!

...see you guys at the after-party!

[H5LL2O25]

Not only has he heard of RRS, Dan Dennett is a good sport as well. Cute vid.

[AttemptingReason]

I think the blasphemy challenge is sorta gimmicky, so I'm glad Dr. Dennett's response was not in depth or anything.  I understand that the point is to send a message, but I would be disappointed if Dennett took it seriously.

[MisterMolecule]

Oh, then allow me to be the first!

Jesus's spirit is the Devil's and not God's!!

Hah, as if Jesus were real...

[Genesia]

lol dude even historians believe jeasus is real/really existed. The only real question is was he just a man? was he a profit of Allah OR was he the son of god ;)

[MisterMolecule]

COOL! Can you please show me evidence of the existence of Jesus?

[Genesia]

Dude! The history books are full of evidence of the existence of Jesus =P Doesnt mean he was more then man! After all, the Egyptians believed their rulers were gods ;)

[HughJardon69]

A few Roman historians wrote vaguely about Christianity and "a christ" but the way they describe Christianity it shows that it was nothing more than one of the many cults of the time....if Jesus did exist (something of which there isn't any evidence) he probably was just another ordinary man...

[MisterMolecule]

Wow! Yeah, people keep saying that to me. Could you maybe show me something, or give me a reference or something? You'd be the first.

[Genesia]

=( Get back to me when my exams are done. And yes, I'm saying he was an ordinary man. Its up to others what they want to believe about him. There are a lot of people in history with a lot less writings about him in the history books then Jesus, but you still believe they existed dont you?

[chanjl41]

You do realise that the history books with Jesus in them were written like 50 years are he supposedly died, don't you? Jesus's role in the Bible was just to fulfil a prophesy in the old testament. There is no evidence that the events in the bible about Jesus ever happened. You would think that the Romans would had recorded fire thrown from the sky somewhere, but they didn't.

[Genesia]

WHAT?!!! You mean jesus cant turn water into wine?! NOWAI then what was that awesome red liquid Jesus gave me at that bar last night?! (But seriously, havent you ever heard of creative story telling? Just because fire never rained down from the sky doesnt mean a man didn't exist. Its actually very likely that a MAN named Jesus did exist and i imagine he was a very good talker and people did follow him)

[Ehb21]

Stop trying to act happy u dumb weak minded piece of shit.

[Genesia]

wait what? are you calling me weak minded because im prepard to accept that there may have been a man named 'Jesus' who lived some 2000 years ago without claiming he was the son of and allowing people to make up their own minds? That I am weak minded because I'm not clinging to either sides dogma...or are you talkin to someone else lol.

[Johnisierra]

Denying the Holy Spirit isnt blasphemy. Read the scripture again. They blashimed the holy spirit by saying the the spirit in Jesus was of the devil and not of God.

MARK 3:29:30

29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

30 HE SAID THIS BECAUSE THEY SAID, "He has an evil spirit."

[GypsyWytch]

Okay then. Allow me.

My name is Maria Isabel and Jesus was an evil spirit.

[allismind]

My name is Justin, and Jesus' spirit was of the evil and of the devil and not of god. But for this I'd have to actually think there was a jesus, a devil, or a god in the first place which is ... AHA!!!! absolutely absurd.

[BIZZYfob]

...so denying the Holy Spirit and blasheming the Holy Spirit are 2 different actionz?...hmmm? so what this reporter should have asked dr. dennett was, "...do u believe the Holy Spirit is of the devil...?" and if the reporter asks the dr. that question then he would have to acknowledge "the devil"...right?  and if an atheist acknowledge satan then they acknowledge spiritual beingz, such as angelz, godz, etc. so i conclude this atheist channel to be truly ignorant to scriptures.

[Matt7895]

Blasphemy is a victimless crime.

[dechha1981]

OK. the spirit in Jesus was of the devil and not of God. There. I'm damned for eternity. Happy?

[Johnisierra]

Denying the Holy Spirit isnt blasphemy. Read the scripture again. They blashimed the holy spirit by saying the the spirit in Jesus was of the devil and not of God.

[jjuran]

"Denying the Holy Spirit isnt blasphemy."

D'oh! I guess everyone has to post new videos or send back their DVDs.

[mikerpiker]

lol well that was very anti-climactic

[AuShawster]

The Blasphemy Challenge has been one of the best consciousness raisers on the internet. Good going Rational response!

[therealgeeza]

Daniel Dennett is my favourite philosopher, not so much because he writes the best stuff, but because he confirms all my biases.

[andwhatfire]

Not only easy, but rationally.

[jinitron]

Denying the Holy Spirit doesn't even get a flinch.

Easy as pie.

I blaspheme and deny the existence of the Holy Spirit and similarly blaspheme "The Holey Babble".

Suck it, Jesus.

[andwhatfire]

It is a concise statement and it was suspenceful for me.

[SliceSupeRStaR]

People need to calm down! The guy asking the question seems somewhat nervous himself talking to Dennett or very short on time. He probably was happy he got what little esponse he got. Although I do agree that the challenge is wearing thin in terms of trend; it is still valid as long as christians care.

[wemustdissent]

Honestly Id take this video down, its pointless and really classless. Everyone who even knows who Dennett is knows his general position so there is no new information here. The video might as well been him signing your asscheek and then you showing it to the camera and acting all excited.

Yes he is famous, yes he acknowledged your presence...good for you. Take this down, its just embarassing.

[VVesss]

You win this thread.

[SockAcct4Lulz]

Excellent!

[CptWang]

You guys are so puerile, this is not aiding the fight for reason over unjustified belief at all. I probably would have enjoyed this sort of thing when I was a 'teenage' atheist, now I'm actually concerned with you know, getting along with people who don't agree with my outlook on things.

[wemustdissent]

Im pretty sure he was just getting rid of you to get to the next person so he could finish signing books and get out of there. But yeah, real classy there. Sure he loved getting video taped for that to, must have made him real happy.

[wemustdissent]

lol he treated you like a crazy fan. GG, that was really classy. What was that, an autograph table?

[Kajo75]

the blasphemy challenge was a good gimmick for a time... especially for recovering christians, but this is just retarded invading Daniel Dennet's space like that... like he could give a shit.

[Clovions]

He seemed like he was like "wtf"

[Bekll]

Yay.

[Bekll]

Weak, but at least he agreed to it.

[DeusMortemEst]

Cool

[waveoflight]

I can't make out his responce was. The audio is not the best in that noisy room. Could someone Quote his answer?

Thanks

[DayfallKat]

"Yep. Ok, yes."

[wemustdissent]

something along the lines of, "er... yeah, sure, whatever floats your boat kid"

[Brianj1234]

Is the Blasphemy Challenge still on? Or are all the videos gone now?

[RationalResponse]

Videos are gone, but the challenge is on until Christianity is gone. Then on to the Muslim challege. ;-)

[Brianj1234]

Couldn't we get rid of islam first? lol

[chsbcg]

Why don't we get rid of Humanism?

[Stevehtegreatgr]

Yeah humanism succeeded some atrocious deeds, like the equality of women, children rights, the abolition of slavery. We're so much better with the theocracy of the past ages. Let's cut off humanism at its roots and -let's- go back to religious obscurantism

[chsbcg]

Humanism is being the most stupid religion of this century. It is living by stupid Enlightenment "values" with all these dogmatism and intolerance to other religions. You blame metaphysical faiths for causing harm? No it is materialism. Materialism uses people of metaphysical faith to cause harm.

[Stevehtegreatgr]

It never occurred to me that humanism is religion, I mean there is no common practice, no community, no tradition regarding it, it checks all the requirements to be an ideology rather than a religion. Even so don't expect me to agree with humanism, there are many shady parts to it too, doesn't make religious belief the best mental state -one can be- either, though.

[chsbcg]

It is a religion without God. It has rituals like weddings, namings, and funerals and the happy human symbol and you have to be naturalist to be a Humanist.

[Stevehtegreatgr]

Buddhism is a religion w/t God, it has all short of rituals and a rich tradition. Humanism as cultural phenomenon (like the one you described) is a recent fad and could be described -at best- (to be) a cult. Humanism -however-, the ideology, has a lot more valorous cause (not the destruction of state religion, it even went hand in hand on certain persons, look at Newton for example) and it meant anything good for humans is good for nature and vice versa.

[EviTheFreak]

There has been a muslim challenge. :-/

[SageMetacognition]

Sweet! Your campaign to record ATHEISTS denying the Holy Spirit on video is gonna SHUT Christianity DOWN. There is no RATIONAL way that Christianity can sustain the video ASSAULT of ATHEISTS denying the Holy Spirit!!!

[chsbcg]

You faggot! You forced him into saying it. You are nothing but a bunch of Humanist fundamentalists!

[TheThomaswastaken]

Seriously? Forced him? I definitely saw a Q&A, no B.S., no pressure.

[Chuloloc]

Awesome.

[tieInterceptor]

well, ok yes is weak but in the eyes of the imaginary god, its enough to send your arse to hell...

If you also believe in fairies it could mean that you will not get candy.

[KasparHauser4]

Well Dennet was busy surrounded by people during a book signing

[Ruffruff2006]

Just wondering..is the RRS still pursuing suing the CSE?

[spitzbubezumquadrat]

is he famous or something?

or why is that something special?

[MysteriousMaskMan]

Which planet you live in ?

Dennet is one of the most brilliant intellectuals of our century.

[Byteshiep]

Check the videos of his lectures that are in this very channel. he is amazing.

[Aedak33]

Very weak rofl, "yes ok!"

[smoothmedia]

That was some pretty weak blasphemy

[MysteriousMaskMan]

You must understand that for an anti-dogmatic or an atheist denying the "holy spirit" makes him feel as silly as denying "santa klaus" or "spider-man".

So the only reason why we, reluctantly, feel the need to make such a silly denial, is because, unlike "spider-man" and "santa klaus", millions of fools believe that such stupid fictional character is "real" and even demand unconditional respect !!!

[waveoflight]

but Spiderman is real!!!

I can feel it :}