Matthew LaClair Vs. Ryan Davis on Religion in Schools

[Utubeassasinn]

religion breeds ignorance??????? or is that bliss of total beleif?

[xbradx11]

We see who the smarter one in this video is.... Spoiler Alert: Matthew LaClair

[SigmaSigmaGnarly]

is this interviewer joking? cause hes either trying and failing to be funny or painfully stupid

[swiftyJ88]

The guy in the hat is a fucking moron. 

[canadienfloridian]

This man out of his mind!

[jakec916]

I know its nice to try and educate people, but arent people like this just a lossed cause? These types of christians live in a bubble. They can not be reached. It is quite sad but they are so out of touch they dont understand what is going on.

[Spaceman2451]

Matt totally owned this wipe out.

[MrTomaat23]

Please tell me this is a joke.

[MrColuber]

Cladistically speaking, humans are still monkeys...

[liquidmoonlightcom]

@MrColuber Actually I think you meant to say that humans would be a member of the hominids more commonly referred to as great apes. The distinction mainly being, but not limited to, the lack of a tail.

[MrColuber]

@liquidmoonlightcom Well, all of us are catarrhini.

[Drweavil]

19 peope are still monkeys

[drummerforpeace]

@Drweavil No. Nobody is still a monkey. We share a common ancestor with monkeys, however.

[Drweavil]

@drummerforpeace Yeah I know dude... but sometimes you just gotta bait the bull :D

[robzep]

"It's my opinion that the world was created in 7 days. It's your opinion that the world wasn't. What makes our opinions any different?"

Um, evidence.

[pawndominance1]

This guy is absolutely insane---a dangerously stupid person

[Desolator84]

HERPITY DERP indeed.

[sexyboiswag]

LOL EVERYONE IS CHRISTIAN? DINOSAURS ON THE ARK? DIS NIGGA SMOKING TOO MUCH JESUS

[ostbagen]

Most people believe!? Don't think so, and even if they did science is not a democracy.

[UneSteakFrites]

seriously, how the hell do you all not realize the interviewer is performing satire.

[TheEcogeek82]

Did he seriously just say that "Everyone in America is Christian"? (1:47) Must....sit...down...tooo...ig­norant...

[wetterdew]

Ryan Davis: "DERP HURRR DURR HERP DERP DERPITTY HUUUURRRRRR DERP"

After watching this video, I have the hots for Matthew LaClair.

[dubbleplusgood]

does anyone know where to find the actual video recordings he took inside the classroom?

[dubbleplusgood]

"my opinion is the world was created in 7 days" = quickest way to determine a person's level of scientific, rational and logical ignorance.

[Inb4icwatudidthar]

thumbs up if you're not christian and you live in America. Way to generalize dumbass.

[oo1cookie]

Wow, people who comment on this video either don't understand sarcasm or simply didn't watch more than 2 seconds of this video, bravo on both of you for keeping a straight face.

[ApollonApostle]

You weren't a monkey, humans and monkeys evolved from the same ancestor. We're cousins. We didn't come from them. I disliked this video because you're a fucking nutcase. Lmao.

[dubbleplusgood]

@ApollonApostle actually technically humans are monkeys, but you're also correct that we aren't the same kind of monkeys in the zoo/wild. it's the same way a taxi can be a car, but not all cars are taxis.

[wicknight]

This has to be a piss take, even the most ignorant stupid Christian fundamentalist like Fred Phelps wouldn't claim that everyone in America is a Christian.

[mek0411]

0_0 He just said that everyone in America is christian? Does he live under a rock? You have to know facts in order to be any kind of intelligent, and he doesn't know the facts! You can deduce the rest on your own....

[StussySteveo]

Here's understanding using your own "logic"...let's say evolution isn't real as you say. There are hundreds of millions of different types of species of animal (for example: various species of ants. There isn't just one type of ant). Since animals don't evolve (like you say), that means, Noah needed to save hundreds of millions of the different types of species on his boat (with enough food to maintain survival for all). That's hilarious. Religion: Because thinking is HARD!

[333Centaur]

@A7Xelite Well, you are indeed a moron because you don't want to research the truth about the universe, but instead accept what was written in an evil book written by ignorant goat herders. Wake up!

[niinja2]

@333Centaur

how old are you?

[kpmd91]

I went to school with this kid, he graduated 2 years before me. He is full of shit. I am good friends with the teacher that Laclaire framed. he told me the real story of what happened. Laclaire made it seem as if the teacher did something bad, which in reality, people just needed to actually listen to the words coming out of his mouth

[kpmd91]

and realize that it was nothing offensive in the end. Thats why this fagot Laclaire, who after he did this, everyone, even his classmates hated him, for framing the most fun, and respected teacher in that whole school.

[TomDarkwulf]

LOL, took me a minute to realize the reporter was being satirical.

[litesp33d]

If this video is not a satire then Mr Ryan (if that is the name of the person conducting the interview) is an ignorant bigot. Some basic statistical analysis would be a start. Still if that is the level of the mans education and he is a spokesperson no wonder the rest of the morons believe this hokey BS.

[4Wammer]

google Doe's Account

[TRUTHisOUTthere100]

everyone in america is a christian.... wow, that would be hilarious if it wasn't so horrible.

[waspylookin]

It's satire people!!! Poe's law!!

[cheesemaster23]

God damn. Ryan's a retard. Does he have a doctor for that condition?

[zydarking]

Frankly, I'm impressed that Matthew LaClair managed to tolerate this guy. The man must have the patience of a saint...

[TiranaMeKismet]

is this video a satire?

[bodeezy]

What a great way to make a point.

The interviewer is a vlogger for the huffington post.

He is ridiculing religion by repeating the shit these zealots actually say.

Had me going there for a minute though.

[jeremyclarkson3319]

This is literally one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[MovieGrl710]

i graduated with matt, seriously he had every right to record dave because he included religion into everything. i did crew and he was our coach and religion was the base of everything.

[Zero4Mars]

Mr. Laclair was decent, but, in my opinion, Mr. Davis had some biases to work out.

And for the note...

1.) Science is not based on opinions, but rather research and evidence, and the best conclusion we can draw from it.

2.) "The United States is a secular nation" is definitely a more accurate statement based off what it was founded upon (Religious freedom, tolerance, separation of church and state).

[mar8les]

Wow, this christian guy is so moronic i am honestly thinking this is a satire.

[BlodhArget]

Is this guy serious?

[BrentonSteinhilber]

Is this guy serious?

"everyone is christian in america. If there was a muslim teacher, that would be shocking, because I'm not aware of any."

I really can't tell, is this interview supposed to be a joke? Because that is an absolutely ridiculous thing to say (along with everything else the interviewer said). He is sitting next to a person in America who is not a christian and basically telling him that he is a christian and that a muslim teacher would be "shocking". Wow.

[BrentonSteinhilber]

"christianity is a cult."

Went ahead and fixed that for you.

[Bill2bearockstar]

@aidan1rugby omg genius statement and too true XD

[Thatonedude917]

"You could fit a dinosaur on those boats."

Rofl

[detroitboy65]

An observable, scientific fact: Religious guys wear hats to keep the few neurons remaining in their heads from escaping. One difference between Evolution and ID: the former requires thought and creativity; the latter, the absence, nay -- rejection of both.

[nolobede]

"Everyone is Christian in America"... What a Fucking moron !

[rootberg]

I'm sorry for all that Matthew, your teacher seem very arrogant. I would like to point out that not all Christians are like that, as I'm sure you are aware of. You should pursue the truth but the truth might not be as obvious as "science is right, religion is wrong", it's more subtle than that. Peace! /A Christian

[FogerRox]

My opinion is the Earth was created in 7 days.

Ahhhh, ok.

[okkima]

"My opinion is the Earth was created in 7 days."

I say the earth was created.... NOW!

What was before creation?

Yes, there was a world 0.000...1s before, then all things broke a part, and new word appeared in zero. All the memories you have now are being copied from the previous world, and the locations in the previous world was copied, with difference of which the objects were moving. And every time you stop, there was creation for that time.

Now prove me wrong.

[wtrwlkr]

my guess is that the abrupt shift in video at 1:10 is because Matt truthfully stated that science is based on facts, which heavily support evolutionary theory and wholly disprove myths and fables written in a 2000 year old book.

[soedblackchaos]

This man is one of the many who make people think that Christians are ignorant and self-absorbed nut-jobs.

[chocolatefrenzieya]

Matthew LaClair - brilliant mind, self-righteous punk. I don't care much for him at all, but I have to admit that he handled Ryan Davis with great aplomb. It's not hard to see who ended up looking like the jackass, here.

[1n354a]

"Everybody in America is a Christian"

You Absolute Fucktard.

[dirtyrob1980]

Please tell me you guys are not that stupid. Am I the only one who sees the smirks on the faces and hears the fluctuations in the voices to stress certain points? This is merely a setup to attempt to make Christians look stupid. I am not even a Christian by Biblical definition and I can see this. BTW,if you dont believe me,do a little research. Go to Ryan's myspace...just follow his link...and you will see that he is AGNOSTIC, not Christian like he claims.

[Zoten001]

To ryan davis: I have news for you pal.

I am American, and I am Atheist. So if your wrong about everyone in America being christian, then what else could you be wrong about?

[JulieJohnson]

Matt LeClair rocks! I just read in Skeptical Inquirer that he's also nailed down some text book B.S., so this young man is not done.

I listed to his speech he gave before the FFRF and fell in love! The world needs more people like Matt.

[oldglory22]

when he said all of america is christian, i almost crapped my pants... I grew up in a baptist church, and out of 300 people in the church, i'd say 50 believed truly, and the others were just hypocrites.. so america really is a country wher anything goes, so who cares.. nothing is going to change, believe what you believe and tolerate what others believe, when you die then we will find out the truth,until then, why fight with each other. i'ts juvenile.

[MeatballsMarlowe]

Biggest line of idiocy ever said: "Everyone in America is a Christian." Ugh, the majority of Christians live in bubbles and are incapable of realizing that other forms of thinking exist outside of what they've been taught.

[bluecode320]

The interviewer is worse than Bill O' Reilly. "Science is largely based on opinion" WTF? And he goes onto ask "how is your opinion any different from mine?"

The answer is simple; his is supported by facts.

[armani11280]

Matthew LaClair should be ashamed of himself. He secretly tape recorded a teacher and called in the media, because he didn't agree with the teacher's view. As you can see in this video by high school people have made up their mind on religion whatever their teachers say in class. If the kid was truly offended this could have been handled in a more quiet tactful way. Then the kid whines about harassment, all I saw were glowing tributes for his bad behaviour in the liberal media.

[soedblackchaos]

Would you say the same if a student taped a Muslim teacher calling America evil? I agree, the school-board should have been informed, but 1) they hired the teacher to begin with and 2) without the tape it turns into he-said/she-said. And who do you think adults would believe without proof?

[armani11280]

Looking at all the negatives my comments recieved, I'm not going to get a fair hearing here. In many jursdictions its illegal to tape somebody without his knowledge. Even if this was not a problem in this case, he could have discussed with teacher after class that his comments were inappropriate and offensive, or he could have given a copy of tape to the pricipal/school board and only release the original to the media if there was no amelioration. BTW I'm agnostic, but I believe in RESPECT.

[soedblackchaos]

Oh, I think you're right about going to the media only after not achieving anything. However, I know my grades have sometimes suffered when I had teachers whom I've corrected/confronted. So I can understand not trying to confront the teacher himself.

Cool. Good for you for being respectful and agnostic.

[Tahir1278]

The topic of religion in school. Looking at the two largest religions in the world, you have a Christian and Muslim Curriculum. The only difference is the environment. Now a teacher is a teacher. There are different teachers for different subjects. i.e Religious leader for religion, science teacher for science etc. If a teacher has a duty to teach a subject, then by all means teach it. however, many teachers choose to express their religious beliefs in a class lesson.

[zomgnoesway]

People like Ryan Davis are what makes America a shameful place. What an idiot.

[tomwakefield]

Just throwing this into the mix - ancient greeks stated the world was spherical, and even had a reasonable estimate for its circumference, from several hundred BC.

[TXatheist]

I'm not a xian but I'm a honorably discharged Navy veteran.

[ravenskye75]

I'm an American and I most definitely am NOT a bloody christian! I'm an atheist.

[nastyboyuk]

Let's see, your "god" didn't do a very good job getting rid of "all " life during the "flood" since a 9000 year old living tree exists in Sweden. It survived IKEA, YOUR "GOD'S" flood, it even missed your Creation. To summarise, this tree existed before your "god" created the earth and to add injury to insult it withstood your "god's" anger and survived the flood. All hail the tree, surely it must be the true GOD.

[Here4Years]

Three cheers, Matt. Keep up the good work!

[bazziman]

Mount Sinai? Shouldn't that be mount Ararat?

Mr. 'I-know-for-a-fact', you certainly seem not to be knows what you are saying.

[Johannes9126]

Could you fundie nutheads please agree on one fairy-tale hoax to believe in? Either the arch is petrified on mount Ararat, or complete and unchanged for a russian expedition to find, or splinters on mount Ararat, and now your stupid hoax... Please, one bullshit story should be sufficient.

[shraleina]

Have you got citation for this? As far as I'm aware, and I've read up quite a bit on the subject, all the "Noah's Arks" that have been found over the centuries have been proved to be natural formations, mistaken identity, or outright fraud.

[quasarsphere]

Proven to be Noah's Ark, huh? So, which of the many "discoveries" of the Ark are we talking about here, and by what methods was it "proved"?

[billybobthortansbro]

Apparently the interviewer is 26, which makes this whole thing even more laughable.

[madtabby66]

But if everyone in America is Christian, why do they spend so much time trying to convert people? The kid completely contradicts himself.

[HConstantine]

Would you give us the citations to where this evidence ahs been published? If not, admit you're making it up, and explain to yourself why you would make such a thing up.

[billybobthortansbro]

hahahaha

Dear Ryan,

The public educational system has failed you.

[SaveTheMooses]

Ryan Davis is a shining example of Poe's Law.

[filorps]

"Science is based on opinion"

"Everyone in America is a Christian"

"I'm not aware of any Muslim teacher"

Shouldn't this be filed in the comedy section?

[westwardtrout]

This "kid" has more courage than a lot of adults I see. But it's near impossible to argue with someone's superstition. They'll never give it up, evidence or no.

Christianity's by-line is spiritual blackmail. "Believe or you go to hell. You want proof? Then you have no 'faith' and you're going to hell. Disagree? Going to hell."

Faith is great when it serves a higher purpose. But not when it's used to harm, invalidate, or demean others.

[chiefweezo]

everyone is christian in america? i live in america, that makes me christian than. thats crazy i didnt even know that.

[Snicki1946]

Any person that says that everyone in America is a Christian is unbelievably STUPID and I don't believe he is being satirical. I think he's just being an IDIOT.

[brdobro]

Apparently you're right and he wasn't being satirical. He's just an idiot. My bad.

[streetlightsmusical]

Matt Rocks!

[MagnusIan]

The guy in the blue hat is a dumbfuck. I love arguing with superstitious people. They're a hoot. They don't even know what science is!

Idiot: "I have the Bible and that's all the evidence I need."

Intelligence: "I have rockhard evidence and more evidence to back up my claims."

Idiot: ".............You need to read the Bible more."

Intelligence wins.

[brdobro]

I'm pretty sure he was being satirical.

[SaveTheMooses]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right. He works for HuffPo (not exactly a conservative thinktank) and a glance at his myspace indicates that these would not be his real opinions.

[tedted33]

Someone saying do good to others and they will do good to you is also religous, because there is no way of knowing that everyone you treat good will do the same. It is the newage philosophy of karma.

[tedted33]

People make religous statments all the time. anytime someone tells you there beliefs that can not be backed up by facts it is religous. there is no way you can get religion out of schools or anywhere else for that matter. everyone has certain beliefs about life that are not based on concrete obsevable facts. Luck is a religous term. if you realy want religion out of schools tell teacher they can not make statments about Luck.

[VitaminTMan]

HAHA! Funny, this is how I see alot of person to person conversations go between evolutionists and creationists. Atheists being ever so delicate and polite ("Well I'm not sure I believe...". Creationist being brash and head strong "Why yes they are, you are wrong, yes, yes, yes, yes". Wait, was this a satire or not?

[zydarking]

"Everybody in America is Christian", huh?

Boy, these kinda guys sure put a whole new meaning to the term "stupidity mileage".

[sweetiemel179]

Yeah, I really can't believe most people totally missed Ryan's sarcasm. He wasn't honestly pushing Christianity, he was trying to make a point.

[Jos7h]

yeah. everyone...

[jonahansen]

Is this staged?

[aajoeyjo]

Why is this creationist hack trying to talk to an intelligent person? This was more like an opportunity for the creationist to preach. Talk about Christians trying to ride piggy-back on the real issue, Matt's taping of that teacher.

[Ravenq222]

The blue hat guys an idiot.

[intactivist1]

The poor guy in the blue ball cap is so dumb, and so smug.

[cassandrat2006]

I think this Matthew LaClair child should learn to grow up. He is way off base with what really went on in the discussion in that class and if it was not for his money hungry daddy, he would have and should have been in detention. He is just trying to gain attention to himself.

[babri62]

Comparing similarity between Santa & God

> 1.Dumb kids believe in Santa

> 1.Dumb adults believe in God

> 2.Santa came to dumb kids from a chimney

> 2.God came to dumb adults from Mary's chimney(birth canal)

[babri62]

> 3.Santa has a lot of helpers in North pole

>3. God has a lot of angels in heaven

4. If you tell a dumb kid that there is no Santa he does not

believe

> you and he will cry

> 4. If you tell a dumb adult that there is no God he does not believe

> you and he will cry too.

>5.Parents lies to dumb kids there is a Santa

[babri62]

>5.Prophet lied to adults there is a God.

[takklesquad]

Cool!

[monkeygoosemoose]

i agree with oskarin4

P.S. YAY MATT FOR GETTING THAT AWARD TODAY AT NYSEC!

[oskarin4]

the interviewer is either playing the devils advocate or just plain stupid. Seems he doesn't even know the basics of the Evolution theory nor the First Amendment.

Matt, we need more students like you, way to go man!

[PatriceOneal]

Smart stuff!

[CryTiDeJe]

Wow, that guy is an idiot. Everyone in America is Christian, are you kidding me! This guy really needs to learn a little more about his country. Wow.

[dallased25]

The student is rather well grounded and smart...the religious guy just was being spiteful and rather ridiculous. The religious guy got schooled plain and simple. I can't believe the guy said that everyone in America is Christian..what a retard.

[drainbolt29]

i dont agree that everyone in America is Christian, but i also don't agree or believe in evolution, so i dont know, but im a Christian

[dallased25]

Well, at least you are honest. The guy in this video was just plain arrogant and ignorant. Though I don't know why so many people are against evolution, as long as the person is not a zealot like the one in this video, I don't have a problem with Christians.

[drainbolt29]

the thing about evolution is how is it true or possible? you were once a fish and are now a human?

[dallased25]

Look at it this way, we all start out our lives as something that can only be seen under a microscope...yet become as big as we are. Evolution is simply the relation in between all living things and their natural progression through adaptation and small changes over a very long period of time.

[katiebabieex3]

Matt does not rock, he actually sucks. What wasnt mentioned was that Matt staged the teacher into talking about religion and in several tapes that were posted publicly, you can hear the teacher saying "should we go on with this or is anyone uncomfortable with this subject" and not one person said that they were uncomfortable. And then Matt proceeded to ask the teacher what his opinion is. The teacher point blank said, "well my opinion is if you reject the lords salvation you belong in hell"

[katiebabieex3]

And also, how canyou applaud a meer teenager who put a parent and husbands career on the line. And not only did he stop there he thought it was nessecary to sue the whole school system of Kearny. Your in a history classroom, your going to talking about religions. Actually your first history class at kearny high is about all the different religions that are practiced in the world. And the teacher whom I've had for history class, is a straight forward guy he would liketo think he can answer stude

[katiebabieex3]

a stendents question with out an immature student threatening his career.

[brdobro]

So when we think our civil liberties (separation of church and state in this case) are being compromised, we should just sit and watch and let it happen? On the contrary, standing up for what is right is the core of democracy. And please, don't degrade teenagers as "meer teens". There is no correlation between someone's age and the difference that they can make.

[AtKid88]

You don't seem to understand the defintion of evolution. Or to have made it through biology in your freshman year of highschool.

[mrcane]

you don't know much do you