Daniel Everett - Don't sleep, there are snakes

[1949rickray]

The book Dan has written is well worth the read. "Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes" (by Daniel Everett)

[crypticjim]

Why didn't he just go the churches favorite plan B, genocide.

[evilyig]

I wish American Christians did not see other's disbelief as a challenge to their sense of worth and self respect. Take for instance the recent atheist billboards and the overwhelmingly common reactions of the religious public, saying nothing more than "Don't believe? you're not alone". If only more than a small percentage of these believers did not share in the reaction of outrage.

[Justyourglitch]

It is pee-dee-HAN...NOT peer-a-has!

[PlutoPowered]

I wonder how this tribe deals with death? Do they grieve? I'm curious how they deal with their emotions.

[junithorn]

@PlutoPowered

Like any sane person they grieve and then move on. Lack of religion has nothing to do with having emotions and care.

[Kallero]

@PlutoPowered

I'm sure they grieve, I'm sure some of them scream and cry and some of them are somber and reflective. Its always sad when you lose somebody. Atheists know whats up. You never get to see the person again, except in your memory. It's sad but what can you do? Time heals all pains.

[albertsneijMD]

how i can visit those Pirahas

[DeimosSaturn]

I worry that this book by Everett might be perceived as some kind of challenge to evangelicals in the US. As atheists have become more open and more willing to argue, it has started to stir a new kind of theist, one who initiates themselves into the complexities of apologetics (the warping of logic). We might see a new wave of more sophisticated evangelicals try to convert the Piraha.

[lambchopxoxo]

this is such a great story. seriously, religion is like a disease that will spread if we let it. 

[enamorada503]

What part of the book is this? anyone know? I'd really appreciate it!

[agente180]

Is it that they just don't have a creation or God story, or they just don't like thinking beyond themselves nor bother to ponder of things across time. It is an interesting situation not just for religion but, things learned from ancient times, remembrance of stories about their great great grandfathers, or past and future floodings,... It reminds me of the irresponsible attitude some have in our society, like drunks or a teen that hates to study or dna limited brain? Or Adam in Eden pre Snake?

[ReignbowSmite]

OH! The Adam and Eve God created all innocent, with no knowledge of good and evil. And then the snake God sent down to trick his own creations, knowing they would not know good from evil and not have an ability to know the snake was evil. Then Eve believes the snake and eats the fruit not knowing it was evil to disobey because God had not given them that ability, only to have God pretend he did not know what they had done, or know where they were hiding? That Adam and Eve? God is omni-what now?

[agente180]

@ReignbowSmite The Creator knows how things work. We could be in a self sustaining paradise with all your needs met. He tells you to enjoy all but not to be involved in a certain thing that's not for you. You don't need to know anything about evil to pay attention to this loving Father. But instead we doubt Him and ignore Him and oppose His will which was good for us, still today. "Our problems are man-made." Kennedy. Most of our energy is consumed in taking care of our anti-Creation choices.

[ReignbowSmite]

@agente180 Apparently when reading your bible, you skipped all the god stuff in the old testament, and went to the Jesus stuff huh?

I used to be a devout Anabaptist. I choose accept my responsibilities and credit as my own. I choose free will

[agente180]

@ReignbowSmite Devotion to religion and tradition doesn't mean you understood a thing.

[ReignbowSmite]

@agente180 I used to be deeply devoted. I understand it just fine. God is all knowing and all powerful, meaning he did this with purpose knowing exactly what would happen.

[agente180]

@ReignbowSmite , not what would happen but what could happen of you disobey, and yes, He did create a Way out to deal with your possible self centeredness counter will. It is Jesus restoring amid of your today's refusal. So will you desist to build a nice house just because someone may bang their heads against something, or get electrocuted? So yes, God was sorry for having created man "the helper", cause we care less about Him and go after our own will. But not all is lost.

[ReignbowSmite]

@agente180 No, omniscient means all knowing. God didn't know what "might" happen, he knew it would happen. Without knowing at all what is good and evil, how were they to know that disobedience was wrong? They couldn't have possibly known. God has no unknowns, god is all seeing and knowing and had pre planned to trick Adam and Eve, then punish them and mankind. Why would god be sorry If god is all knowing? He would have already known it was wrong and not done it and not need to be repentant...

[ReignbowSmite]

@ReignbowSmite So God then sent his only son, which wasn't really his son because it was actually god in the flesh, to atone for his own mistake which should never had been made if god is all knowing. "So yes, God was sorry for having created man "the helper", So you admit that it was god's mistake, I thought god was infallible?

[bluehoneycomb]

@ReignbowSmite awesome. agreed.

[ReignbowSmite]

@agente180 Also, I noticed you didn't deny what I said in regards to Adam and Eve. So you you agree that God set the whole of humanity to fail from the beginning? God intended us to have original sin. If Adam and Eve can't be blamed for eating the fruit (seeing as they had no knowledge of good and evil), It was God's intention all along to blame every man, woman, and child for Adam and Eve falling for God's own purposeful deceit?

[agente180]

@ReignbowSmite You're mistaken. Because I didn't address your blame game directly it didn't mean I approve of what you said. You have a weird logic. Let me ask you straight then. Let's imagine you build a beautiful, comfy, self sustainable house. U and your wife decide to have a baby. Are u evil because your house have electrical outlets? After years of bliss, the 10 year old now questions you and your warning. Have an itch for something else. Sticks a rod in the outlet and dies. Are you evil?

[ReignbowSmite]

@agente180 Is God Omnipotent?

[agente180]

@ReignbowSmite What's disturbing and disappointing is not the creator of the house, even if he knew of the possibilities and warns you because he knows of the consequences and the mess. But his "son", his "helper", his "buddy", who betrays, rebells, and is ungrateful. Still, just in case... the creator of the house made a way back to restore things, in case you decide to get back into His bliss (not religion).

[ReignbowSmite]

@agente180 God: The creator of the house - All knowing, All seeing and All powerful Places Adam and Eve - The unknowing children - Into a house that he built to purposefully electrocute them. God could have built the house in such a way that it would have avoided all this nonsense, and then not have to admit he was wrong, So God is fallible?

Stop with this house/child/electrocution. God/Garden/Adam and Eve are perfectly suited and simple, and don't need a more complex rendering.

[ReignbowSmite]

@agente180 If I am playing the scenario where I am God, and I am not only omnipotent, I am also omniscient. I would know ahead of time what would cause my child to die, and with my omnipotence, I would create it as such it would not be possible for my child to be electrocuted.

Why would I create a situation being omniscient that planned the electrocution of my child?

[EdLoveFilms]

What a wonderful tale, and how rare to see a man of faith willing to evaluate it against reality, and to learn from a so called uncivilised race. Seems they know a heckuva lot more than the West gives them credit for!

[turbozed]

Wonder if it's Jesus-freaks or Chomsky-freaks rating this video down? Screw both cults.

[OnionsMakeYouCry9]

Why couldn't I have been born into this tribe? Life in the first world is so complicated and extremely depressing. Not to mention filled with people pushing their beliefs that they can't prove.

[willbond]

Damn those Pirahas....fucking with a poor Christian with their Advanced Worldview. Doesn't seem fair.....

[mohfoz77]

I really enjoyed the book. “Don’t Sleep There are Snakes’’.

[Jughand]

you don't have to go to the amazon to realize that the bible is a story, but its probably more fun.

[Sahshagirl09]

These Pirahãs should teach americans how to live and every one how to live, they are smart.

[ex0rdium]

Sorry to see this is getting voted down for no reason. Very fascinating video and story.

[XIIIWinters]

I can't quit thinking about these people. So amazing. We can all learn from them.

[nogod65]

This such a beautiful story.

[frostellie]

This is one of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. I don't think it necessarily makes a case for atheism, but they sure have an interesting perspective and peaceful way of life. Good adventure too.

[Arqera]

Hail the Pirahã, they're the ultimate atheist society!!!!

[Sahshagirl09]

@Arqera Amen to that brother...HAHA get it...  Lol anyway Atheism, the word atheism should be replaced with the word normal, smart or intelligent because religion is just out dated excuse for over imaginative theories thought up by people with undeveloped scientific ability.

[MelchBurg]

it's Pirahã, not piranha

[Fezziekid]

Got to see him at The Royal Institution the other night. Amazing. He's going to be one of the big figures in the study if human beings for some time to come.

[invisibletime]

5 *

[Spanky00Cheeks]

RATE this motherf-, because the rate bots are killing it.

[deBeuk]

I received 4819 one star votes, all from canada, all on July 29th. I'm trying to get hold of youtube, but their new "Help" center doesn't actually provide any help.

[bookerTTT]

why would someone use a rate bot on this video?

great post by the way, thanks a lot!

[solidturd666]

this is incredible.

[deBeuk]

Sojoyful, you've been blocked again for being a troll. Bye. I don't think I'll unblock you this time.

[MiguelDeCorella]

Where i come from, Piranha is an ugly woman...

[Diviniteee]

Very fascinating :)

[Cyrathil]

These people seem to be fairly smart... If only we all could learn from them... See, people without Jesus aren't in despair, they seem perfectly happy( maybe much more happier than most Americans...), thank you for sharing this deBeuk.

[cozmikzen]

awesome

[DeusMerdaeEst]

Fascinating - thanks for posting.

[Smorfty]

Well that's certainly a funny way in to be come an atheist.

[Athaeus]

Not really.

People are often religious because it fills a purpose in their life - whether this is a meaning in life, an elevated self-image, a social circle or any other reason. That he got to see that religion was not needed for these things made him question his own beliefs.

So for a person with a strong religious conviction, this is what I would call a very natural way of becoming an atheist.

[dulaldick]

the pirahas lead a simple, almost boring life that consists of fishing and a few other simple activities. this is a special case of people who chose ignorance over enlightenment. that made them retreat from progress and true understanding to live under tree canopies.

did you know that pirahas cannot use words for numbers? that they cant use prepositions or conjuctions when talking ? this shows backwardness. i find it suprising that the missionary speaks so highly of them.

[Dutchdrummer99]

Brilliant.

[10secstomeltdown]

The Pirahãs are truely unique in the world I won't quote wiki here but it's worth reading. What is the source of this story? Did he write a book?

[deBeuk]

"The Pirahãs are truely unique in the world I won't quote wiki here but it's worth reading. What is the source of this story? Did he write a book?"

Yes, he did, the title of the book is "Don't sleep, there are snakes". I forgot to add this information to the video description, thanks for pointing it out.

[fatmanprime]

Exquisitely fascinating.