Godless Tribe De-converts Christian (interview) 1 of 4

Daniel Everett on radio.author of Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes

Although Daniel Everett was a missionary, far from converting the Pirahas, they converted him. He shows the slow, meticulous steps by which he gradually mastered their language and his gradual realization that its unusual nature closely reflected its speakers startlingly original perceptions of the world.

I went to the Pirahãs when I was twenty- six years old. Now I am old enough to receive senior discounts. I gave them my youth. I have contracted
malaria many times. I remember several occasions on which the Pirahãs or others threatened my life. I have carried more heavy boxes, bags, and barrels on my back through the jungle than I care to remember. But my grandchildren all know the Pirahãs. My children are who they are in part because of the Pirahãs. And I can look at some of those old men (old like me) who once threatened to kill me and recognize some of the dearest friends I have ever had—men who would now risk their lives for me.


a fantastic 90 Minute talk on FORA TV :

http://fora.tv/2009/03/20/Daniel_Everett_Endangered_Languages_and_Lost_Knowledge

The Pirahã Indians of the Amazon are a very peculiar people. They number fewer than 400 and have no myths, rituals or history. Their language is unrelated to any other living tongue. It can be whistled, sung, hummed or spoken. It has no words for numbers, colours, left or right, brother or sister.

The Pirahã never sleep for more than a couple of hours and talk through much of the night. They live as hunter-gatherers in villages along 50 miles of the Maici River deep in the Amazon forest. They have plenty of contact with river traders and other outsiders but display no inclination to change their ways.

"Pirahãs laugh about everything. They laugh at their own misfortune: when someone's hut blows over in a rainstorm, the occupants laugh more loudly than anyone. They laugh when they catch a lot of fish. They laugh when they catch no fish. They laugh when they're full and they laugh when they're hungry... This pervasive happiness is hard to explain, though I believe that the Pirahãs are so confident and secure in their ability to handle anything that their environment throws at them that they can enjoy whatever comes their way. This is not at all because their lives are easy, but because they are good at what they do."

The Pirahã have no word meaning "Thank you." They show gratitude by returning the favor or giving a gift. They do not say "I'm sorry" or "you're welcome" or "hello." Instead of bidding someone goodnight, they say, "Don't sleep, there are snakes" — a gentle reminder that wild beasts lurk in the nearby jungle ready to slither, scurry or pounce at the first hint of an unsuspecting, defenseless snore. "Goodnight," is an empty phrase, argues Everett. At least the Pirahã saying serves a purpose.

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Education

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• There Are Snakes

[flubno]

Is it just me, it doesn't sound like Daniel Everett's voice ?

[10sodot]

@flubno .Its just you :)

[flubno]

@wrb0018 lol ... "The Bible is a documented fact"

What crack pipe are you smoking ?

[11111011]

@fillion21

I'm not living by faith when I say I don't believe in Santa Claus, am I? Totally lacking evidence of something is as much a disproof of something as we can hope for.

Totally analogous to God, IMO.

[DocStrange0123]

@nathansmcfall You dont' understand science or how it works then...

[mechanicmike69]

@ivlfounder Who the fuck are you to question anybody, you believe in an invisible being in the sky and say it is real, and you have the audacity to question where others are getting their information from? Where in the fuck are you getting your delusional information from? The telescope and microscope have long ago proven the stories of creation in the Bible to be false and in error. You are a delusional fucking moron.

[MrScadino]

update my fiel from your tribal missionary.. Say hi to each of you...tribe of monobo foundation of bukidnon, Malay Balay,

[11111011]

@nathansmcfall

Dude, you are one whacked out motherfucker. Look back to your first reply in response to my comment on evidence, lack-thereof, and Santa Claus. You responded by going off on a total tangent about science not being able to prove that Elvis died.

You seem to be under the impression that I'm some moron who thinks that if I can't prove Elvis is dead via test tubes and spectrometers, then I shouldn't believe it--or rather that the limits of science allow for God.

Sorry, no dice

[nathansmcfall]

@11111011 The scientific method cannot prove anything from history (because things of history are not immediately observable, measurable or repeatable). It cannot prove the death of Elvis, it cannot prove the existence of Elvis, and it cannot prove that there is or is not a God. Science is extremely limited and a baseless thing to use to prove any truth.

You have faith in many things that your science cannot prove to you.

[nathansmcfall]

@11111011 If you can accept that Elvis' recordings (audio/film) as well as his pictures to be proof that he existed then why do you argue that the world around you cannot be the evidence of God?

I've literally stood on top of Elvis' grave but I have no clue he is in there. I believe he is, but I have no evidence besides some stories I've heard, a doctored death picture I saw on the front of a National Inquirer when I was 7 and his gravestone. Not concrete evidence but I believe and so do you.

[11111011]

@nathansmcfall

Your response to my post is totally off the wall. Second, are you kidding me?

No, elvis isn't dead, he just faked his own death, duped millions, and disappeared off the face of the earth.

Same with god, he exists, there's simply no evidence of his existence whatsoever.

Believe such shit if you wish. And you don't need the scientific method to 'prove' Elvis dead. Just look for some evidence of it; i.e., don't be totally religious about the matter.

[nathansmcfall]

@11111011 You've no proof that any person before the advent of the camera existed beyond stories and writings. You've no proof that Elvis Presley is dead. Some say he is, some say he isn't.  You've no proof that Jesus was the Christ. Some say he is, some say he isn't. You've no proof that God exists. Some say he does, some say he doesn't. Does God exist and is Elvis really dead.

Even science can't be proven using the scientific method. Proof/evidence is not the end-all factor.

[Andrew19ao]

A missionary has NO RIGHT to force relgion onto people. LEAVE THESE PEOPLE ALONE.