Matt and Dan - thank you both for the great discussion. Keep spreading the message. I became an atheist in the past six months after over 50 years in the church. Videos like both of yours and those of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris, etc helped me get there. Thank you!
Dan Barker became an ordained minister in a little town 6 miles from my home. When I saw him on the Donahue Show back in the late eighties / early nineties (can't remember which), he was expressing a lot of the same ideas I was mulling over in my own mind at the time. Thank you, Dan Barker. It's nice to see two of my favorite atheists in one place. Matt Dillahunty, I admire the way you think on your feet, dude! I hope to meet you some day.
A debate introduced me to atheism. I have never believed in a deity (which makes me an atheist) but I hadn't really given it too much thought until I watched the Nye / Ham debate.
giving thought is good having too a mind wide open to spiritual wishy washy is not ideal tho so find a balance and dont go for anything stay skeptical for the future i would propose!
+Kathee DeMontforte Go burn in hell, evolution is b.s comon billions of years, it makes much more sense that the earth is a few thousand years old, i dont care about some dinosor or chipmunk, fuck that theory, we know for fact the earth is 5 thousand years old because jesus said so he spoke of abel so theredore he believed in adam and eve, jesus said its true so its fact get over it
+Bob Whackett well than atheists, I'm about to point out something that Will disprove u 1, angelica zambrano hell testimony and Bill weise 2, check out the video about Aran ra video it's a cartoon about his absurdities regarding Jesus historically
Dan, I shook your hand once. A long time ago in Lubbock, Texas. You had a small talk about FFR and it's accomplishments. It was an honor. My Cousin who knew how I felt told me you were coming and went with me to listen. God I would love to pick your brains but alas it's not likely. Thanks for all you do to enlighten us. I'd really like to meet your Wife. Bring her next time you are in Lubbock!
I love Dan Barker. I remember seeing him and his, soon to wife Annie and Annie's mother Oprah. if you really want to see how much headway and progress has been made then look up some of the old footage. Dan was a pioneer that helped to blaze a trail for atheist and championed the efforts for enforcing the Separation of Church and State.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
I've been an atheist for as long as I can remember. I didn't know there were other atheists and non-religious people out there until I heard about Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor of the "Freedom *From* Religion Foundation". There are others I could mention that I like to listen to and watch, such as Seth Andrews of "The Thinking Atheist", and Hemant Mehta of "The Friendly Atheist". But Dan and Annie Laurie are two of my favourites. Thank you for all you do. :)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
These are 2 of my favorite people to listen to. Saw Dan Barker here in Tucson at an event, got his book Godless signed and came across Matt Dillahunty this past year, who I enjoy listening to and watching on youtube. Also like Seth Andrews. Keep up the good work guys.
I think some atheists forget or don't realise that their are a lot of Christians that are ready for a deconversion. I was forced to go to church and church school for the first 20 years of my life. This was pre-internet and so all I knew was the church and it's message. A good debate with people like these two gentlemen would have had a significant impact on my life.
+spoddie We wouldn't care about doing this kind of videos (or recommending them) if we didn't think belief to be standing on such fragile ground as to be swayed by them.
It just means someone who takes part in argumentation and debate :) (typically someone who enjoys debating/argumentation, or debates in some formal settings)
Thank you Matt for conducting and sharing this really worthwhile interview. Excellent questions you posed to Dan. Dan Barker is a treasure to the world for tirelessly challenging faith-based belief and for inspiring everyone who is open-minded (whether theist or atheist), to question our presumptions no matter what form those come in. Dan has, in my view, a unique way in which he is able to make arguments that are extremely compelling…..more so than most public speakers I’ve seen. I strongly encourage you Matt, to ask Dan Barker to do additional interviews or discussions with you, some where you would play the devil’s advocate and challenge Dan with some of the more tricky or difficult positions many atheists (myself included in certain regards) are often faced with in debating some theists. For example, from my several years of watching debates between atheists and theists, it seems as if many atheists still struggle with the fine tuning argument. Thanks again for this important interview.
Dan is at a higher level. From a street preacher to someone with one hundred and twenty-one formal debates as an atheist under his belt -- THAT is some STREET cred!
"But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also." Genesis 38:9-11 God intervened when someone 'pulls out' but if 19 men highjack aircraft with the intent to murder and destroy he sits idly by and does nothing...
On bible contradictions. Hes right that you should know your stuff about each one, however a quick cheat past that are the contradictions which are numerical. Whenever a story is repeated in the bible and it changes from 2 witnesses to 6, or an army of 1000 becomes half a million then you have many obvious contradictions which cant be refuted, and you can show there are many mistakes in the bible. NonStampCollector does a great video on contradictions which mentions these numerical flaws
+nicosmind3 The rebuttal to these is to say that the accounts of witnesses are just incomplete in some ends. The claim is that if one passage says there are thousands and another says 5 people, they just omitted some information for whatever reason. Still, it's useful to point this out to advocates of biblical inerrancy because they are forced to acknowledge that a given passage can be misleading in a vacuum at the VERY least.
ThePharphis But my response would be they're "omitting" one number and replacing it with another. Which is just a cheeky way to say its not really an omittion at all and i would hope they get it. Anyway I would think anyone clever enough to try such an argument wouldnt actually use it and would just put it down to either the inaccuracy of eye witnesses or inaccuracy of the scholar. Off the subject a bit but i once met a christian girl one time and she thought of god more as a simple child learning from all his mistakes. And thats how she excused all of the horrors of the bible. While other sections she just dismissed. She was very intelligent but that argument/position stunned me at the time. Plus we were getting drunk together.
nicosmind3 lol what a strange interpretation. Apparently god had no empathy and it took him quite awhile to realize it then ;) I think WLC has used this defense, but I know I've read it multiple times. Again, I think it's silly but ultimately all it does is muddy the water so I think it's better to use more concrete examples (does God force people to do things? Did he harden the pharaoh's heart? Why doesn't god intervene more often? Has he ever? and so on)
You shouldn't have to justify your position to ur family. Exactly Dan! There should be better things to talk about. I've easily been able to discuss with people from a philosophical standpoint. Start there without an agenda, know why you left ur faith dont just do it to be rebellious. I have my solid reasons for leaving my faith
+Kamrul Islam Don't see how you can have the cycle without the reproduction, but I have a feeling you translated the comment and some meaning was lost.
I’m into existance and nonexistance, Having grown up in a family of zelots, I realized convincing the faithful of being decieved was virtually impossable as they have made financial investments into their fantisies any intelligent investigation would reveal an unavceptable level of gullability, close the mind and continuine funneling money and convincing them selves the love of this imaginary hero from outerspace to be paramount to any contrary evidence.
what I want to say in the term of Creation and the so called Creator. ....... tree do not creates it's fruits or flowers. .....in relationships of individuality. .......
Hello.. remember that every human been thoughts are product of their experienced from the past either reading or absorption through experience. now the question is what if your thoughts are not developed correctly and your smart brain working hard to prof some thing not exist that really exist and you are being tested this way. try something deferent and that is for a week say that you thoughts are wrong and do not trust your thoughts from the past. and read Shia Islam books along with Quran and I believe you are so smart that will get the massage right away.
Near the end, personal experience. My family gives me that personal relationship with God crap. I just realized that i could not distinguish my subconscious mind from God. And if God is love then God would want to have a loving emotionally healthy relationship with me. The relationship was rather more like a one sided relationship that also had some crazy making gas-lighting elements to it. Either the relationship with God was toxic or non-existent.
It is no coincidence that the overwhelming majority of "Christians-turned-atheists" belong to the charismatic portion of the professing Church. Unfortunately, they (as a whole but there are exceptions) tend to place little emphasis on the intellect and in some instances even ridicule the idea of wedding the mind to Biblical study.
Humans are God creating within the universe functioning within the same laws that governed the creation of the universe. There is no deity or anything outside of our known universe. Life’s a bitch and then u die. End of story
+Razhender Wild I agree...there are not different ways of ‘knowing’… there are NO WAYS of knowing… but only different ways of believing. Science is a way of believing, and one that, on the surface at least, appears very productive (from a parochial human perspective); but hey, it could ALL be wrong… and we wouldn’t know it.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... How can anybody who actually looks at : A Cat, A Tree, or A Sunrise not Believe in An Awesome Higher Intelligence ??? !!! !!! !!! Mr. Barker has a fine intellect and debating skills ---- However he uses his intellect defending foolishness. A humble person like Ludwig van Beethoven or Buckminster Fuller, or Judy Collins used their intellects to celebrate Creation and Joy !!! !!! !!! Once again , I suggest that people look at : A Car, A Tree, or A Sunrise AND ponder for 5 minutes. ..........................................................................................................
+robinvan1983 I am 43 and quite ready to ridicule if something is more than about 25% ridiculous. I think I am being generous. I could have gone with a fundamentalist 99/1% bias
You lost the genetic lottery. I bet your a youtube scientist that collects a handful of comments and is ready to theorize and classify anyone that challenges your view without investigating that little factoid for yourself. lol
Matt and Dan - thank you both for the great discussion. Keep spreading the message. I became an atheist in the past six months after over 50 years in the church. Videos like both of yours and those of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris, etc helped me get there. Thank you!
+Wendy McClelland that's sad you got influenced them Harris is only who is worth listening to philosophically
You need to tell your story.
re
read my comments above and answer
+Wendy McClelland welcome aboard wendy.
Love Dan Barker, and have learned a lot from watching many of his debates. Great interview!
Wow, what a great man. Really, so kind-hearted.
Dan Barker became an ordained minister in a little town 6 miles from my home. When I saw him on the Donahue Show back in the late eighties / early nineties (can't remember which), he was expressing a lot of the same ideas I was mulling over in my own mind at the time. Thank you, Dan Barker.
It's nice to see two of my favorite atheists in one place. Matt Dillahunty, I admire the way you think on your feet, dude! I hope to meet you some day.
I believe pound for pound that Dan is the best out there
He is also a great pianist. I got his CD from FFRF.
Great interview. Barker's books are excellent, too.
Barker is a living legend!
I love Dan Barker and his sweet dead mother, what wonderful examples of positive atheism, excellent interview Matt, thanks for posting
Dan is such a humble guy. Never flaunts or taunts.
A debate introduced me to atheism. I have never believed in a deity (which makes me an atheist) but I hadn't really given it too much thought until I watched the Nye / Ham debate.
giving thought is good having too a mind wide open to spiritual wishy washy is not ideal tho so find a balance and dont go for anything stay skeptical for the future i would propose!
Great interview , great guest. Wow!
Absolutely love Dan Barker. I wish everyone was a member of FFRF. Great work.
+Kathee DeMontforte - I'm a member!
+Kathee DeMontforte Go burn in hell, evolution is b.s comon billions of years, it makes much more sense that the earth is a few thousand years old, i dont care about some dinosor or chipmunk, fuck that theory, we know for fact the earth is 5 thousand years old because jesus said so he spoke of abel so theredore he believed in adam and eve, jesus said its true so its fact get over it
+Ni Ca Another loving Christian merges their head.
+Bob Whackett well than atheists, I'm about to point out something that Will disprove u
1, angelica zambrano hell testimony and Bill weise
2, check out the video about Aran ra video it's a cartoon about his absurdities regarding Jesus historically
+A3Kr0n explain my comment below please, u will see it
Oh Gosh. Dan Barker is just wonderful..
I could listen to Dan Barker for hours.
i could listen to him more than four hours :-O
@@5finga Listening to a man who doesn't the truth is like following someone who doesn't know where they are going and is lost.
Listening to a man who doesn't know the truth is like following someone who doesn't know where they are going and is lost
Dan, I shook your hand once. A long time ago in Lubbock, Texas. You had a small talk about FFR and it's accomplishments. It was an honor.
My Cousin who knew how I felt told me you were coming and went with me to listen.
God I would love to pick your brains but alas it's not likely. Thanks for all you do to enlighten us.
I'd really like to meet your Wife. Bring her next time you are in Lubbock!
I love Dan Barker. I remember seeing him and his, soon to wife Annie and Annie's mother Oprah. if you really want to see how much headway and progress has been made then look up some of the old footage. Dan was a pioneer that helped to blaze a trail for atheist and championed the efforts for enforcing the Separation of Church and State.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
I've been an atheist for as long as I can remember. I didn't know there were other atheists and non-religious people out there until I heard about Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor of the "Freedom *From* Religion Foundation". There are others I could mention that I like to listen to and watch, such as Seth Andrews of "The Thinking Atheist", and Hemant Mehta of "The Friendly Atheist". But Dan and Annie Laurie are two of my favourites. Thank you for all you do. :)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
You simply have to admire the simple honesty with which Dan speaks.
Thank you Matt and Dan - well done, and MUCH appreciated!!!
I admire Dan since i watched the Ophra's Show interview.
These are 2 of my favorite people to listen to. Saw Dan Barker here in Tucson at an event, got his book Godless signed and came across Matt Dillahunty this past year, who I enjoy listening to and watching on youtube. Also like Seth Andrews. Keep up the good work guys.
Matt D and Dan B - two of the best, 'Godless' was the book that initiated my journey to atheism - Thanks Matt...and Dan
Great interview!
Matt, thanks for including your own voiced questions. It is a lot easier to follow than having to read the title cards.
I love this guy
Thank you for this Matt. Thank you Dan
Listening to a man who doesn't know the truth is like following someone who doesn't know where they are going and is lost
"They don't really know the science. They're just parroting somebody else's work" - spot on.
As always very good.
I think some atheists forget or don't realise that their are a lot of Christians that are ready for a deconversion. I was forced to go to church and church school for the first 20 years of my life. This was pre-internet and so all I knew was the church and it's message. A good debate with people like these two gentlemen would have had a significant impact on my life.
+spoddie We wouldn't care about doing this kind of videos (or recommending them) if we didn't think belief to be standing on such fragile ground as to be swayed by them.
+spoddie no there are not ready those that don't want to believe are already have confirmed they don't believe
Baji Scipio Dārayav Aurelius Julian Venizelos Nalwa
I have no idea what you mean.
+Baji Scipio Dārayav Aurelius “Hemu Rawal Domitian” Julian Venizelos Nalwa Do that again in English, please
spoddie atheists have confirmed that they don't want to believe
High five to Dan Barker, what a great polemicist and human being.
i liked but i dont know what a polemicist is
It just means someone who takes part in argumentation and debate :)
(typically someone who enjoys debating/argumentation, or debates in some formal settings)
Wonderful debater and humility personified. Can listen to him forever.....
I find it imppssible not to love Dan Barker's words.
2 of my favorite & best atheist debaters ever...
Thank you Matt for conducting and sharing this really
worthwhile interview. Excellent questions you posed to Dan.
Dan Barker is a treasure to the world for tirelessly
challenging faith-based belief and for inspiring everyone who is open-minded
(whether theist or atheist), to question our presumptions no matter what form
those come in. Dan has, in my view, a unique way in which he is able to make
arguments that are extremely compelling…..more so than most public speakers I’ve
seen.
I strongly encourage you Matt, to ask Dan Barker to do additional
interviews or discussions with you, some where you would play the devil’s
advocate and challenge Dan with some of the more tricky or difficult positions many
atheists (myself included in certain regards) are often faced with in debating some
theists. For example, from my several years of watching debates between atheists
and theists, it seems as if many atheists still struggle with the fine tuning
argument.
Thanks again for this important interview.
Love Dan barker :3
Dan is at a higher level. From a street preacher to someone with one hundred and twenty-one formal debates as an atheist under his belt -- THAT is some STREET cred!
Love Dan and the FFRF
"But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also." Genesis 38:9-11
God intervened when someone 'pulls out' but if 19 men highjack aircraft with the intent to murder and destroy he sits idly by and does nothing...
Great analogy.
That was a fun interview! Dan's book Godless certainly helped propel me towards....well, godlessness. :-) Thanks Matt!
Very good❤thanks ❤
"The historicity of the old testament it's not that hard"🤣🤣🤣
On bible contradictions. Hes right that you should know your stuff about each one, however a quick cheat past that are the contradictions which are numerical. Whenever a story is repeated in the bible and it changes from 2 witnesses to 6, or an army of 1000 becomes half a million then you have many obvious contradictions which cant be refuted, and you can show there are many mistakes in the bible. NonStampCollector does a great video on contradictions which mentions these numerical flaws
+nicosmind3 The rebuttal to these is to say that the accounts of witnesses are just incomplete in some ends. The claim is that if one passage says there are thousands and another says 5 people, they just omitted some information for whatever reason.
Still, it's useful to point this out to advocates of biblical inerrancy because they are forced to acknowledge that a given passage can be misleading in a vacuum at the VERY least.
ThePharphis But my response would be they're "omitting" one number and replacing it with another. Which is just a cheeky way to say its not really an omittion at all and i would hope they get it.
Anyway I would think anyone clever enough to try such an argument wouldnt actually use it and would just put it down to either the inaccuracy of eye witnesses or inaccuracy of the scholar.
Off the subject a bit but i once met a christian girl one time and she thought of god more as a simple child learning from all his mistakes. And thats how she excused all of the horrors of the bible. While other sections she just dismissed. She was very intelligent but that argument/position stunned me at the time. Plus we were getting drunk together.
nicosmind3 lol what a strange interpretation. Apparently god had no empathy and it took him quite awhile to realize it then ;)
I think WLC has used this defense, but I know I've read it multiple times. Again, I think it's silly but ultimately all it does is muddy the water so I think it's better to use more concrete examples (does God force people to do things? Did he harden the pharaoh's heart? Why doesn't god intervene more often? Has he ever? and so on)
Two of my favorite people in the same video! :)
God bless Dan. ;)
Many thanks. I am also a chosen one like you both ....
You shouldn't have to justify your position to ur family. Exactly Dan! There should be better things to talk about. I've easily been able to discuss with people from a philosophical standpoint. Start there without an agenda, know why you left ur faith dont just do it to be rebellious. I have my solid reasons for leaving my faith
my concept is like" A tree do not creates it's fruits or flowers " it's a part of whole cycles of natural phenomenonal activities. ....
+Kamrul Islam
Don't see how you can have the cycle without the reproduction, but I have a feeling you translated the comment and some meaning was lost.
Very interesting interview.
Incredibly entertaining.
I’m into existance and nonexistance, Having grown up in a family of zelots, I realized convincing the faithful of being decieved was virtually impossable as they have made financial investments into their fantisies any intelligent investigation would reveal an unavceptable level of gullability, close the mind and continuine funneling money and convincing them selves the love of this imaginary hero from outerspace to be paramount to any contrary evidence.
Dan,
I‘ve watched quite a few of your debates. I agree with a lot of your arguments. Do you regret your former life as a christian?
But the Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will fall away from the faith, listening to deceitful spirits…. Pablo a Timoteo
what I want to say in the term of Creation and the so called Creator. ....... tree do not creates it's fruits or flowers. .....in relationships of individuality. .......
Hello.. remember that every human been thoughts are product of their experienced from the past either reading or absorption through experience. now the question is what if your thoughts are not developed correctly and your smart brain working hard to prof some thing not exist that really exist and you are being tested this way.
try something deferent and that is for a week say that you thoughts are wrong and do not trust your thoughts from the past. and read Shia Islam books along with Quran and I believe you are so smart that will get the massage right away.
Near the end, personal experience. My family gives me that personal relationship with God crap. I just realized that i could not distinguish my subconscious mind from God. And if God is love then God would want to have a loving emotionally healthy relationship with me. The relationship was rather more like a one sided relationship that also had some crazy making gas-lighting elements to it. Either the relationship with God was toxic or non-existent.
best quote of the interview 20:03
if your pastor had done a better job then you wouldn't need as much faith.
hey dan barker woof woof haha why does atheist experience disable comments ?
That’s not don baker
Correct... didn't say it was
It is no coincidence that the overwhelming majority of "Christians-turned-atheists" belong to the charismatic portion of the professing Church. Unfortunately, they (as a whole but there are exceptions) tend to place little emphasis on the intellect and in some instances even ridicule the idea of wedding the mind to Biblical study.
Louis Unger intellect will pull u away from god every time
"Does God not exist?" . Wtf. Apologists might be wrong and intellectually dishonest. But boy, aren't they the best mental gymnasts!
is it just me or did it seem like Dan and Matt were having a pissing contest. lol great talk though.
that picture is crooked, therefore god
It's the only atheist i agree abouth everything. And he isn't even a scientist.
Humans are God creating within the universe functioning within the same laws that governed the creation of the universe. There is no deity or anything outside of our known universe. Life’s a bitch and then u die. End of story
Losing Your Faith? Your capacity for faith will GROW in the emergency room as the ER nurses scramble to stabilize your vitals.
Nope!
That certainly has not been my experience.
3:00 the unproven known. Irritating!
+Razhender Wild
I agree...there are not different ways of ‘knowing’… there are NO WAYS of knowing…
but only different ways of believing. Science is a way of believing,
and one that, on the surface at least, appears very productive (from a
parochial human perspective); but hey, it could ALL be wrong… and we
wouldn’t know it.
Merry Christmas to all. May we take this joyous time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, The Lord Jesus Christ, into the world 2,000 years ago.
LOL!
God bless.
+Randy Pacchioli horus beat him by more than a thousand years lets cecebrate him too..
How so ?
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........
How can anybody who actually looks at :
A Cat, A Tree, or A Sunrise not
Believe in An Awesome Higher Intelligence ??? !!! !!! !!!
Mr. Barker has a fine intellect and debating skills ----
However he uses his intellect defending foolishness.
A humble person like Ludwig van Beethoven or
Buckminster Fuller, or Judy Collins used their
intellects to celebrate Creation and Joy !!! !!! !!!
Once again , I suggest that people look at :
A Car, A Tree, or A Sunrise AND ponder for 5 minutes.
..........................................................................................................
only people who ridicule 100% are teenagers or early 20 something discovering youtube
+robinvan1983 I am 43 and quite ready to ridicule if something is more than about 25% ridiculous. I think I am being generous. I could have gone with a fundamentalist 99/1% bias
You lost. Go watch NDE's from athiests, scientests, and the average person to the unaverage person. Your point is past stale
+maginext
If there was a place you could go to buy a clue, I would direct you there.
That was your clue.
you lost the genetic lottery
You lost the genetic lottery. I bet your a youtube scientist that collects a handful of comments and is ready to theorize and classify anyone that challenges your view without investigating that little factoid for yourself. lol
Nah, Just some guy that likes to laughs at idiots.